The Social Security Administration COLA The Social Security Administration is set to announce the 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The 8.7% COLA will boost the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit to $1,814 next year, up $145 per month from this year’s $1,669 average benefit. The 8.7% COLA increase is the largest adjustment to the benefit in 40 years thanks to high inflation. And to everyone’s surprise, a decreased Medicare Part B premium comes with it. Fi

Inflation: What is it? Inflation is a word that is not spoken of regularly in our social circles. It has been mostly used in financial...

Why Charitable Giving Should be a part of your financial present and future As an investor, it’s up to you to decide what is important...

Social Security is a benefit nearly 1/5th of the country is currently receiving and the majority of working Americans pay into it. How is something that affects such a large percentage of the population so easily misunderstood and complex? The goal of this article is to deliver the fundamentals of Social Security and develop a much stronger communication with your advisor around the topic. With all that being said, let’s jump right in. What is Social Security? In the midst of

Imagine living (in career terms) in a world where money is the focal point of everything. It’d be very easy to become vain and...

What are rainy days? You’re in the midst of paying off your debt and tackling it with a speed that is even impressing you. Your debt...

Healthcare has undoubtedly been a hot topic in the last few years. However, for those of us in the retirement planning industry, we’ve...

Growth, Growth & Income, Aggressive Growth, International & Mutual Funds…Why? If you listen to Dave Ramsey enough you will have heard these four asset classes mentioned when he talks about investing. Dave stresses diversifying across these four asset classes and using mutual funds to diversify across many different companies. We could not agree more. In the article below I will define each of these and then discuss a few reasons why we do this. Growth When Dave talks about g

We've got baby fever at Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers! Our excellent Financial Coach, Lindsey Curry, and her husband, Chris, welcomed...

The Basics of Target Date Funds If you have a retirement plan through work (401(k), 403(b), etc) and are putting money into it, it’s very...

On Wednesday, August 24, 2022, President Biden announced changes to student loan debt relief. The biggest item of note was up to $20,000...

Savi ng money in your budget with your utility bills Many people are looking for ways to save on their budget lately. With increasing...

“Back-to-School Season” is upon us Does anyone remember the “Most Wonderful Time of Year” Staples commercial with the parent happily...

The Benefits of a Sinking Fund If you've ever been in a meeting with me, we have likely talked about sinking funds. Some may say I'm...

As a Christian, Should I Incorporate Tithing into My Budget? What is Tithing? Let’s start with “what is tithing?” The word "tithe" comes...

Common Budget Set-up Questions As a financial coach, I hear some common questions when it comes to setting up a budget, even if someone...

1 Timothy 6: 6-7: “But god liness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of...

How the “little things” can impact your budget Are you really good at not going overboard on the big stuff, and making outrageous...

As a public-school teacher in the great state of Texas, you are aware of the TRS (Teachers’ Retirement System) of Texas. What may not be...

Starting my career in 2007 had its many blessings and challenges. I remember as we headed in the Great Financial Recession (“GFC”), I...