Managing Money

I’m in my late 60s. Like many women our age, I grew up hearing that money wasn’t a polite topic to talk about. Someone else handled it, or we handled it quietly and didn’t make a fuss. In all honesty, I can’t be quiet about money. I own a business. I pay staff, pay the bills, and charge for my services. How I use money is part of how I lead…

When it comes to your finances and investments, sometimes it makes sense to keep things relatively uninteresting. That’s not to say you can’t pursue some entertainment and growth with a portion of your holdings. Still, it’s wise to consider the potential risks…

Theresa is 72 years old, and she’s sitting at her kitchen table staring at a bill she doesn’t understand. It’s not an especially complicated bill. At least, she doesn’t think it is. It’s something to do with the homeowners insurance, and there’s a notice about a change in coverage that she isn’t quite sure how to interpret…

So my mom called me last week. Not to catch up, not to tell me about her neighbor’s new dog – she wanted to know why her tax refund was smaller than her friend Linda’s. Linda, it turns out, claimed a senior tax break 2026 deduction my mom didn’t even know existed. Six grand, just sitting there. My mom’s accountant never mentioned it…

In the spirit of October, which is not only National Estate Planning Awareness Month but also the month of Halloween, it seems appropriate to think about what can feel like a gruesome topic: when we stop breathing. What are the “morbid details” that you want to take place? Do you want CPR administered? Who do you want to speak for you when you can’t…

A woman once said something to me that I haven’t forgotten: “Every retirement article I read seems to be written for someone who has money.” She had worked most of her adult life. She paid her bills. She supported herself. But there was no large 401(k). No pension. No impressive investment account waiting for her…

Just because your 65th birthday is approaching doesn’t always mean retirement is. You may enjoy your work. Maybe you haven’t hit your retirement goal. Or maybe you have great health insurance via your employer. And if you have access to a Health Savings Account (HSA), you might enjoy contributing to it…

There are money conversations we avoid because they don’t matter very much. And then there are money conversations we avoid precisely because they matter so much. Maybe your spouse keeps spending in a way that worries you. Maybe your adult daughter has asked for money again, and you don’t know how to tell her you’re uncomfortable continuing to help…

ou worked hard to get here. You built your career, gained experience, earned respect, navigated changes, raised families, met deadlines, solved problems, and probably handled more than anyone will ever know. So why does the career you worked so hard for sometimes leave you wondering…

I have friends – let’s call them Mike and Laura – who retired in 2023 with $1.2 million saved up. That’s a hefty number. They worked hard for it. And they figured they were set. Then they actually ran the math on their life in suburban LA. California income tax (up to 13.3%), property taxes on a pretty average three-bedroom, healthcare supplements, and just the general cost of existing…