Social Security is a complex system with many guidelines that may or may not apply to your individual situation. To help you make sense of Social Security rules and processes, MERS held a Facebook Live session with Vonda VanTil from the Social Security Administration. She provided answers to questions that our staff frequently hear when… Continue reading
Ever felt trapped by your growing amounts of debt? It can accumulate fast and leave you in a deep financial hole. The more debt you have, the harder it may feel to achieve financial stability. By understanding the categories of debt, you can learn how to put a repayment strategy in place. There are four… Continue reading
The Star Wars franchise has inspired no shortage of memes, quotes, dreams and followers over these past years. In honor of May the 4th (be with you), let’s take a look at the top five financial lessons we can draw from this world of iconic heroes, dreaded villains and explosive action. 1. Unlearn Bad (Financial)… Continue reading
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney — what do all these things mean? No question, estate-planning jargon can be confusing. Yet, having a plan is an important part of your overall financial wellness. Let’s walk through some basic terms, concepts and tools to help you better understand the components of estate planning. A Will Comes First… Continue reading
Buckle Up Investing is comparable to a roller coaster ride. It’s filled with ups and downs and can appear overwhelming at times. There will be moments of thrill and moments of fear. Your decisions during the process will impact your financial wellness and retirement readiness. Wherever you’re at in the ride, there are important considerations… Continue reading
Most of us will be on a fixed income once we retire. In addition to any pension or social security benefits we might receive, we will need to determine how much to pay ourselves out of our retirement savings account. Retirement industry experts recommend planning to be able to replace 80% of your pre-retirement income…. Continue reading
Sure, it would be nice to pay for unexpected expenses without pulling out a credit card, but that’s easier said than done, right? The secret to paying out-of-pocket to replace a refrigerator, that has lost its cool, is to build an emergency savings fund. Having money set aside for emergencies can help prevent you from… Continue reading
Hey Millennials! Think it’s too early to be thinking about your retirement? Think again… When you’re in your twenties and just starting out in your career, saving for retirement might not seem that important. It can be hard to save for retirement when you have so many other demands on your money. But getting a… Continue reading
Everyone’s attitude toward investing and money is different. Yet, most people share some common situations throughout their lives. For instance, as you grow older time certainly affects how you invest for retirement, but what about other life stages that aren’t related to age? Let’s say you’re 40 and expecting your first child. You’ll need to… Continue reading
Managing your debt is an important step to attaining financial freedom and security. Although the burden of debt may appear inescapable, there are many helpful management strategies. Here are a few that can help you work toward a stress-free and debt-free financial life. Balancing your Budget One of the first steps to effective debt management… Continue reading