Insuring Infirmity
LONG-TERM-CARE insurance and disability insurance can both be part of a comprehensive financial plan. But is it a good idea to have both coverages at the same time, or could one substitute for the other? After all, both policies are designed to help those who...
No Guarantees
TARGET-DATE FUNDS are riding a wave of popularity. Morningstar reports that investors placed $170 billion into these funds in 2021, more than double their 2020 inflow. Morningstar also reports that, as of 2019, 58% of all 401(k) participants were invested in a...
Perspective Needed
THE HIGHEST expression of complexity is thoughtful simplicity. It’s like standing on a mountaintop after navigating the ascent. The work of the mountain’s trailblazer is arduous. He or she must focus intently on the task at hand, glancing left and right, guessing...
Time to Settle Up
TAX DAY IS ALMOST here, and I have a feeling that some of you may be less than excited. The cash that changes hands every year around this time gets a lot of attention, but it tells an incomplete story. The size of the check you write—or the refund you’re...
Set Up to Succeed
LOOKING TO IMPROVE your physical and financial health? You might have heard similar sounding advice: All you have to do is burn more calories than you consume—and to spend less than you make. While there’s an element of truth to both platitudes, I don’t find...
22 Tax Season Tips
WILL YOU BE WORKING with a CPA to file your tax return? For eight years, I was one of the folks on the other side of this annual ordeal. Want to make life easier both for yourself and for us green-shade types? Here are 22 insights: 1. Time is money. CPAs...
Collecting Taxes
WHEN A FRIEND TOLD me about his newfound interest in buying and selling sports trading cards, it reminded me of the joy that collecting brought me in my childhood. And when he asked me to explain the relevant taxation, it got me thinking: The core of the tax code...
What’s On Matt’s Blog
When you have questions about money, who do you go to first? A financial advisor The financial media Your friends and family Your pastor or a leader in your church Do you ever find it challenging to decide who to listen to? What a variety of perspectives! The blog at...