Was This The Smartest Personal Finance Decision in Sports History?!

Financially savvy Roberto Martin Antonio Bonilla (Bobby Bonilla )
Was This The Smartest Personal Finance Decision in Sports History?!  - the Money Guy

$1.19 Million Every July 1st

Bobby Bonilla

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No More Car Loans for Us!

 Slowly, but surely, we are being unshackled from the burden of debt.  We praise the Lord Jesus Christ, first and foremost. 

This will be our last car-loan debt payment in our married life, God willing. Payments in cash 💲only;  and rice-and-beans meals is what we are willing to do in order to reach our financial goals. I know -- easy to say, but hard to do. God help us!

pc: Chris Hogan

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

(Proverbs 22 )

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After You've Avoided a Financial Disaster

 3 important things to remember after an investing near miss

by Vanguard 

(pc: Vanguard) Stash some cash!

Things are going to happen in life that you'll need money for, friend. Will you have enough to cover an inconvenient car repair? Or a trip to the vet for your pet?

Having a comfy stash of emergency savings can help you regain your footing after an unexpected "uh-oh!"

Everyone's emergency is different. But it's a good idea to have enough saved up to handle a day-to-day headache like a broken window, or even a longer-term situation like being unable to work.

Your emergency savings should be available at a moment's notice and kept someplace safe from extreme movements of the market. That way, you'll always have it when you need it.

Prepare yourself to foot those emergency bills. 

- email from Vanguard

pc: Vanguard

Read full Vanguard article H E R E

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Thankful for an Increase in Retirement Money $$ via My Hubby

Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, for your provision and care! 

Dear  Team Member,

 

Duff & Phelps (an independent valuation firm) and the ESOP Trustee (GreatBanc Trust) have completed their annual valuation and determined the value of ❤ Stock to be $9,491 per share, an increase of 35% from the previous valuation of $7,022. The value of 一 stock in participants’ accounts in both the❤ Legacy Stock and ❤ ESOP Leveraged Stock Funds will be adjusted by Vanguard and reflected in participants’ accounts by the end of next week.

 

The full announcement is attached to this message and will also be available in the Virtual Town Hall Documents Library, linked to an announcement on SourceOne, and posted on bulletin boards.

 

This message has been sent on behalf of A. S.

 

Best regards,

 

Information Technology Service Desk Chicago, Illinois 60626

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My Binge-watching During Covid-19

pc: Tierra Maria Estates

Worth watching!
Mr James T. has over 500 YouTube posts on building a gorgeous house in the Philippines for he and his wife's retirement years (we may likewise retire in the PI -- that's what drew me in).  I could not stop watching as I got involved in the day-to-day plans and many frustrations of a guy who hopes, dreams, builds and lives life in a foreign country. He lost weight. My blood pressure went up as his must have done on many occasions (earthquakes, volcano eruption, no water, no electricity, no workers, Architect is MIA ). I even cared about the roosters, the cows, the goats, the street animals and his Dogs -- especially when the female pup got pregnant. 
Here's a good video intro:

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock... 

(Jesus speaking, Matthew 7:24)

My PI Dream: Episode 1, Groundbreaking Day

Matthew 7, KJV

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Retirement in the USA: Best Places to Retire Within Your State

It seems like that the average monthly living expenses for a couple on retirement in the U.S.A.  is $4,000 a month. Meanwhile, the average Social Security retirement benefits is $1461/month.  So for a couple, this means about $2900 .... about $1000 short every month.   -- W P
( Read the article below.   Many of us may soon need to relocate, eeek!  --- RRE)

BEST PLACES TO RETIRE IN EACH STATE- Forbes Magazine , By William P. Barrett, edited by Janet Novack 

Most folks who move in retirement chose to stay within the same state. In recognition of that fact, Forbes has created its first list of the Best Places To Retire In Each State. We’ve picked a best and a runner-up for each and every state—even those we have avoided in our annual nationwide Best Places To Retire list due to their high costs and state taxes. Still, three-quarters of the 100 places we identify have median home prices below the national average of $269,600. In every place write-up, we’ve included information on taxes, just in case you’re looking to make an interstate move.

True, some of the 100 places on our list, including Athens, GA; Colorado Springs, CO; Fargo, ND; and Pittsburgh, PA, are among our perennial retirement places favorites. But a good number, including Columbus, IN; Homer, AK; and Northampton, MA, haven’t appeared on any other Forbes retirement list.

Old Woman Dozing by Nicolaes Maes (1656)

We compiled our list of the Best Places To Retire In Each State by comparing data on more than 650 places across all 50 states. Generally, we looked for relatively affordable places (as measured by median home price and cost of living) with high quality of retirement living and populations of 10,000 or more (except for our top Alaska pick, Homer, population 6,000). The key word when it comes to affordable is “relatively”. Some states, especially in the Northeast and along the West Coast, are just a lot more expensive than others. 

When it came to judging quality of life, we looked at a range of factors. Among them: doctor availability, the serious crimes rate, ranking on the Milken Institute list of best cities for successful aging, air quality and walkability and bikeability. Since this is a retirement list, we ignored data on local school districts. But the presence of colleges was considered a plus, as that tends to expand cultural and other amenities for senior citizens.

The L I S T

Read the full article H E R E

The Lord will supply!

Forbes: List for Each US State

senior lady: picture credit

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Tiny Home Has Everything Within 240 Square Feet

I see tiny homes such as these and feel better: our own small home at least exceeds 240 square feet in size -- hoorah!!  

Yet, we also want to learn about tiny-home-living.  It's an option for when we downsize.  Retirement is coming up whether we like it or not.

Tiny House Squeezes Our Dream Kitchen and Shower Into 240 Square Feet - Lydia Geisel

pc:  ALLSWELL HOME

Living in a  tiny home on wheels certainly comes with its advantages, like being able to travel on the fly or grow your savings. But with every perk comes a compromise. We were firm believers that going small meant giving up on at least a few of our biggest design goals. That is until we learned that you can, in fact, pack your dream kitchen and bathroom into just 238 square feet.

On February 7, home brand  Allswell will be taking a tiny home–turned–temporary retail space across the country to showcase its Luxe Hybrid mattress and the beauty of small-space living. The custom-built abode, designed by tiny-home builders  Modern Tiny Living, will make its way through multiple cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Nashville, and Austin. While there’s plenty to see, feel, and test out by way of bedding and throw pillows, we can’t get over how many stylish features the brand was able to fit into an itty-bitty space.

pc:  ALLSWELL HOME

“We wanted our first physical store to be a manifestation of our brand ethos: luxe quality in a tiny package,” shares Arlyn Davich, Allswell brand president. “Just like our mattress, we packed the most premium features in our tiny home.”

pc:  ALLSWELL HOME

Spanning four rooms total—a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, and living space—the shoppable house features a number of space-savvy built-in features including a custom couch/twin bed with integrated cubbies, a tiled shower ledge in the bathroom, and a storage ladder in the master bedroom.

“We wanted the space to evoke the feeling of Allswell,” says Rachael Durkin, head of retail activations for the brand. “We kept a clean and modern aesthetic but focused on each and every detail and customer touchpoint.”

pc:  ALLSWELL HOME

Standout design details in the cozy abode include brass accents, whitewashed wood paneling throughout, a quotable shower moment, a wood-clad laundry station, and a rustic breakfast bar for two. For warm summer nights and ultimate viewing pleasure, the master bedroom is positioned in a breezeway with garage doors on one side and French doors on the other. Though, if we were to re-create any moment in this tiny paradise in a full-size home, it would be that dreamy blue-and-white kitchen.

While the Allswell home will be traveling across the country for the next few weeks, shoppers who are particularly smitten with the mobile house can snag it for themselves. Beginning February 7, the space will be available for purchase on the company’s website  with a starting price of $100,000.

pc:  ALLSWELL HOME

Tiny House Squeezes Our Dream Kitchen and Shower Into 240 Square Feet

Modern Tiny Living

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Retirement & Investment: Are You on the Millionaire List per Fidelity?

Number of 401(k), IRA millionaires continues to surge - by Matthew Rocco

The number of “401(k) millionaires” surged in the second quarter, as broad gains in the stock market lifted the value of Americans’ retirement plans.

Fidelity Investments said Thursday the number of people with at least $1 million in their 401(k) plan climbed to 168,000 by the end of June, up 41 percent compared to the same quarter in 2017. The company also noted that the percentage of 401(k) millionaires who are women rose to 21 percent.

source: Fidelity Investments

The number of IRA millionaires also grew, hitting 156,000.

Overall, retirement savings have improved among 401(k) and IRA holders following a dip in the first quarter.

The average 401(k) balance nearly hit an all-time high. Fidelity said the average balance was $104,000, up 6 percent from $97,700 in first quarter last year and just shy of the current record of $104,300. The average IRA balance increased nearly 7 percent year-over-year to $106,900. Balances in 403(b) accounts also posted gains compared to last year.

“The stock market’s performance over the past several years has definitely helped retirement savers, but now would good time for investors to take a moment and make sure they are doing their part to meet their retirement goals,” Kevin Barry, president of workplace investing at Fidelity, said in a news release.

Read the Fox Business article H E R E

Fox Business: Number of 401(k) Millionaires Surge

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Whoa! Stock Valuation is UP!

 recent company email: The ESOP Trustee (GreatBanc Trust) has completed its annual valuation and determined the value of ___ Stock to be $5,108 per share, an increase of 30.7% from the previous valuation.  ___'s strong performance in 2017 and outlook for the future were key drivers, but other factors contributed as well.  These included a strong stock market, good performance by comparable companies, solid global economic conditions and the positive effects of the recent change in U.S. Tax rates.

The value of ___ Stock in participants' accounts in both the ___ Legacy Stock and ___ ESOP Leveraged Stock Funds, has been adjusted by Vanguard to reflect this new price.  In addition, ___ has made the necessary contributions to the ESOP Trust for Plan year 2017 and a new allocation of ___ Stock will be made to the ___ ESOP Leveraged Stock Fund accounts of all eligible KSOP participants based on the new stock value.   Both the stock price change and the new contributions will be visible in participant accounts by March 30^th.

Congratulations to our Team Member Owners!

Winning: South Korea Avoids Tariffs

McCormick to Pay Out Bonus

Are We Rich Yet?

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God-is-Good Riches

Hubby's company Pension Fund is being terminated (company reason: expensive yearly upkeep). We've been notified of our options, and one of them is a Lump Sum payment.  Hence, my thoughts running wild ....imagining me with the fat $ check $ in my grubby little hands. If it were only up to me, I'd cash it in right there and then. Who cares about the taxes, LoL. First thing I'd buy would be a piece of luggage, similar to this, from GOYARD:

pc: wikipedia

Realistically speaking, the pension check belongs to our future because it's on its way to a direct roll-over. My Honey insists, and I agree. Sigh. It's still a thankful-to-God sigh, of course. May God give our whole family the time and the ability to enjoy future years using Hubby's company benefit. I never tire of pointing out that God  has used hubby's Company as the conduit of His great mercy towards us and our big, expensive-to-upkeep family. Obviously, He is quite able to furnish a table in the wilderness. 

Anyhoo, how short-sighted and selfish of me to say: Sweetheart, let's cash in the money and run away to Paris, France...and let the dog take care of the kids for a little while; and vice versa  ^_^

link:  Retirement Plans in the USA

5 Money Mistakes...

5 Money Mistakes You Might Be Making (and How to Avoid Them)

• by Good Housekeeping, on Thu Apr 22, 2010 8:47am PDT

• 127 Comments
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If you could have more money in your checking account, you'd definitely take it, right? It probably comes as no shocker to you that it's really easy to let your funds slip away. But what you might find surprising is how simple it can be to turn things around for the better. Here are 5 common money mistakes with doable solutions.

Money Mistake #1: My Money Is Disappearing

No one starts the month planning to fritter away a small fortune, but that’s what can happen when minor expenses spiral out of control. It’s not just shopping at Saks that gets you into trouble. Seemingly innocent purchases — $15 jeans at Target, a few things for the kids at a two-for-one sale, the occasional Frappuccino — can do real damage to your bottom line.

What does it take to waste $10,000 a year? Just $27.40 a day. “You can undermine some of your most important goals with purchases you’ll never remember,” says Suzanna de Baca, president of Private Capital Solutions Group, a Des Moines, IA, investment advisory firm.

The fix: Know thyself financially. First step: Take five minutes and read through your latest bank statement. If the transactions seem unrecognizable and you have no idea why you went to the ATM a dozen times, spend a week tracking your spending (longer, if possible).

You can use a notebook, keep receipts in an envelope, try software like Quicken, or check out an online budgeting tool, like these two money sites we tested. Whichever you choose, find a money-tracking method that lets you see your purchasing patterns with fresh eyes.

Tip: Simple Ways to Save on Groceries

Money Mistake #2: I Throw Away Cash

Who would pass up free money? Maybe you, if you make only the minimum contribution to your employer’s 401(k) savings plan — or opt out of the plan on the grounds that money is tight. According to the 2008 Wachovia Retirement Survey, only about a quarter of women with 401(k)s contribute the maximum allowed. Puny 401(k) contributions mean you aren’t taking full advantage of any free matching funds your company offers. Says De Baca: “If your boss offered to add $25 to your weekly paycheck, would you turn it down? Of course not.” Most employers match all or part of the first 3 to 6 percent of pay employees contribute.

That might not sound like much, but take a look at the math: Assume your company will kick in 50 cents for every dollar you put in, up to 5 percent of your salary. If you’re 40 and making $40,000 but decide not to fund your 401(k), you could be giving up almost $230,000 over 25 years.

The fix: If money is so tight you can’t imagine saving two bucks, start small. You don’t have to put in the maximum $15,500 annual contribution ($20,500 if you’re 50 or older). Instead, increase your contribution by 1 percent of pay a year, until you get the full match. One painless way to save: When you get your next raise, use all or part of it to bump up your 401(k) contribution.

If your employer doesn’t offer a match, that doesn’t mean you should skip making contributions. Remember, a 401(k) lets you put away money tax-deferred. This doesn’t just lower your current tax rate; your earnings can really grow, because Uncle Sam isn’t taking a bite out of them.

Tip: Learn How to Protect Your Savings, Stock, 401(k), and Other Assets

Money Mistake #3: My Kid’s Budget Runneth Over

Many parents find themselves wrestling with financial discipline when it comes to their children, says Galia Gichon, creator of “My Money Matters” Kit, a box of financial tips and workbooks. Whether it’s snacks for the little ones at the market or new skate shoes for your tween, “it’s amazing how quickly saying yes can add up,” says Gichon, a New York City financial planner and mother of two.

Tip: How to Get the Best Deal on Absolutely Everything

The fix: Rather than simply saying no to your kids’ endless wish lists — which can lead to wrenching battles — protect your budget and sanity by teaching your children Money Management 101. “Distract and delay” tactics work especially well for children age 6 and under. If your young daughter is jumping up and down for something she wants at the store, says Gichon, “try focusing her attention on something else, or acknowledge what she wants and say that you can talk more about it later when you’re home.” You may have to endure a little complaining, but your child gets an important message about not buying things on a whim.

Tip: Need Help Sticking to a Budget? Try These Tips

Money Mistake #4: I Never Saw a Windfall I Couldn’t Spend

Whether you receive a raise, a tax refund, or a generous birthday check from Aunt Dotty, it’s hard not to view a windfall as an excuse to go shopping. Splurging can be fun, but that’s rarely the best use of your extra cash. “Few Americans are saving enough to cover day-to-day crises, never mind the future,” says Jonathan Pond, author ofGrow Your Money!

The fix: To make sure you don’t feel deprived, earmark some of the newfound money for a modest treat (Aunt Dotty would want it that way). Gichon suggests using 5 or 10 percent for something fun: “That way you do something for yourself — while deciding what to do with the rest.”

Put the remainder of the money where you won’t be as tempted to touch it. Consider an FDIC-insured, high-yield online savings account such as the one offered by ING Direct. It has no minimum balance requirement or fees, and this account typically pays higher-than-average interest rates.

Next, consider where the money would do you the most good. Tackle any small, urgent problems first — a sore tooth, the clunking sound your car makes, leaky windows. This will help avert the hardship of paying for a string of bigger expenses later on as little problems snowball into debt.
Set aside some of your windfall for expenses that you can’t predict precisely but you know will be coming sometime. “You may not know when your cell phone will quit or the water heater will break, but they will,” Pond advises. 

Tip: Check Out 25 Ways to Save More Money This Year

Money Mistake #5: I Forget What I’m Worth

If you’re a stay-at-home mom or you work part-time, you may not have enough life insurance. Many women are underinsured because they’ve underestimated their income or the value of their contributions to the household. De Baca recalls one client whose wife died in her 30s and had only a $100,000 life insurance policy, which didn’t cover the need for child care for the couple’s young children or the housekeeping chores the client then required.

The fix: A rule of thumb to determine the amount of insurance coverage that you need — multiply your annual expenses by the number of years until your youngest child will turn 18. (Some parents may also want to factor in the future cost of their kids’ college.) Life insurance premiums actually have plummeted in recent years. So if you’re a healthy nonsmoker in your 30s or 40s, you can now buy a $500,000 term insurance policy for about $40 a month.

You and your partner should revisit your insurance coverage annually — or at least after a major event, like the birth of a child. “It takes a lot to run a household, and you want to be covered,” says De Baca.

Tip: Learn How You Can Pay Less for Insurance

What are your biggest hurdles when it comes to savings? Have you discovered any tips for stashing more in the bank?

Link below:

5 Money Mistakes






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