RIF’s are in the news recently which is Reduction In Force also known as laying off, buying out, or early retiring the federal workforce. The goal of the current administration is to reduce the federal workforce by tens of thousands of workers. When a mass layoff of tens of thousands of employees happens there will be an impact from RIF’s. Will it affect you? Let’s just say if the federal government reduces the workforce by 100,000 people across all the…
It’s been around 20 years since I had a laid off experience. I vowed that I would prepare myself more confidently to manage through a layoff if I ever had to go through another one. The future of my employment is 50/50. 20 years ago I would be stressing out. Today, those stresses are much lower because I have built that financial security over these past 20 years. Minimize the effects of being laid off. Here’s what I’ve done to prepare myself. Build…
The thought of getting laid off is unsettling. Having your primary source of income no longer available is one of the most vulnerable feelings you can have. How will you pay rent, mortgage, car loan, insurance, food, clothes, and other bills. No job is 100% safe, not even federal jobs. Have you ever thought of what to do if you get laid off? I’ve been laid off once and I will never forget the feeling when I received the news….
The market is in a nose dive. From increased tariffs to lower consumer confidence, the stock market is trending down. Concerns with inflation and laying off thousands of federal workers are also concerns that could impact the market and economy. How far and how much longer will longer will this dip go on for? Is this more than a dip? The Dow has dropped over 2000 points in a month’s timeframe. The general practice is to buy equities during a…
Lately, prices on many things have started to rise. You probably noticed that egg prices are rising, grocery bills are higher, and eating out is starting to hurt your pocket. Food prices are not what they used to be. Food is something you absolutely need to survive and can’t cut this out of your budget. Dealing with rising food costs is something we will have to adjust for. Here are a few ways that I’m adjusting. Cook more at home…
Roth conversion is when you convert your pre-tax retirement funds to after-tax retirement funds. It’s a tool to use in your retirement or early retirement calculations. Moving funds from a pre-tax retirement account to an after-tax retirement account which allows it to grow tax free and when you withdraw from an after-tax retirement account you won’t have to pay taxes because you’ve already paid taxes on it. That’s the beauty of a Roth retirement account. However, you need to be…
Lately, there’s been a lot going on in the news that can feel somewhat chaotic. From the changes in the government to return to office and to inflation ticking higher, how can we find comfort. There are worries of tariffs causing prices to rise. The cost of groceries are going up. Your money isn’t taking you as far as it used to. What can you do to help ease worries through these times of worries? Have a backup plan. A…
We just passed the hottest holiday shopping season with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Did you buy anything for yourself? Were you debating whether to buy something or not? There are so many ads with blockbuster sales that it’s hard not to buy things you want. How did you deal with that holiday shopping itch? I’m a tech guy and deals on tech always catches my eye. Whether it’s new computers, phones, tablets, smart watches, cameras, or other gadgets, if…
Retirement catch up contributions allow people age 50 or more to make additional contributions above the standard limit. In 2025, the standard limit is $23,500 you can contribute to your 401K. If you are 50 and older in 2025, you can contribute an additional $7,500. This is a total of $31,000. You can contribute any amount up to $7,500. Whether you are doing a traditional 401K pre-tax or a Roth 401K post-tax, the retirement contribution limits apply to both including…
By now you should be receiving emails, mail, and other communications about health benefits, retirement contributions, and other end of year decisions to make. It’s open season for health benefits so it’s a good time to review your coverage and make any changes you need. Not just health benefits, there are other things to consider that would affect the following year. These are some of my end of year to-do list before the year ends. Review health coverage Open season…