Author: troyashbacher

(Image credit: Getty Images)Preparing for retirement isn’t just about accumulating money; it’s about helping make sure every aspect of your financial life is ready for that next chapter. Does your retirement plan cover all the bases?The acronym IDEAL is a helpful way to remember the five key areas of retirement planning that, together, create a comprehensive plan:IncomeDistribution strategyExpensesAssetsLegacyMany people focus heavily on investments or assume that if they’ve saved enough, retirement will take care of itself. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If your phone is ready for an upgrade, but your wallet’s still exhausted from all that holiday shopping, Metro by T-Mobile has a free phone deal that could solve both of your problems. For a limited time, you can get up to four free Samsung Galaxy A16s with some of the most affordable mobile plans on the market right now.Plans eligible for the free phone deal start at just $40 per month with each additional line costing as little as $25. If you’re currently with a major provider like Verizon or T-Mobile, a free phone with such…

Another good deal today is 50% off Heyday accessories.   This includes iphone cases, chargers, Airpod holders, computer accessories like a mouse, keyboards, iPad cases, ring lights, speakers, microphones and I am most excited to see the camera accessories.  This camera bag above is really gorgeous and is something that someone that loves taking photos would likely not buy for themselves.  These chargers and iphone stands etc… are fantastic stocking stuffers.  Click here to take a look.  The sale is 11/20 only.

“We try to help all our kids when we can, yet push for self-sufficiency.”

Welcome to Kiplinger’s My First $1 Million series, in which we hear from people who have made $1 million. They’re sharing how they did it and what they’re doing with it. This time, we hear from a retired and married 68-year-old former middle school teacher. He’s from Michigan, lives in North Carolina now and has lived in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Illinois.See our earlier profiles, including a writer in New England, a literacy interventionist in Colorado, a semiretired entrepreneur in Nashville and an events industry CEO in Northern New Jersey. (See all of the profiles here.) From just $107.88…

It is just freezing in Northern California right now and I am so glad I have space heaters and my favorite electric blanket.   If you want to pick up an electric blanket, there are a few patterns of the Brookstone blankets for $28.  You can see those options by clicking here.    If you’d like to get a larger blanket, the twin size are priced at $35, Queen size $60 and King size $75.  Click here to see those options.  

It’s early morning, and the sun is just peeking over the horizon as I consider my options for this morning’s drive. The older cars are both mid-repair, so I hop into my 1994 Mazda Miata. It doesn’t seem antique to me, but at more than 30 years old, it qualifies as a classic for today’s drive. After a quick engine check raises no red flags, I close the hood, climb in and hit the gas.There is a chill in the air and fog on the San Francisco Bay, but the top is down. At this early hour, the roads are…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If you’re an American in your mid-70s, your retirement accounts are both a comfort and a challenge.After decades of work, diligent saving and consistent investing, your balance might climb into the millions. Yet, since you turned 72 or 73 (depending on the year you were born), you’ve had to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your IRA.Say you’re now 75 with about $4.5 million in traditional IRA funds, and you receive a notice that your RMD will be just under $183,000. The withdrawal is mandatory. More unsettling is that every dollar is taxable as ordinary income. From…

Aerie has 40% off leggings right now.  These are very popular and there are a bunch of colors and styles to choose from.  You can get the Xtra Lift leggings, flare leggings, bootcut and the trouser style.   A lot of people are going to get onto a fitness journey after the holidays and this might be a nice gift to jump start that goal. Click here to take a look.  

The S&P 500 is arguably one of the best investments of our generation. An investment in the top 500 stocks in the United States gives you broad exposure to the US economy. Over long periods, the S&P 500 has historically returned around 10% per year, an impressive result. If you want to buy all stocks in the index at once, two of the most popular routes are S&P 500 Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) from State Street Global Advisors (SPY) and Vanguard (VOO). Here’s a look at SPY vs. VOO to help you pick the best S&P 500 ETF for your…