Bedel Blog

Some retirees discover that leaving a career is much easier than figuring out what comes next. If retirement is three to five years away, now may be the ideal time to begin preparing for both the financial and personal aspects of this next chapter.

To decide whether paying down debt is more valuable than investing, compare the loan interest rate with the investment’s expected return. If the expected investment return is higher, investing may offer greater financial benefit. If the loan interest rate is higher, paying down the balance may be the better use of your excess cash.

Anyone can fall victim to identity theft – the Federal Trade Commission recorded an astounding 1.3 million cases last year. Here’s how to prevent becoming a victim of cyber fraud.

Not everyone can rely on withholding from their paychecks. Business owners, independent contractors, retirees, and even traditional employees with income from other sources may need to make estimated tax payments throughout the year.

Saving a few hundred dollars monthly seems insignificant next to social media's overnight success stories. This fuels a gambling mentality!

If you are considering early retirement, what planning needs to be done to make sure you are prepared to support yourself for the rest of your life?

With the stock market performing very well over the past several years, now is a good time to make sure all those gains in your 529 accounts are positioned appropriately for their timeline.

The need to insure against loss of income has never been more relevant. More and more pressure is being placed on week-to-week cash flow to support long-term financial plans. Consider your need for additional disability protection to ensure that the only thing you are worrying about during a period of disability is healing.

The milestone may grab headlines, but it shouldn't change a well-designed investment strategy. To answer what investors should do now, it helps to remember what it felt like getting from 30,000 to 50,000 in the first place.

If initiating the conversation might be too difficult, consider having your financial advisor facilitate a family meeting. They will be able to drive the conversation, explain financial planning topics and their importance, and be a neutral third party amongst the family.

While the data shows that IPOs are highly volatile, it doesn't mean these companies are bad investments. It simply means that evaluating them requires the same discipline as any other asset: understanding what you own, what you are paying for, and having the patience to sit through inevitable rough patches.

Set yourself up for success by taking time upfront to map out billing due dates and a payment strategy. If combining multiple funding resources, get more information from the college regarding payment logistics.