Make time your investing ally
How much money will you need in retirement?
Unless you’re able to predict the future, you probably can’t answer that question with absolute certainty. There are simply too many variables involved.
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Military families begin the year confident in their financial futures
The year 2017 just might be a good year for military families and their finances. Not only did they receive their largest pay raise since 2010, but they ended the year optimistic about their financial futures.
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Emergency savings for life in the military
Type “emergency savings” into Google, and you’ll find hundreds of articles on the subject that all promote the same general message: you should save and maintain roughly 6 months’ worth of income for unexpected expenses.
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Freedom from debt
In his essay on wealth, Ralph Waldo Emerson writes that “a man in debt is so far a slave.” Since debt is sometimes a necessary tool to help us purchase something essential, we don’t often think about it in those terms.
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The changing terrain: Post-election financial decisions
Following the November presidential election, First Command Financial Services surveyed a group of middle-class military and general population families* to find out two things about their personal financial decisions:
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Did the election change the riskiness of their finances/investments?
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3 strategies to get your finances squared away
Whether it’s the financial guru on TV or your well-intentioned father-in-law, everyone seems to have a foolproof trick that will fix your finances. Unfortunately, a single trick or tactic isn’t enough.
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DoD budget cuts mean shorter vacations for military families
America’s career military families are dialing back their vacation plans this summer, driven by persistent concerns about defense downsizing. In fact, 73 percent of middle-class military families surveyed* say their plans have changed as a result of defense spending cuts.
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The servicemembers’ guide to annuities
An annuity is a type of investment product that can generate regular income for you and your spouse after retirement. Like a 401(k) or TSP savings, annuities are tax-advantaged, meaning you won’t have to pay taxes on earnings until you begin to withdraw funds.
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Teaching your children financial responsibility: The basics
It’s never too early to teach your children about finances. And while “finances” may not seem like a word you would usually apply to a child’s allowance, what they learn early on about spending and saving can stay with them for a lifetime.
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Misconceptions about your free credit report
Maintaining good credit — which can help you enjoy preferred rates on loans, even insurance — is like maintaining your good name. You want to be spoken of in only the best of terms. That’s why it’s important to review your free credit report once each year.
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