By J.J. Montanaro USAA Certified Financial Plannerâ„¢ Practitioner Originally published in Military Spouse Magazine I was chatting with a colleague the other day about a big challenge in our work as financial planners. Frankly, there’s not a lot of new stuff out there when it comes to giving guidance about helping people manage their money. […]

The odds are that you’ve heard of Suzanne Collins’s best-selling young adult dystopia series, The Hunger Games. If you haven’t read the first book or seen the film (which many are predicting to be one of 2012’s top-grossing movies), then beware that spoilers follow. (See also: 21 Personal Finance Lessons From Harry Potter) The Hunger […]

Do you spend weeks each spring eagerly anticipating your income tax refund? When the money finally comes in, is it gone tomorrow? You’re not alone. Many consumers view tax refunds as unplanned bonuses, but it makes more sense to plan for that new chunk of change so it doesn’t go to waste. “Making smart decisions […]