Insights, Advice, and Conversations to Shape Your Financial Future
DISCUSS WITH RUSS
“Discuss With Russ” is your go-to resource for navigating the complex world of personal finance. Whether you’re looking to manage risk, seize new opportunities, or avoid common financial pitfalls, our blog offers insights to help you succeed at every stage of your financial journey.
We’re here to provide actionable strategies and thoughtful guidance to help you take control of your financial future.
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Tips for Managing Your Time
Do you often feel there aren’t enough hours in the day? More often than not poor time management is to blame for us not being able to accomplish all that we would like to. Fortunately there are helpful ways we can use our time much more productively.
How Does the SECURE Act Affect Solopreneurs and 1099 Employees?
The SECURE Act has most Americans having to readjust their retirement plans in order to avoid losing money. However, if you are a solopreneur or a freelancer you may be able to use these new legislative changes to your advantage.
What New Investors Need to Know about Asset Allocation
Asset allocation is a fundamental principle of sound investing. Implementing a strategy and plan into your portfolio is equally, if not more, important to your long-term investment success than the individual securities in your portfolio.
How to Organize Your Financial Life
Your finances are one of the most important aspects of your life. Having your financial house in order is what helps you pursue financial confidence.
The SECURE Act
At the end of December 2019, Congress passed a funding resolution for the government which averted a shutdown. The intentions of this law are generally noble--to help more employees fund their senior years with workplace retirement plans which allow participants to save more money than they would through a typical IRA alone. But it also provides some significant changes which individuals and planners alike are going to have to wade through in the coming years.
The Importance of Updating Your Beneficiaries
If you have an investment account with any beneficiaries who are deceased, be sure to update them to specify the living individuals who you want to receive the account. This will save you time and trouble long-term.
End-of-Life Planning: Does Your Family Know Your Wishes?
End-of-Life planning should be a priority, it is the process of making critical decisions about how you want your healthcare, medical treatment, and personal care to be handled should you become unable to think or speak for yourself.
When Should You Retire?
Although it is important to understand your Social Security retirement benefits, you’ll need to keep in mind that just because you have reached your full retirement age, doesn’t mean you should necessarily retire.
What You Need to Know About Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance pays for expenses that your health insurance won’t cover should you become disabled or otherwise unable to fully care for yourself. Here’s what you need to know about it.
Things Solopreneurs Should Do With Their Money
Many of us are solopreneurs for different reasons. Whether by choice or by accident. We all face our own set of unique challenges, and it is often a common issue for solopreneurs to forget what to do with their money.
Going Green and Saving Green with Solar Panels
If you’re looking for ways to save money on energy use as well as reduce your carbon footprint, adding solar panels to your home may be a worthy investment.
Is Vulnerability Planning Factored Into Your Estate Plan?
Your estate planning should cover more than just what happens to your assets when you die. It also needs to account for how your assets are managed should you become incapacitated and unable to manage them yourself.
7 Cybersecurity Tips to Protect Your Personal Data
How safe is your personal data - like passwords and bank accounts- from theft and use by a criminal? These seven cybersecurity tips can help you be sure it’s locked down.
Interview with Russell D. Rivera, CFA, CFP®
Check out Russell’s interview with Y-Apply where he shares a little bit about himself, his goals for Y-Apply, and his professional endeavors.
How to Maximize Your Employee Benefits
Employee benefits often go beyond retirement matching and health insurance. Learn what other benefits you may have available so you can reap the financial rewards.
Strategies for Retirement Account Distributions
When the time comes for you to begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your retirement accounts, there are strategies you can employ to be sure the numbers work in your favor.
The Feel Good Guide to Charitable Giving
You don’t have to be among the wealthy to make an impact with charitable giving. When you give to charity, you not only help others, but you benefit yourself as well.
6 Essential Health Tips for Seniors
Getting older is inevitable, but the healthier you are in your later years, the more you will be able to enjoy them.
The Coming Crash: How to Be Sure You’re Prepared
Whether it’s next month or years from now, another recession will eventually happen. What’s important is that you are prepared financially.
It’s Never Too Late for College Financial Planning
If your child has graduated high school or is about to and you realize you don’t have enough saved for his college education, don’t panic. There are several things you can still do put money aside and lower the overall cost of tuition.