Is Inflation Peaking?
One lesser-known indicator is called the Baltic Dry Index. You see it in prices at the grocery store and the gas station. You feel it in your monthly budget. So why don’t the financial
The Social Security Administration Announces 2022 COLA
5.9% is the biggest COLA increase in decades. On October 13, 2021, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022, the
Laying up Treasures in Heaven (1 Year of Stewardology!)
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Buzzsprout, online, or search ‘The Stewardology Podcast’ in your favorite podcast app. Author, preacher and teacher, Randy Alcorn published a book in 2001 called the Treasure Principle. It provides a very good look
How U.S. Savings Bonds Work
How to keep track of your savings bonds’ maturity dates. Did you buy U.S. Savings Bonds decades ago? Or did your parents or grandparents purchase them for you? If they’re collecting dust in a
Making Sense of Seemingly Inconsistent Numbers
Wise investors take the “big picture” view. It can be incredibly difficult to make sense of data. A report coming from one body may tell you one thing, and another report might seem to
The Magic of Compound Interest
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Buzzsprout, online, or search ‘The Stewardology Podcast’ in your favorite podcast app. I always love a good magic trick. I loved watching David Copperfield as a kid. But magic tricks require sleight of
The Pros and Cons of Early Retirement Plan Rollovers
Should you withdraw and reinvest your retirement plan money while you are still on the job? Did you know you may be able to take your 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plan and roll it
Mixed Signals on Inflation
What to know as markets look forward. Are you having a tough time keeping track of inflation's mixed signals? You’re not alone. Consumer prices in July climbed at their fastest rate since August 2008.
Measuring the Value of a Financial Professional
Findings suggest that these relationships can make a difference for investors. What is a relationship with a financial professional worth to an investor? A 2019 study by Vanguard, one of the world’s largest money
Conducting Your Mid-Year Financial Checkup
The midpoint of the year is a great time to review your financial position. With June officially behind us, it’s time to face the facts: we’re headed toward the second half of 2021. While