John J. Diak, CFP®Jan 8, 20193 minSome Changes Are Coming for 401(k)sChanges are coming to 401(k)s in 2019 affecting employees who borrow from their plan and then leave their job, employees who receive hardshi
John J. Diak, CFP®Jan 1, 20193 minSocial Security Gets Its Biggest Boost in YearsSeniors can look forward to the biggest boost in Social Security benefits that they’ve seen in years. The Social Security Administration has
John J. Diak, CFP®Dec 4, 20183 minWhen You Retire Without EnoughIf you start your retirement with inadequate savings, you may end up living a watered down version of your retirement dreams.
John J. Diak, CFP®Nov 27, 20184 minPreparing to Retire SingleIn an ideal world, it would be simple to prepare to retire single. You would just save half as much as a couple saves, buy half as much insu
John J. Diak, CFP®Nov 6, 20183 minRetirees, Check Your WithholdingThe IRS is using new withholding tables for 2018, so you may need to adjust the amount you have withheld - or the amount of your estimated t
John J. Diak, CFP®Oct 23, 20184 minDebunking a Few Popular Retirement MythsSome retirement myths have been around for decades, while others are have recently joined their ranks. Take a look at these seven popular re
John J. Diak, CFP®Oct 16, 20184 minUnderappreciated Options for Building Retirement SavingsWhen saving for retirement, you aren’t limited to traditional accounts. There are several less common retirement savings accounts worthy of
John J. Diak, CFP®Oct 9, 20183 min5 Retirement Concerns Too Often OverlookedAs part of your preparation for retirement, give these financial matters some thought. Enjoy the here and now, but recognize the potential f
John J. Diak, CFP®Sep 25, 20184 minStarting a Roth IRA for a Child or GrandchildIf you have a child or grandchild earning some income with a summer or after school job, you could help them save for future goals by assis
John J. Diak, CFP®Sep 11, 20183 minAre Changes Ahead for Retirement Accounts?This year, lawmakers are addressing the problem of Americans not saving enough for retirement, with a bill proposing big changes to IRAs and
John J. Diak, CFP®Aug 28, 20184 minFinancial Fraudsters Preying on Boomers & EldersSometimes liars, scammers, and fraudsters try to pitch any number of too-good-to-be-true “investment opportunities” to retirees. You have go
John J. Diak, CFP®Aug 14, 20183 minFinancial Elder Abuse: Perception vs. RealityAs you read or hear stories about seniors being financially exploited, you may think: not me. Your parents? Same thing. They are too smart a
John J. Diak, CFP®Jul 3, 20183 minChoosing a Financial ProfessionalWhen we buy a car or a house, consider a school for our children, or plan our next vacation we take our time, shop around, and consider our
John J. Diak, CFP®Jun 26, 20184 minThe A, B, C, & D of MedicareBreaking down the basics of Medicare and what each part covers can get confusing. Whether your 65th birthday is on the horizon or decades aw
John J. Diak, CFP®Jun 19, 20183 minRetirement Planning Weak SpotsThe biggest weakness is not having a plan at all. How many households save for retirement with a number in mind – the dollar figure their re
John J. Diak, CFP®May 29, 20183 minAdjusting Your Portfolio as You AgeAs you approach retirement, it may be time to pay more attention to investment risk. Rebalancing your portfolio with your time horizon in mi
John J. Diak, CFP®May 15, 20184 minThe Pros & Cons of Roth IRA ConversionsWhat are the potential benefits and drawbacks of a Roth IRA conversion? If you own a traditional IRA, perhaps you have thought about convert
John J. Diak, CFP®Apr 17, 20183 minFor Retirement, Income Matters as Much as SavingsAlthough your retirement benefits may be taxed, more retirement income is decidedly better than less – and a key part of retirement planning
John J. Diak, CFP®Apr 10, 201810 min2018: A First Quarter ReviewStocks rallied in January, corrected in February, and slumped in March as volatility and economic policy changes took some of the enthusiasm
John J. Diak, CFP®Apr 10, 20183 minWhat Do You Have in Reserve for 2018?Living without an emergency fund can invite worry. It is an anxiety too many households have had to accept. Plan to save a little each month