USPS Holiday Shipping Just Got More Expensive. Here’s How to Save
Shipping holiday gifts will cost more this year. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has temporarily increased shipping rates for its peak holiday season, with higher prices in effect from October 4, 2026, through January 17, 2027. The seasonal increases…
How to Outsmart Vacation Food Traps
There’s nothing like traveling. Snapping out of the routine of everyday life to explore a new locale, meet new people, sample different cuisine and have the joy of becoming lost in an experience or scene. It’s well worth the expense. And that…
Is Real Estate Investing in 2026 Still a Safe Bet?
Many investors see real estate as the ultimate asset class. Appreciation potential. Steady income. Tax breaks. Inflation hedging. What more could you ask for? The reputation is well-earned. Real estate investments can offer all of those benefits while…
How to Maximize a Late-in-Life Inheritance
Your inheritance will likely be very different from your parents’. Two forces are at play. First, as life expectancies lengthen, the next generation is receiving inheritances much later in life. Second, the amount of wealth changing hands is…
How You Can Debt as a Tool to Improve Your Finances
With Americans racking up credit card debt at an alarming rate, there is a misconception that all debt is bad. That’s not necessarily true. Debt is a crucial financial tool, one commonly used by the wealthy to increase capital. Think of the…
Types of Retirement Income the IRS Doesn’t Tax
For some retirees living on a fixed income, making ends meet can be especially challenging when everyday costs are high, as they are now. Just a couple of months ago, gasoline prices were up 27.4% from a year earlier, while grocery and housing prices…
These 2026 State Ballot Measures Could Affect Your Taxes
As Election Day approaches, all eyes are on the races that will determine the political makeup of the Senate and House of Representatives. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the federal government’s legislative agenda in coming…
Why a Big Savings Account Won’t Guarantee Retirement Peace
After years of advising families through the transition into retirement, I’ve noticed that one question comes up more than any other, and it rarely has anything to do with how much money someone has saved. It’s a short question with a…
Why Hospice Care Means Choosing Peace, Not Giving Up
As a nurse and now the CEO of a health company that serves older adults, I’ve spent decades around serious illness, aging and death. I’ve watched families make extraordinary decisions under impossible circumstances. I’ve also seen…
How Self-Employed Deductions Impact Your Mortgage
Every year, self-employed homebuyers do exactly what their accountants advise, then sit across from a lender who treats them as if they barely earn a living. The write-offs that shrink a tax bill also shrink the income a mortgage underwriter will count,…