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Did you know only 11% of American couples retire at the same time? This plan can be beneficial due to continued income, extended healthcare coverage, and maximized Social Security benefits. Learn how staggered retirement could work for you: https://bit.ly/46e1BJ6

Why couples should consider staggered retirements In addition to the financial ramifications of staggered retirement, there are the emotional ones as well, including how couples feel about one partner still working and the other tapping on their shoulder wanting to take a trip somewhere.

Retiring comfortably might cost more than you think. Americans estimate needing $1.46 million, but which retirement account is best to help you reach that goal? Learn the differences between traditional and Roth IRAs, and how to make the right choice: https://bit.ly/3PuGN8h

Should You Use a Roth or Traditional IRA? Roth or traditional IRAs are great tools for building a robust nest egg, if you know how to use them.

The IRS has issued crucial guidance on early withdrawal exceptions on the 10% additional tax for emergency expenses and domestic abuse victims. This is an optional provision—discover how these changes could affect your plan: https://bit.ly/4eOFZqH

IRS Clarifies 10% Additional Tax for Certain Emergency Distributions The IRS on June 20 issued guidance on the application of exceptions to the 10% additional tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 72(t)(1) for emergency personal expense distributions and domestic abuse victim distributions.

The "boomerang kid" phenomenon is real - a staggering 46% of parents say their adult children have moved back home, mostly due to sky-high housing costs. If you're in this situation, check out this guide to navigating the familial and financial dynamics: https://bit.ly/3X5X5tN

3 survival tips for parents of ‘boomerang’ kids An unaffordable housing market has caused recent graduates to return home to parents, making boundaries key in this living arrangement.

Surprisingly, only about two-thirds of Americans have enough money set aside to cover an unexpected $400 expense. If you not feeling prepared for an unforeseen cost, learn how much to save in an emergency fund and smart ways to manage it: https://bit.ly/3Vi7kdf

Building Your Emergency Fund: A Step-by-Step Guide Discover how to build an emergency fund through our in-depth guide. An emergency fund can help provide financial security when unexpected situations happen.

With major elections coming up worldwide, how can you look beyond headlines and gauge the true economic health of a country? Commonwealth senior investment research analyst, Peter Roberto, examines data metrics that can show financial stability: https://bit.ly/3WU42OH

Headlines, Sentiment, or Data: How to Gauge a Country’s Health How can investors gauge a country's health? Commonwealth's Peter Roberto provides his perspective as an international and global equity analyst.

Commonwealth director, fixed income, Sam Millette, talks about the market pullback in April and what lies ahead in terms of economic growth and potential risks in his latest blog post. Don’t miss Sam’s insights: https://bit.ly/4bujNjm

Looking Back at the Markets in April and Ahead to May 2024 What are the current market expectations for May? Sam Millette, director of fixed income, takes a look ahead in his latest update.

The Federal Reserve’s latest message could affect borrowing costs and savings. Commonwealth investment research analyst, Joe Dunn, looks at what drove the decision to hold rates steady and what factors to consider leading up to their June meeting: https://bit.ly/44qd1IY

Digesting the Fed: Higher for Longer and Longer With shelter costs continuing to be a thorn in the Fed's side, Commonwealth's Joe Dunn says the higher-for-longer rate narrative may persist.

Older Americans behind on their student loans could soon see their Social Security greatly decreased. When government collection practices revert to pre-pandemic era policies, benefits could be reduced to repay defaulted debt. Learn more: https://bit.ly/43CFhHX

Millions of older adults with student debt are at risk of losing some Social Security benefits, lawmakers warn Millions of older adults behind on their student loans could soon receive a smaller Social Security benefit.

As you near retirement age, the temptation to stop working and take a well-earned break may be tough to resist. But waiting even a year could boost your Social Security benefit enough to make a significant difference in your retirement income. Learn more: https://bit.ly/43uk2Ip

Here's how long you have to keep working to get the most money from Social Security Delaying your retirement by even a single year could result in a higher Social Security benefit.

Red alert! Commonwealth director, fixed income, Sam Millette, has downgraded the overall market risk level to red. Check out the risks Sam is watching in his new SlideShare: https://bit.ly/43rz8y9

Monthly Market Risk Update: March 2024 [SlideShare] Market complacency fell slightly in February and is worth monitoring, said Sam Millette, director of fixed income, in his latest Market Risk Update.

Are you considering moving your 401(k) to another retirement account and wondering what it entails? Read on to understand the options, considerations, and steps involved with moving funds before rolling over your 401(k) plan. https://bit.ly/49PXR1t

How to Roll Over Your 401(k) Understand the steps involved with moving funds before rolling over your 401(k) plan.

Job growth remained strong in February, according to the latest employment report. Don’t miss Commonwealth director, fixed income, Sam Millette’s summary of other recent data report results in his new Economic Release Snapshot: https://bit.ly/3TusC6q

Economic Release Snapshot: Hiring Accelerates in February What does the latest data reveal about the state of the U.S. economy? Commonwealth's Sam Millette breaks down the numbers in his Economic Release Snapshot.

Planning for retirement as a couple takes time and effort, but it’s also key to plan for the “solo years,” after one spouse has passed away. This period is not only difficult emotionally but financially as well. Find out why and how best to prepare: https://bit.ly/3P4PneQ

Why The Solo Years Of Retirement Are The Most Critical And How To Plan For Them The solo years are critical to retirement finances, yet few retirement plans provide for the important changes of that period.

Most markets performed well in February, but what will March have in store? Commonwealth CIO, Brad McMillan, offers insight about the month ahead in his latest blog post. Don’t miss Brad’s analysis: https://bit.ly/3wH8vcp

Looking Back at the Markets in February and Ahead to March 2024 What are the market expectations and potential risks for March? Commonwealth CIO Brad McMillan takes a look ahead in his latest update.

If you’re a retiree with an IRA, consider key strategies for taking required minimum distributions (RMDs), making charitable contributions, conversions, and rollovers to maximize your after-tax wealth. Check out these actions to think about in 2024: https://bit.ly/3wC5HNA

Here Are 6 IRA Moves To Take In 2024 That You Should Review Now Waiting until near the end of the year to consider your IRA strategies can cost you a lot of money.

Aging comes with many benefits—wisdom, life experience, and even tax breaks. If you’re nearing or over 50, check out these 10 ways you may be able to save on your tax return: https://bit.ly/49pjGF0

10 Tax Breaks for People Over 50 Growing older qualifies you for a variety of tax perks that aren't available to younger workers.

Have you been hesitant to start a retirement account because of the inability to withdraw funds without a penalty? A new rule would allow one penalty-free withdrawal from a workplace 401(k)-type account per year for emergency expenses. Get more details: https://bit.ly/3T3XKJW

How Americans can tap 401(k) type funds without a tax penalty, build up workplace savings The passage of the Secure 2.0 Act made it easier for people to dip into tax-deferred savings funds for emergencies. Here's a breakdown.

A majority of seniors will need some type of long-term care as they age, and many would prefer to remain at home instead of moving to a senior care facility. Learn the types of in-home care available, average costs, and other tips for “aging in place”: https://bit.ly/42Lpkiq

Senior Home Care: Services, Costs and Tips for Aging in Place Learn about in-home caregiving options for seniors who want to stay in their houses for as long as possible.

Commonwealth director, fixed income, Sam Millette, has left the overall market risk level at yellow in his latest Monthly Market Risk Update. Check out this SlideShare to learn about the risks Sam is watching: https://bit.ly/3uwECeb

Monthly Market Risk Update: February 2024 [SlideShare] Should we monitor market complacency in February? Sam Millette, director, fixed income, discusses the potential risks in his latest update.

It might feel like you have lots of time to save for retirement, but once you reach your 50s and retirement is just a decade or so away, saving becomes more important. Learn how to prioritize retirement savings in your 50s with these tips: https://bit.ly/4bCL2sU

Saving for retirement in your 50s can be 'really stress-inducing,' expert says. These tips can help People in their 50s often face competing priorities that may make it difficult to prioritize retirement. Experts say these tips can help you stay on track.

If you’ve gotten an unreasonably high medical bill, you’re not alone. Medical debt plagues many Americans, but there are ways to handle those charges—and even new rules for how medical debt affects your credit that could be beneficial for you. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3SKIjpI

What to Do When Your Medical Bills Are Out of Control From negotiating bills to making sure they are error-free, there are plenty of effective ways to handle those charges.

A tale as old as time – when it comes to retirements savings, not all Americans have sufficient funds. Read how growing retirement savings will affect all levels of income. https://bit.ly/3vHtz1M

Retirement Savings Are Growing But Not For Everyone While many near-retirees seem better prepared for the average costs of old age, including healthcare and long-term care, tens of millions of others are not.

If you’re collecting Social Security, or plan to collect benefits soon, you’ll want to be prepared for how that income is taxed. Check out this information about Social Security taxes and how you can reduce your tax liability: https://bit.ly/3SgbU8W

I'm Receiving $3,500 Per Month From Social Security. How Can I Reduce My Taxes? Social Security can generate real income. The more you earned during your working life, up to each year's income caps, the more you receive in benefits during your retirement. In 2024, someone with maximum credits who waits until age 70 will receive almost $60,000 per year in benefits. But, as alway...

Signing a credit card receipt may soon be a thing of the past. What was once the best way to protect against fraud is rarely needed anymore thanks to technological advances. Find out the new gold standard to ensure your credit information is safe: https://bit.ly/3HqrD0u

Credit Card Signatures Are Going Away — Should You Be Worried? Major credit card networks are eliminating the need for signatures at the point of sale. What does that mean for you?

If you’ll need financial aid for the 2024-2025 school year, you may already know that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has recently been revised to make applying easier. After a soft launch, it’s now available to all. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4229AXZ

After soft launch challenges, FAFSA 2024-25 form is now available 24/7, Dept of Ed says The new and simplified FAFSA is now available 24/7, potentially easing student worries about delays in applying for aid.

Can market momentum continue into an election year? Commonwealth investment research analyst, Tom Logue, takes a look at the end of 2023, along with historical data, in his analysis. Don’t miss Tom’s insights: https://bit.ly/41W2XpT

Can Market Momentum Continue into the Election Year? Will market momentum continue in this election year? Commonwealth's Tom Logue says historical data may provide a window into the future.

November’s market rally continued into December, with a strong finish to the year. Will that continue, or is there volatility ahead? Check out Commonwealth CIO Brad McMillan’s insights in his latest blog post: https://bit.ly/3vqex0v

Looking Back at the Markets in December and Ahead to January 2024 What are the market expectations as we enter the new year? Commonwealth CIO Brad McMillan takes a look ahead.

The start of a new year brings hope for good things to come, but is there hope for lower prices? Check out this summary of predictions for gas, food, and housing costs in 2024: https://bit.ly/48mbswU

Gas, food and housing: How will prices change over the next year? Americans can expect some relief at the gas pump and grocery store in 2024, according to recent forecasts.

If you or your child will need financial help with education costs during the 2024-2025 school year, now is the time to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Here’s how the new form is different, and why you should submit it ASAP: https://bit.ly/4aJYJWj

Hanging in the FAFSA waiting room? What to do to prepare as you wait for your turn. The new, simplified FAFSA finally launches (barely) after a 3-month delay. There's no time to spare in getting it done. What you need to know.