by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Enduring Principles, Retirement, Videos
Hot air balloons rise in the east, launching from Lake Skinner in Southern California’s Temecula wine country. On many weekday morning runs I’ll see a handful of them on the horizon. Small black spots, backlit by the rising sun. They rarely drift into the more densely...
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Beneficiary, IRA Accounts, Retirement, Running Money ®
According to the Internal Revenue Service, IRA stands for Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs).1 Let’s break it down from there. First (and foremost) they are owned by individuals. They are not owned by couples, and they are not usually provided by employers....
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Case Studies, Social Security
Randy loves the business he’s created. It was very difficult getting started, with no capital, three young kids. But the family rallied around him, helped him find good clients, and they survived. The longer he works in the business, the easier it gets to attract...
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Market Volatility
“What’s happening to my portfolio? Should we move into more conservative investments?” That’s a common refrain since the beginning of the year, and it’s something we didn’t hear at all since the early days of Covid stimulus packages. That’s because following the...
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Credit Management, Videos
“Honestly, I’m not spending any more than I make, but there’s nothing left for savings.” “Let’s take a look at where your money goes, starting with the credit cards.” “I’m never late. I’ve got them set to take the minimum payment right out of my checking account!” “uh...
