Ready to dip a toe—or maybe both feet—in the real estate market? Are you aiming to become the next Donald Trump one square foot at a time? The appeal of real estate investment to those who understand its risks is growing, largely thanks to a tight rental market and rising rents. Rental rates jumped a […]

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A recent New York Times story posed the question: Is life too hard for millennials? Millennials are the most educated generation, yet they’re earning less, their median net worth is down, and many face decades of student loan payments (see Figure 1). Pair that with the uncertainty surrounding their retirement, and they appear to be […]

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Many investors set financial goals like trying to accumulate $1 million before retirement. But a financial goal that’s all about the money may not be the best way to plan. Rather, some investors find that selecting tangible goals can actually help them reach their objectives. Forming a tangible goal takes the focus off the money […]

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Your salary might not be jumping right now at the rate you’d like, but if long-held economic theory wins out, as the job market tightens, wages will rise. What will you do with that extra moolah? The unemployment rate, as of March, stood at 4.9%—a healthy rate, by most economic standards. That’s considering the impact […]

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Small is huge these days. From tiny houses to minimalist wardrobes, micro is having a moment. The trend has crept into many aspects of Americans’ lives, but there’s one area where there’s still room for improvement. Americans continue to place a lot of pressure on themselves to meet big financial goals. The burden doesn’t have […]

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People work endlessly so they can eventually retire and spend time with their loved ones and kids, but by then, they’ve missed opportunities to take vacations or watch their kids play sports. Too often, the actual use of money isn’t aligned with why people are working so hard to make it. Fess up. Are you […]

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If you’re one of the 8 in 10 Americans who planned to take a leisurely vacation, you probably already know that it will be pricey. Consumers say they will spend an average of $941 per person, or $4,705 for a family of five, on trips this year, according to a recent survey. How will you […]

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The primary house market remains red-hot, but the secondary, or vacation, home market is mixed. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2016 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey (released earlier this year and covering existing- and new-home transactions in 2015), vacation-home sales last year fell 18.5% from their most recent peak level of […]

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Key Takeaways Balance the cost of athletics with your own savings goals Include your kids in budgeting discussions  Be realistic in your hopes that a child will turn pro, make it to the Olympics, or earn enough in scholarships to cover expenses It’s no secret that parenting is different today than in previous generations, and […]

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We’re often told to put others first: Take care of mom and dad. Give to charity. Save for college. Hand someone else the life jacket as the Titanic goes down. But from a budgeting perspective, it actually pays to be a bit selfish. After all, it’s hard to help someone else if you’re feeling destitute. […]

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