Ben Atherton

A Roth IRA can be a great way to put money away for retirement, letting you save and invest dollars youve already paid taxes on, and potentially freeing you from worry about taxes in retirement when you withdraw the money. But many Roth IRA account owners may not understand the 5-year aging requirement, also known … Read more

When retirement is nearing, you need to get your finances in order. If you weren’t already, now is the time to get laser focused on saving for your golden years. Experts say that by age 60, you should have saved eight times your annual salary. This will help you be ready for retirement. This number … Read more

Are you afraid that taking money out of your 401(k) will lower your Social Security checks? I have good news for you! Taking money out of your 401(k) won’t directly lower your monthly Social Security benefit amount, but there is a catch you need to know about for taxes Over the years I’ve spent helping … Read more

So you’ve lost your spouse, and among all the grief and paperwork, there’s this Roth IRA account sitting there. What now? I know it’s overwhelming to deal with financial matters during such a difficult time, but understanding your options for an inherited Roth IRA can actually help secure your financial future. You have special rights … Read more

You may believe that you must be “wealthy” to need a living trust, but that is certainly not the case. Living trusts are becoming a prevalent estate planning tool for many people (and families) whose main assets are their homes, vehicles, etc. This is mostly because setting up a living trust can save you and … Read more

When it comes to planning your estate, there are two terms you need to be 100% clear on: beneficiary designation vs. will. Trust & Will breaks them down. When you first start planning your estate, you’ll run into a lot of unfamiliar terms. There are two terms that are easy to mix up: beneficiary designation … Read more

Are you standing at the crossroads of retirement planning wondering if patience will literally pay off when it comes to your Social Security benefits? You’re not alone! This question keeps many soon-to-be retirees up at night do I get more Social Security if I wait until age 70? In short, yes, you do get more … Read more

More than 74 million Social Security beneficiaries will still receive their payments amid a federal government shutdown. But while the agencys local offices are slated to stay open, certain services may not be available. According to a statement from the agency, the Social Security Administration will continue to do business as planned by following a … Read more

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries must comply with very stringent income and asset rules to receive benefits. One such rule is the resource allowance limit: A single SSI beneficiary may have only $2,000 of countable resources (for a couple, $3,000). Countable resources include items such as cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, brokerage … Read more