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Why Young People Need to Pay Themselves First Webinar View Full Webinar Presentation By investing for retirement through your employer-sponsored plan, you are taking steps to achieve your financial freedom. Choosing to participate is just one step in managing your financial savings strategy. As a young person, paying yourself first is just one pillar of personal finance and encourages sound financial habits. All it takes is a little dedication and a lot of discipline. Building savings is a powerful motivator and there are plenty of mental benefits to seeing your savings balance grow...

According to the 2021 Fidelity Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, an average retired couple age 65 may need approximately $300,000 saved (after tax) to cover health care expenses in retirement. There are a number of factors behind this escalating cost challenge. In general, people are living longer, and health care inflation continues to outpace the rate of general inflation. In addition, according to Gallup’s 2021 Economy and Personal Finance Survey, the average retirement age is 62, which is 3 years before the Medicare eligibility age of 65. Of course, the amount you’ll personally need will...

It even makes understanding inflation easier. “Bacon’s the best. Even the frying of bacon sounds like applause. Bacon bits are like the fairy dust of the food community.” – Jim Gaffigan Let’s face it: talking about bacon is always fun. It can even help illustrate a topic that has been in the financial media a lot lately — inflation. In 1991, the price of a pound of bacon cost $2.22 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Thirty years later, in August of 2021, a pound cost $7.10. That’s inflation at work. Inflation is simply the rise in the cost of living, and it eats away at your money...

Market swings causing you some anxiety? These four money mantras can help you overcome it. Whether it’s the continuing presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, a sudden boost in prices related to gas, food, housing and other essentials, supply chain hiccups, an uncertain labor market (or any number of other things), the stock market has certainly seen its share of ups and downs over the past six months. As always, it’s impossible to predict what the market will do on any given day. But at the start of a new year, it’s always a good idea to take some deep, measured breaths and focus on some basic...

Heartland Retirement Plan Services are offered through Dubuque Bank and Trust Company. The information provided herein is general in nature and is not intended to be nor should be construed as specific investment, legal or tax advice. The factual information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness. Heartland Retirement Plan Services makes no warranties with regard to the information or results obtained by its use and disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or reliance on, it. Products offered through Heartland...