Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 72
Now that it's the holiday season, gifts are probably on your mind – and you might intend for some of those gifts to go to charities. Although your intentions are good, you could be shortchanging both your recipients and yourself with your method of giving. But with some guidance, you can make choices that work well for you and those charitable groups you support. Of course, you could simply give money to these groups. However, by donating other types of assets, can you increase the value of y...
If you receive Social Security, you've probably already heard that your checks in 2023 will be bigger – considerably bigger, in fact. How can you make the best use of this extra money? Here's what's happening: For 2023, there's an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits – the largest increase in 40 years. Also, the monthly Medicare Part B premiums are declining next year, to $164.90/month from $170.10/month, which will also modestly boost Social Security checks for...
You can find many ways to support charitable organizations. One method that's gained popularity over the past few years is called a donor-advised fund. Should you consider it? The answer depends on your individual situation, because donor-advised funds are not appropriate for everyone. However, if you're in a position to make larger charitable gifts, you might at least want to see what this strategy has to offer. Here's how it works: • Contribute to the fund. You can contribute to your d...
There are no shortcuts to investment success – you need to establish a long-term strategy and stick with it. This means that you'll want to create an investment mix based on your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon – and then regularly review this mix to ensure it's still meeting your needs. In fact, investing for the long term doesn't necessarily mean you should lock your investments in forever. Throughout your life, you'll likely need to make some changes. Of course, everyone's sit...
You may have heard that you can simplify your investment strategy just by owning index-based or passive investments. But is this a good idea? You'll want to consider the different aspects of this type of investment style. To begin with, an index-based investment is a vehicle such as a mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that mimics the performance of a market benchmark, or index - the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and so on. (An ETF is similar to a mutual fund in that it ho...
In just a few weeks, students will be heading off to college – and parents will be getting out their checkbooks. Without a college-bound student in your home right now, you might not be thinking much about tuition and other higher education expenses, but if you have young children, these costs may eventually be of concern – so how should you prepare for them? It's never too soon to start saving and investing. Unfortunately, many people think that they have a lot of "catching up" to do. In fac...
So far, 2022 has not been a good year for investors. In fact, we're moving into bear market territory. What should you know about bear markets? And how should you respond? To begin with, a bear market occurs when a stock market index, such as the S&P 500, falls at least 20% from its most recent high point. You might think this type of drop is rare, but that's not actually the case. Historically, bear markets have occurred every few years and are a normal feature of the investment landscape. We e...
With cryptocurrencies so much in the news, you might be wondering if you should invest in them. But "invest" may not be the right word – because, in many ways, cryptocurrencies, or "crypto" for short, are more speculation than investment. But what's really the difference between a speculator and an investor? Probably the main factor is the differing views of time. A true investor is in it for the long term, building a portfolio that, over many years, can eventually provide the financial r...
You might enjoy owning your home – but the mortgage? Not so much. In fact, you might want to do everything you can to pay it off as quickly as possible. But is that always the best strategy? In one sense, your mortgage can be considered a "good" debt because it's backed by a tangible asset – your home – that has real value and may even gain further value. Furthermore, by historical standards, you're probably paying a pretty low interest rate on your mortgage, so you're getting a lot of benef...
To achieve most goals in life, you need some type of strategy. And that's certainly true for your financial goals. Since you likely have multiple financial goals, you may need to pursue several different strategies – but they all should follow a similar process. What does this process entail? Here are the basic steps: • Fully define each goal. Like most people, you probably have a goal of someday enjoying a comfortable retirement. But have you defined what "comfortable retirement" means to you?...
These are unsettling times for investors. Even before the geopolitical crisis involving Russia and Ukraine, the financial markets were facing headwinds due to higher inflation, the anticipation of rising interest rates and the continuing effects of the pandemic. As an individual investor, should you take some type of action? It’s helpful to put today’s headlines in perspective. While the Federal Reserve probably will raise interest rates, they are doing so from a point where these rates wer...
If you're a business owner, you've got so much to think about, and you work so hard, that it might be difficult to envision the day when you're in a different place in life. However, that day will likely arrive, so you'll want to be prepared for it, which means you'll need an exit strategy. But how do you create one? Here are some steps that can prove helpful: • Start planning early. Making a quick exit is probably not a viable strategy for most business owners. Instead, you'll want to plan f...
The long-running coronavirus pandemic has fueled a lot of anxieties – including financial ones. But some people have had far fewer worries than others. Consider this: Among those investors who work with a financial advisor, 84% said that doing so gave them a greater sense of comfort about their finances during the pandemic, according to a survey from Age Wave and Edward Jones. Of course, many people experience investment-related fears even without a global health crisis, and that's probably n...
As you know, inflation heated up in 2021, following years of pretty stable – and low – numbers. And now, early in 2022, we're still seeing elevated prices. As a consumer, you may need to adjust your activities somewhat, but as an investor, how should you respond to inflation? First, it helps to know the causes of this recent inflationary spike. Essentially, it's a case of basic economics – strong demand for goods meeting inadequate supply, caused by material and labor shortages, along with...
If your parents are getting close to retirement age, or are already retired, it may be time to talk with them about financial and aging issues, some of which may involve difficult conversations. For the sake of everyone in your family, don't avoid these "taboo" topics. You'll need to be careful about approaching these subjects with your parents. Mention ahead of time that you'd like to talk to them about their future plans and reassure them that you want to understand their wishes, so their...
Jennifer Palakiko, a local Edward Jones financial advisor, is supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program by using her office as a drop-off location for this year's toy drive. Local residents may help needy children in the area by bringing in a new, unwrapped toy to the office, 709 W. Valley Blvd. Suite B, Tehachapi, during regular business hours beginning Nov. 8 through Dec. 10. Monetary gifts cannot be accepted. "With the holiday season around the corner, we are all getting ready fo...
On Veterans Day, we honor the men and women who have served in our armed forces. If you've recently separated or retired from the military, or you will be leaving soon, you can be proud of the service you've provided to your country. But once you're a veteran, away from the structure and imperatives of the military, you may need to take greater control over managing your finances and protecting your family. For starters, consider housing. When you were on active duty, you may have moved around...
If you're a woman who owns a business, you may have some challenges not shared by your male peers – but you also have several opportunities to help improve your financial future. You may already be taking some or all the right steps, but here are some ideas to be sure you're considering and revisiting as your business grows: • Refresh your network. Are you involved in networking with other women business owners? Many of them may have insights into the issues women face in the business wor...
If you're getting close to retirement, you're probably thinking about the ways your life will soon be changing. And one key transition involves your income – instead of being able to count on a regular paycheck, as you've done for decades, you'll now need to put together an income stream on your own. How can you get started? It's helpful that you begin thinking about retirement income well before you actually retire. Many people don't – in fact, 61% of retirees wish they had done better at pla...
If you don't have a spouse or children, you might think you don't need to do much estate planning. But if you have any assets, any familial connections, any interest in supporting charitable groups – not to mention a desire to control your own future – you do need to establish an estate plan. In evaluating your needs for this type of planning, let's start with what might happen if you die intestate – that is, without a last will and testament. In this scenario, your assets will likely have...
For more than a decade, inflation has been essentially dormant. In recent months, though, economists have expected an uptick but were still surprised by the sharp jump in the April Consumer Price Index (CPI), which rose 4.2 percent from a year ago. As an investor, what can you expect if we do enter a more inflationary environment? First, it's useful to understand the main causes of the recent spike in prices. Part of the explanation is simply a result of increased economic activity in the spring...
June is Effective Communications Month. And it's a good idea to recognize the importance of good communications, because it plays a role in almost every aspect of living – including your finances. You'll want to clearly communicate your financial goals to your loved ones – and you'll want to hear theirs, too. Let's look at some of the communications you might have with family members: • Your spouse – You and your spouse may have different thoughts about a range of financial topics – how much...
The COVID-19 pandemic may have unsettled many aspects of your life – including your financial situation. Even if your employment and earnings were not directly affected, you might have concerns about whether you’ve been making the right investment moves in such a stressful environment. The pandemic is, hopefully, just a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, but different events can rattle financial markets. And changes in your own life can also impact your plans. To prepare yourself for whatever tom...
If you have a child or other family member who has special needs due to physical or mental conditions, you face a variety of challenges planning for their care, including financial ones. You may also have some well-meaning relatives who want to help, but who may not realize that their moves could actually result in some serious lifestyle and monetary problems for your loved one. Fortunately, by planning ahead, you can avoid these potential traps. As you probably already know, individuals with...
If you earn a lot of money, you may also pay a lot in taxes – a fact that's particularly relevant now, as we are well into tax-filing season. At this point, there's not a lot you can do to affect the outcome for the 2020 tax year, but if you want to change your tax outlook for the years ahead, you can make several moves. Here are a few "tax-smart" investment strategies to consider: • Put as much as you can into your 401(k). By contributing pretax dollars to a traditional 401(k), you'll red...
