Category: Bank On Yourself

Countdown to Social Security Cuts: Are You Ready?

According to the latest official projections, the Social Security trust fund is expected to be depleted by 2033—just eight years from now. Benefit checks will be slashed by 23% by 2035, less than a decade from now, unless Congress intervenes.

That’s a near-certainty based on the government’s data. If anything, the Social Security shortfall situation may actually be worse because the projections assumed people would suddenly start having more kids, and there would be much more illegal immigration.

It’s a BIG deal for most Social Security recipients: 63% rely on their benefit checks for at least half of their total income, and for 44%, it’s three-quarters of their income, according to the Pew Research Center.

So the question is: Will you bet your retirement security on Congress getting its act together in time?

Or would you rather take control now, so you never have to slash your lifestyle or give up the things that make retirement worth looking forward to?

The earlier-than-expected depletion of the Social Security trust fund means you’ll likely need to save far more than you originally planned. How much more depends on your age, but one thing is clear: You need a safer, smarter strategy starting today.

And adding the Bank On Yourself strategy to your financial plan may be the answer.

It helps you grow wealth safely and predictably—even when Wall Street and Washington are in chaos—and gives you guarantees no other financial vehicle can match.

Here’s What Bank On Yourself Gives You

The clock is ticking, but it’s not too late to secure your financial future.

The time to prepare is now. Start building a retirement income strategy you can count on, no matter what Congress does

Request your FREE, no-obligation Analysis today and discover how to lock in a lifetime of financial security. You’ll get a referral to a Bank On Yourself Professional who can answer your questions and create a custom-tailored strategy to help you reach your goals, without taking any unnecessary risks.

They can also show you how you could transform assets into a guaranteed income you can never outlive. So, request your Analysis by clicking on this button today:

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FREE ANALYSIS!

Should You Treat Your 401(k) Like a Bank?

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal says it’s time to consider borrowing money from your 401(k). These loans have become more popular as more Americans get deeper into debt at high interest rates.

Most 401(k) plans offer participants the option to borrow from their plan. No credit check or collateral is required.

The IRS requires a mandatory repayment schedule of principal plus interest, currently 9.5% in many plans. That interest rate is lower than personal loans and significantly lower than the average credit card interest rate, making it appealing in today’s climate.

The article went on to explain the significant downsides of these loans. That got me thinking about how a 401(k) loan differs from a loan from your Bank On Yourself plan. So, let’s compare…
[Read more…] “Should You Treat Your 401(k) Like a Bank?”

Are You Prepared for These 3 Financial Shocks?

In today’s crazy world, it’s crucial to remain vigilant against major financial shocks that often catch people unprepared. Here are three shocks many people will face and strategies to help you safeguard your financial future against them.

Shock #1: Your Social Security Benefits Can Be Taxed

Most people don’t realize that it’s common – even for middle-income folks – to pay taxes on Social Security benefits. 48% of Americans already pay taxes on their Social Security benefits, according to the SSA. And because the cutoff isn’t benchmarked to inflation, more and more beneficiaries will soon be subject to the tax.

Doesn’t it bother you that the government may require you to pay taxes on the money you get from Social Security – a system you paid your hard-earned money into for all those years? It’s like double jeopardy!

But most people also aren’t aware that you can reduce – or even eliminate – the taxes you may have to pay on your Social Security benefits.

How is that possible? [Read more…] “Are You Prepared for These 3 Financial Shocks?”

Should You “Ride Out” the Volatile Stock Market?

Both the Dow and the S&P 500 were back to where they were more than two years ago, as of May 31st. It’s been a stomach-churning roller coaster ride along the way.

The S&P 500, however, has been on a tear, up 10% this year. Maybe you’ve been looking at your investment and retirement account balances and wondering why you’re not seeing that kind of gain.

That’s because just five technology companies drove 96% of those gains!

According to the Motley Fool, nearly half of the stocks in the index were negative for the year on May 31. (MarketWatch just called the S&P 500 “ridiculous” and questioned whether you should bet your retirement on the fortunes of a small handful of stocks.) [Read more…] “Should You “Ride Out” the Volatile Stock Market?”

Is There a Safer Place for Your Money Than in a Bank?

The problems at Silicon Valley Bank, Credit Suisse, and First Republic Bank are fueling anxiety for people who want to make sure their money in banks and money market funds is safe.

Adding to the fear that this may just be the tip of the iceberg is that banks borrowed a record amount from the emergency last-resort support the Federal Reserve set up in the last week.

So, it’s not surprising people want to know how safe their money is in a Bank On Yourself plan. Read on for the answer. And, since you must “park” your money someplace, I’ll also explain why you would be hard-pressed to find a safer, more advantageous place to put your dollars – in good times or bad – than in a Bank On Yourself plan. [Read more…] “Is There a Safer Place for Your Money Than in a Bank?”

The 5 Biggest Financial Threats You Face in 2023

As the New Year gets underway, it’s good to set goals and make plans – but it’s also important to review the biggest threats you face.

Here are the top 5 threats to your financial future in 2023…

Threat #1: 2023 Recession

If you had money in the stock market, you know how bad 2022 was. The S&P 500 lost nearly 20%, and the average 401(k) lost 22.9%. Seeing one-fifth of your life savings vaporize in a single year is a hard pill to swallow.

And after having the worst year in the markets since the 2008 financial crisis, it’s only natural to want to put that behind us and move on. However, what we want to happen and what is happening are two different stories. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg see a 70% chance of a recession in 2023 – which means it’s very likely things will get worse before they get better.

Threat #2: High-Interest Rates

[Read more…] “The 5 Biggest Financial Threats You Face in 2023”

The Secret to Eliminating Your Financial “Icks” in 2023

Two-thirds of Americans intend to make a financial New Year’s resolution for 2023, but only 20% are confident they’ll be able to keep their resolution.

That’s according to a new survey from The Ascent, a Motley Fool service. It’s not surprising why. It’s been a very challenging year, and everybody’s got a case of the financial “icks.”

In a year that many would just as soon forget, a few of the “low lights” include…

A Majority of People Worry about Money Daily, and Many Lose Sleep Because of It

[Read more…] “The Secret to Eliminating Your Financial “Icks” in 2023″

Social Security’s Big Cost of Living Increase (COLA) Means MORE Taxes to Pay

Happy Birthday Pamela

I just turned 70…

Which means I’ll be receiving a special “birthday gift” from Uncle Sam for the first time.

Happy Birthday Pamela

Yes, I’m talking about my first Social Security check.

Even though I could’ve started taking Social Security eight years ago, I decided to wait until now since I’m still working and don’t need the money now.

Which is great because now I’ll get the maximum amount possible.

So, I’m glad I waited…

And I was even happier when I heard that in January, we’ll see an 8.7% increase in our Social Security checks with the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) – the largest increase since 1981.

On the surface that sounds like great news, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want a bigger Social Security check?

However, the devil is in the details, especially when it comes to retirement income, government benefits, and taxes!

[Read more…] “Social Security’s Big Cost of Living Increase (COLA) Means MORE Taxes to Pay”

When Does Taxation Become Theft?

In his first 100 days in office, President Biden unveiled three colossal spending packages earning him the nickname, “The Six Trillion Dollar Man.”

Biden and Congress are just getting started with the most massive expansion of government since FDR’s New Deal during the Great Depression. Apparently, it’s desperately needed, even though the pandemic-caused recession is over.

This is a government that is notorious for wasting hundreds of billions of our hard-earned dollars every year. Think $518,000 to study how cocaine affects the mating habits of Japanese quails, $998,798 to ship two 19-cent washers from one state to another… and the list goes on. You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried!

And let’s not forget this is a government with a long history of not being able to make much of a dent in controlling fraud and abuse. The government admits that more than $134 billion of improper Medicare and Medicaid payments were made in 2020 alone – and that’s just one government agency. [Read more…] “When Does Taxation Become Theft?”

A Surprising Solution to the 15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgage Dilemma

Jon and Jen have an opportunity to buy their dream home and lock in a historically low interest rate. This is a pretty common scenario in today’s market. In fact, you may be thinking about buying a home or refinancing your mortgage to take advantage of today’s low rates. If so, here’s a powerful option to consider…

Jon and Jen are trying to decide whether a 30-year mortgage or a 15-year mortgage makes the most sense. Their mortgage broker showed them that even with an interest rate just 0.65% lower, the 15-year mortgage would save them almost two-thirds of the interest of a 30-year loan.

They decided the 15-year mortgage made the most sense. Their thinking was, “We’re both 48 now, and we plan to work until we’re 70. The sooner we get the house paid off, the sooner we can save more for the future. Plus, we really like the idea of saving almost $90,000 in interest.” [Read more…] “A Surprising Solution to the 15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgage Dilemma”