Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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On March 8, we observe International Women's Day, a celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Of course, women still tend to encounter more obstacles than men in the pursuit of financial security. Let's consider a few of them. To begin with, women are still more likely to leave the workforce, at least temporarily, to raise children, resulting in lower contributions to employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k)s. And women are often the ones who...
If you're in a blended family, you're already aware of the emotional and financial issues involved in your daily life. But what about the future? When it's time to do your estate planning – and it's never too soon for that – you'll need to be aware of the entanglements and complexities that can get in the way of your vision for leaving the legacy you desire. You can take comfort in knowing that you're far from alone. More than half of married or cohabiting couples with at least one living par...
If you've been contributing for many years to your 401(k) or similar retirement plan, it may be your largest pool of money. So, if you are facing a financial need, you may think about tapping into your account. After all, it's your money – why not use it? But touching your 401(k) before you retire may not be a good idea, as it can lead to some unwanted consequences. First, taking funds out of your 401(k) now could increase the risk of running out of money during retirement, which could last f...
We're nearing the end of 2020 – and for many of us, it will be a relief to turn the calendar page on this challenging year. However, we've still got a few weeks left, which means you have time to make some year-end financial moves that may work in your favor. Here are a few suggestions: • Add to your IRA. For the 2020 tax year, you can put in up to $6,000 to your traditional or Roth IRA, or $7,000 if you're 50 or older. If you haven't reached this limit, consider adding some money. You act...
Divorce is common in our society, but that doesn't make it any easier to navigate. If you've recently finalized a divorce, you've likely been coping with uncertainty and tension, but you can still avoid turning an already difficult situation into one that's even more challenging. How? By making the right financial and investment moves, including the following: • Establish your separate financial presence. Even when you were married, you and your spouse might have maintained some separate a...
Election Day is coming in November. As a citizen, you may feel the results will affect many aspects of life in this country. But as an investor, your situation probably won't change after the votes are counted. No matter who wins, the financial markets may well show some politically driven volatility, but that often happens around elections, and it typically doesn't last long. But what about the longer term? How might changes in policy and new legislation affect your investment outlook? To...
Labor Day is almost here. Of course, this year the holiday may have a different impact, given the employment-related stress and disruptions stemming from the coronavirus. Yet, it's good to recognize the value of work and its importance in achieving your life's goals. But if you're going to retire comfortably and reach your other financial objectives, you also need to invest – and your investments need to work as hard as you do. To help make this happen, you need to know why you're investing i...
In light of COVID-19, virtually all of us have considered health-related issues. But for people facing a serious, chronic illness, such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes or cancer, health concerns are an everyday matter. If you're fortunate, you may never be afflicted with such maladies, but the future is unpredictable. Of course, going through these health challenges bring physical and emotional concerns – but also financial ones. How can you prepare for them? Essentially, y...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. The investment world contains different types of risk. Your stocks or stock-based mutual funds could lose value during periods of market volatility. The price of your bonds or bond funds could also decline, if new bonds are issued at higher interest rates. But have you ever thought about longevity risk? Insurance companies and pension funds view longevity risk as the risk...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. The recent market volatility has affected just about everybody's financial and investment situations – so, if you were planning to retire soon, will it still be possible? Of course, the answer depends somewhat on your employment situation. With so many people's jobs being affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, your retirement plans may also have been thrown into confusion. But...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. Mother's Day is upon us. If you're a mother, you'll enjoy the recognition you get from your family on this day. And given the health concerns caused by the Coronavirus, your appreciation of family may be even greater this year. As we all know, mothers have a difficult job. And many mothers also run their own businesses – another demanding task made even more difficult t...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. As we go through the Coronavirus crisis, we are all, first and foremost, concerned about the health of our loved ones and communities. But the economic implications of the virus have also weighed heavily on our minds. However, if you're an investor or a business owner, you just got some help from Washington – and it could make a big difference, at least in the short term, f...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. As you know, the Coronavirus has become a major health concern, not just in China, but in other parts of the world, too – and it's also shaken up the financial markets. As an individual investor, how concerned should you be? The impact of the Coronavirus on the markets isn't surprising. China is the world's second-largest economy, and when it experiences factory closures, s...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. International Women's Day 2020 is observed on March 8. This special day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Yet, women still face gender barriers as they seek to achieve their financial goals. How can you address these challenges? To begin with, you need to be aware of what you're up against. The wage gap between men and women has...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.It might not have made the headlines, but a recently passed piece of legislation could affect the IRAs and 401(k)s of millions of Americans beginning in 2020. So, if you have either of these accounts, or if you run a business, you'll want to learn more. The new laws, collectively called the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, include these noteworthy changes: • Higher a...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. As 2019 draws to a close, you may be anticipating – or have already received – a year-end bonus from your employer. Or you might be receiving a substantial cash gift for the holidays. (If you’re really lucky, you might get both.) You can doubtlessly think of many ways to spend this money right now, but how can you use it to help yourself in the long run? Here are a few suggestions: • Pay off some de...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Why do you invest? For many people, here's the answer: "I invest because I want to enjoy a comfortable retirement." And that's certainly a great reason, because all of us should regularly put money away for when we're retired. But you can also benefit by investing in your family and your community. Let's start with your family members, particularly the younger ones. How can you invest in their future?...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. As you're well aware, we've seen some sudden and sizable drops in the financial markets in 2019. While market volatility is nothing new, the recent plunges happened during a period of general political and economic unease. Still, it can be harmful to overreact to such events – especially if it means making radical changes to your 401(k). And yet, many people do just that. During market downturns, i...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. It's probably safe to say that many of us are concerned about having enough money to cover our retirement years. In fact, some surveys have shown that we are more frightened of running out of money than we are of dying. What can you do to help alleviate these fears? Your first move is to create a retirement income strategy, and you'll want to develop it well before you need to use it. While there are m...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. What does investing mean to you? If the word makes you think of transactions – buying or selling stocks and bonds – you're looking at just part of the picture. To work toward all your goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you need a comprehensive financial strategy. And for that, you might need to work with a personal financial advisor. But what, specifically, can this type of professional do for...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Regardless of what stage of life you're in, you must make financial and investment decisions that will be with you for the remainder of your years. But the moves you make when you're just starting out in your career may be quite different from when you're retired. So, let's look at some of these moves, stretched out across your lifetime. In your 20s and 30s: During this period, you should strive to...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Women tend to depend more on Social Security for several reasons, including longer life spans, lower average earnings and more time spent away from the workforce to care for family members. Nearly half of all senior unmarried women receiving Social Security benefits rely on them for 90 percent or more of their total income, according to the Social Security Administration. But this isn't by choice,...
