After being suspended by the pandemic for the past two years, the travel industry is booming, and the trend looks to continue into early Fall. Eager travelers are understandably excited to take those long-awaited vacations. However, the pandemic has created chaos in the travel industry- increased cancellations and delays due to labor shortages, surging airfares, and record-breaking gas prices. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, air fares are up 33%, fuel prices have increased by 44% and meals are 9% higher compared to a year ago. Needless to say, if you are planning to travel in Summer or Fall of 2022, prepare for it to be expensive. Fortunately, there are plenty of travel-saving tips if you are willing to be flexible and are prepared in advance.
5 Tips to Reduce Financial Stress During Market Volatility
Market volatility. Most investors understand this is a normal occurrence when investing but that doesn’t necessarily make it any easier to stomach the rollercoaster balances in your accounts. Your chest feels constricted, your jaw is tight, at the back of your mind there are nagging worries that frequently send you down a rabbit hole of “what-if” scenarios. Understandably you’re worried: it’s your livelihood, your future, your quality of life, your legacy.
But given that making knee-jerk financial decisions based on emotional reasoning is unlikely to get your investments to where you want them to go, here are a few suggestions of ways to hang tight and stay calm through a period of market volatility. [Read more…]
Next Steps for the Graduate: 5 Alternatives to Attending College
Graduation time is here! High school seniors will walk across the stage and into the next phase of life. Some graduates are certain and excited about their next step. Others may be unsure what the future will bring. If you are feeling uncertain, there are plenty of options to support yourself while gaining valuable life experience.
Spring Cleaning for Your Finances
Spring: the season of growth and revival. After a long, cold winter, nothing feels better than cleaning up and getting organized. It’s the perfect juncture, nestled between the beginning of the year and summertime, to make changes to your current routine and establish new habits that are a better fit for your future by not only refreshing your home, but revamping your finances as well.
Marriage and Social Security Retirement Benefits
Since Social Security benefits are often a substantial part of your cash flow during retirement, it’s important to understand how they can be impacted by marriage and divorce. Every relationship and financial situation is different, so it’s wise to be prepared to make well-informed decisions about your benefits.