How can you take years off your physical and mental age? What choices could make you feel and look better? A few good habits might make a difference. Eat healthy. Aerobic exercise helps the heart, but it doesn’t necessarily trim the stomach. Eating less processed food—and less carbohydrates—can promote weight loss, especially as our metabolism slows. Sodas and beer equal liquid carbs and worthless calories; in contrast, whole grains are the carbs that can give us nutritious, steady energy. Fruits and green, leafy vegetables that grow above ground are great for our minds and bodies. Exerci ..read more

In most instances, you become eligible for Medicare on the first day of the month you turn age 65. Whether you need to sign up, and how to go about doing so, depends on the type of coverage you select and whether you collect Social Security benefits prior to becoming eligible for Medicare. Medicare Part A and Part B If you are already receiving Social Security benefits before you turn age 65, no sign-up is required for Medicare Part A or Part B. Part A is basic hospital insurance; Part B helps to pay for medically necessary services such as doctor visits or outpatient care. You automatically b ..read more

Have you made a federal student loan payment in the last three months? About 11% of federal student loan borrowers have not and are therefore in default. That default rate only represents the borrowers entering repayment.[1] More than 8.1 million Americans are behind on federal student loan payments. If you risk facing this dilemma, consider these possibilities. You could rehabilitate your loan. Rehabilitation of a Direct Loan or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program involves making nine monthly payments within a ten-month period; for a Perkins loan, the period is nine months. Once reha ..read more

Your twenties are the perfect time to save and invest. Do it now, and you will have a great ally—time—on your side. Think about doing the following things if you’re not doing them already. Put money into a retirement plan. Save and invest through a 401(k), a 403(b), a Roth or traditional Individual Retirement Account, a myRA—whatever is available to you; any taxadvantaged retirement account is better than none. If your employer doesn’t offer one, start an IRA or myRA on your own. Consider an investment in equities. The market goes up and down, but equities offer you the potential for double-di ..read more

Good money habits can help you as you save and invest for the future. Bad habits can leave you treading water (or underwater) financially. Here are some to avoid. Not saving enough. Instead of paying themselves first, some families pay others first. Dollars they could save and invest are instead spent on consumer goods and services they don’t need. Money that could be saved and invested for tomorrow is spent today. Carrying too much debt. Every effort should be made to reduce the size of credit card bills, student loans, and other consumer debts that risk siphoning money away from the pursuit ..read more

Americans’ financial lives are increasingly complex. It’s not unusual to have checking and savings accounts, a 401(k), IRAs, and other personal investments. Keeping track of all your savings and investments has prompted many individuals to seek guidance. If you are part of this growing majority, you may have already scheduled a meeting with an advisor. To make the most of your time together, keep this premeeting checklist in mind: The post Five Things to Do Before Meeting With an Advisor first appeared on Rich Women Rock ..read more

As we wind down 2018, I thought this piece from LPL Research was timely and informative.  Please take a few minutes to read.  It’s short and sweet! As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.  I wish you all a happy and safe new year. Annette Findling CFP® Principal Stonebridge Wealth Advisors, LLC 980 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1245 Chicago, IL 60611 Annette.Findling@stonebridgewealthadvisors.com Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through HighPoint Advisor Group, a registered investment advisor.  Hig ..read more

The greatest benefit of charitable giving is the knowledge that you’ve helped make a difference in the lives of others. At the same time, charitable giving can also provide tax breaks so long as you are aware of some rules and keep track of what you’ve donated. You’re free to give as much to charity as you like. However, you’ll need to follow IRS rules and keep records of your gifts to claim tax deductions. If your contribution exceeds $250 in value, either in cash, certain property, or out-of-pocket expenses that are attributable to volunteer work, you will need to obtain a written descriptio ..read more

It’s December now…and life is going to start moving awfully quickly in the coming weeks. The winter holiday season is going to start swirling around us – and it will be a candy cane-colored blur before we all come-to on January 2nd. And while you are thinking about your holiday cocktails – both the dress and the drink varieties – you really need to be consider your 2018 retirement contributions before the clock strikes midnight on December 31. I highly suggest you MAXING OUT your retirement contributions for 2018 while also starting to plan your commitments for 2019. Here are some guidelines t ..read more

As the traditional giving season approaches, there is one important item to add to your to do list: Create a holiday budget. Before the gift shopping and wrapping begins, take control of your wallet through financial preparation. Remember, you can avoid the credit card crunch and the dangerous pitfall of borrowing against your company’s retirement savings plan or IRAs. Here’s how to establish a holiday wish list and spending budget: The post Surviving the Holiday Spending Season…Debt Free first appeared on Rich Women Rock ..read more