Managing Money

Over the years, whether on television shows, articles, and financial sound bites, there has seemed to be a consistent message: claim Social Security as early as possible…

Do you love the holidays like I do? Or do you feel more like Scrooge (like my husband pretends to be)? If you’re not in the “Bah humbug” mood, what is it that brings you joy about this season? Lights, music, food, festivities, gifts…

Money guilt can be heavy. But underneath it is often something deeper: care, love, and a desire to do right by….

What are your biggest regrets? If you’re in your 60s, you may have regrets about your relationships. Or, perhaps you think that your choice of career was a mistake. Well, talking with the other women in our community, I can promise you one thing – by the time you reach your 70s, one regret will drown out all others. I’m talking, of course, about how much you saved for retirement…

For the last few years, it felt like someone was always talking about Roth conversions. Whether it was finance shows on TV, newsletters, or seminars, this message was a constant: “Convert now while tax rates are low. Time is running out!” This was likely motivated by the Tax Cuts…

My aging parents are both over 80. They live in their own home and are managing their day-to-day activities and financial affairs with admirable fervor and zest. I see them every few months, and we talk regularly on the phone. They acknowledge…

In a previous blog, I shared a three-question financial literacy assessment that is used widely in the United States and in many other countries as well. It was developed over 20 years ago by two college professors, Lusardi and Mitchell. The questions cover the concepts of compound interest…

When women tell me they’re “not good with money,” they don’t say it lightly. They say it with the weight of decades behind it, stories of financial ups and downs, cultural messages about what women “should” be like, and shame that has quietly taken root over time….

Over the years, I’ve had my share of odd jobs. As a teenager, I took them to make pocket money for the essentials – glossy magazines with pinups of the day’s hunks and disco dance lessons. I did everything from babysitting to working at a dry cleaner’s to typing invoices…

A close friend of mine recently lost his father. It was sudden and without warning. His dad was in his early 70s, still full of life, about to retire, and looking forward to future trips they would never get to take. It made me remember, people don’t always pass away in the order we expect…