Posts by Zack Alkhamis
Cooking With What You Have
We are currently living in a confusing time where most of us cannot leave our homes. At first, this sounds great, but then you are hit with reality. You, and probably your spouse are working from home, and your kids’ school has canceled until next month, so they are home with you. The kids are…
Read MoreSocial Security’s Future Is Safe
Social Security is the bedrock of Americans’ retirement income security. So you may have been concerned by the news that the federal government needed to dip into the Social Security’s trust fund to pay for the program this year. Does that mean Social Security’s future isn’t safe? As an economist who has written extensively on…
Read MoreApril Is Financial Literacy Month
April is National Financial Literacy Month – an entire month dedicated to underscoring the importance of learning, establishing and maintaining healthy financial habits. But ask yourself this: what have you learned about anything financial lately? Do most of your neighbors keep a household budget or save for retirement? Does your cousin live hand-to-mouth? Do you…
Read MoreTax Strategies For Retirees
Nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. — Benjamin Franklin That saying still rings true roughly 300 years after the former statesman coined it. Yet, by formulating a tax-efficient investment and distribution strategy, retirees may keep more of their hard-earned assets for themselves and their heirs. Here are a few suggestions for effective money…
Read MorePayroll Tax Reduction Q&A
The Trump administration has recently signaled that it’s looking at temporary reduction in payroll taxes as one way it can help support the economy through any COVID-19-releated economic slowdown. Today we take a brief look at what a payroll reduction is, how it would be implemented, and what it might do. What are payroll taxes? Payroll…
Read MoreSpring Clean Your Finances
As temperatures warm up, trees begin budding, and the days get longer, you probably throw open your windows and think about spring cleaning your home. As you tackle washing windows, cleaning carpets, and sorting out the garage, don’t forget to consider your finances. Check out these tips to successfully spring clean your finances. 1. Reassess…
Read MoreRemarriage: Altering Your Financial Plan to Meet Your Needs
In previous generations, husbands traditionally handled the family finances. While this arrangement may have worked well during the husband’s lifetime, the consequences of the wife’s lack of involvement in the family’s finances often became clear after her spouse died. Today, more women are actively directing the outcome of their personal finances, and for good reason.…
Read MoreSpring Clean Your Finances
As temperatures warm up, trees begin budding, and the days get longer, you probably throw open your windows and think about spring cleaning your home. As you tackle washing windows, cleaning carpets, and sorting out the garage, don’t forget to consider your finances. Check out these tips to successfully spring clean your finances. 1. Reassess…
Read MoreMarch Madness, Cinderella & Your Portfolio: You should pick investments (and teams) so you win most of your games
Sports metaphors and investing are natural pairs. A good way to look at portfolio management is the NCAA March Madness tournament. As with basketball, you should pick the top-ranked contestants, but also be flexible since things change. There are four major brackets in the tournament: East, West, Midwest and South. Think of these like the…
Read MoreWhy Women Need to Save More Than Men
Men and women may not be on equal footing when it comes to investing for the future. On average, women work fewer years and earn less than men, but they also tend to live longer.1 Therefore, women must focus on the concerns that are unique to them when planning for retirement. Women Don’t Invest Differently…
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