Avoiding a Personal Financial Filibuster
Is the political uncertainty getting in the way of your financial plan? There is a glut of data available about what the markets will do after an election year. Depending on the way the data is manipulated, one may come to the conclusion that the market itself predicts the presidential election or that the party in office dictates the ensuing returns. If you’re paying attention to pundits, you may well want to sit on the sidelines while things shake out.
Ultimately, that decision lies with you. But consider the following propositions before you vote on a specific action—or inaction.
As we look at the trajectory of the U.S. economic recovery, once again this year we see a light at the end of the tunnel and wonder if it is an oncoming train. Although improvements in 2010 and 2011 did indeed end up derailing, it looks, at this point, as if 2012 may bring the start of sustainable growth. The end result remains vulnerable to outside influences, though, so the real question is, How will we know
For most people these days, the idea of retiring early is just a dream—it’s not very realistic. This is due, in part, to the costs associated with obtaining health insurance before age 65, when Medicare eligibility kicks in. And, even with Medicare, a retiree’s younger spouse or dependents often aren’t covered
