Surviving in today’s competitive market is challenging. But what’s even more challenging is to earn enough to make ends meet and then have some left for your retirement. In fact, some say that you should start planning and saving up the minute you start working for that nice safety nest egg if you want to sip margaritas in the Bahamas sitting by the ocean! This is why understanding these seven basic facts will help you understand your financial situation better and help save up as part of your retirement investing strategies.

Assess the numbers: The number of zeroes is more important in this equation. You should know how much you will need during your retirement to live comfortably, based on which the size of your investment portfolio can be assessed. The earlier you start investing, the better will be your return on investments in the long run.

Cost of living: Don’t spend more than what is needed or simply don’t spend more than what is required. This will help regulate your cash flow and expenditure to meet all your necessities, pay your dues and have enough left to start investing in various options.

Stay clear of debt: With debt, comes the interest component. Higher the amount you owe, the more interest you will end up paying. Clear off all your debts and steer clear of any future debts. Control your credit card spending. Credit card debt is the biggest burden people in this country face which also takes a huge chunk out of your pocket.

Invest wisely in real estate: If you are a family of three or four, don’t end up buying a mansion! This is just an expression, however, don’t spend more than what you need on real estate. Asses your living habits and the number of people before making this commitment as part of your retirement investing strategies.

Look for alternative sources of income: You might be swamped with your existing workload, but a few odd part-time jobs here and there will help you save faster and retire early as part of your retirement investing strategies. The internet is trending with work from home options for you and your family members, which pays decent remuneration also.

Save more: After meeting your dues, your goal is to save a significant percentage of your income annually and maintain that consistency as part of your retirement investing strategies. If you plan to retire early, say at the age of forty or forty-five, you’d better start saving more than one-third of whatever you earn in a year.

Never speculate: Never speculate your return on any investment, always calculate the same. Today, there are online retirement calculators available which can help determine your expected retirement calculation to live off that nest egg comfortably.

“Invest in your future” as they rightfully say. Saving for retirement is one of the major concerns in your career. In today’s economy and time of uncertainty, with sky-high prices for even basic necessities, by the time you end up paying all your dues, there will be very little left to retire with. Thus it is imperative to earn and reinvest your earnings after you have met all your obligations to make sure that safety nest egg is ready for you to cash in when you retire.

Here are some of the poplar re-investment opportunities you can follow as part of your retirement investing strategies:

Plan your retirement portfolio: A comprehensive 401K will ensure multiple avenues for investment. However, it is a good idea to construct a total portfolio of stocks and bonds. Granted there is no certainty in the stock market that you will get a good return on your investment. But with time and experience, you will gain the expertise provided you start early and are willing to take a few risks for better returns.

Investment in retirement income funds: Investing in retirement income funds can be profitable as part of your retirement investing strategies. Mutual finds especially are a good option since a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds are created and managed by the financial institution on your behalf to provide a steady stream of income that will come in handy for retirement.

Annuities: Immediate annuities, in particular, is popular among retirement investing strategies. In exchange for a lumpsum amount, guaranteed income for life is assured by the insurance provider with multiple payout options.

Buy bonds: In buy bonds, you agree to pay a loan amount to any government or corporation who will pay interest on the principal amount for a particular tenure until its maturity after which the principal amount is refunded. Buy bonds are somewhat profitable among multiple retirement investing strategies.

Real estate: It is always a good option to invest in real estate, which can be then rented out for a steady flow of additional income with you only spending on the maintenance of the said property. Real estate income is steady and one of the profitable retirement investment strategies since there is appreciation in the value of the property, which can be then sold for a profit.

There are other avenues for investing for your retirement nest egg. It is, however, a good idea to consult with financial experts who can determine a viable course of action that will ensure a good return on any investment you plan to make. These experts will be able to assess the risks and associated rewards better to offer the best advice for your retirement.

Reward credit cards with no annual fee can be a great pick for all kinds of individuals. This type of card is especially ideal for applicants who are looking for limited but fantastic rewards without bearing the brunt of the yearly charges. You can easily switch from your current credit card issuer to this kind of card. But before doing so, there are certain factors you should be mindful of.

• Pick a type No annual fee reward credit cards come in various types, primarily for travel, cash back, balance transfer and gas bonuses. Selecting the right card will help you make the most of your points and offers. For instance, if you are a frequent flier then a travel reward credit card offering airplane miles will prove to be lucrative.
• Save your points While you are switching to a no annual fee credit card, understand how your points from the existing card will be affected. The earned points will remain untouched if you are just shifting to a no annual fee variant from the same company. On the other hand, if you are seeking the financial services of entirely different brands then chances are you might lose your points. However, the bonuses that you have received from a co-branded credit card will remain in your membership account.
• Understand your eligibility You might not be eligible to switch to a no annual fee rewards credit card if you haven’t maintained the existing card for about a year. There might be other criteria, but this factor can vary across all credit card issuers.
• Maintain your credit score Ensure that you switch to a no annual fee rewards credit card, instead of canceling your present credit card and getting a new one as it can negatively influence your credit score. This is especially crucial if you are trying to improve your financial profile for future loan applications.

Six popular no annual fee rewards credit cards of 2017

• Chase Freedom Unlimited Card
• Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
• The Amex EveryDay Credit Card from American Express Highlights
• Citi Double Cash Card
• Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card

Before shortlisting reward credit cards with no annual fee, ensure that you scrutinize their services, offers, and fine print. Also, don’t get captivated with promotional deals only, contemplate about how it fits your monetary habits in the long run and make the best pick.

Health insurance has become a necessity, more than a precaution today owing to a number of health complications people face on a regular basis. AARP Insurance provides healthcare and Medicare with supplement plans for the elderly through its non-profit organization. Exclusive member benefits include professional consultation with experts who will guide you through the various steps when you are eligible for Medicare, and AARP Medicare supplement plans 2017.

However, here are a few things you should know before browsing for AARP Medicare plans:

• AARP Medicare supplement plans have maintained a stable rate of 2.9% increase annually for the past four years. Members will have the added benefit of switching from one AARP supplement plan to the other and can also avail discounts on plans offered in more than 36 states.
• Retirees who have enrolled into AARP Medicare and supplement insurance plans after the age of 65 as per the specifications of AARP, massive enrollment discounts of 30% are offered which will keep decreasing by 3% after that every year.
• Cost and benefits of AARP plans have to be evaluated to understand the which Medicare and AARP Medicare supplement plans 2017 are best suited for you. AARP open enrollment happens once a year which is why asking the right questions will help compare plans and choose from the best available at low cost or even no cost.
• Your Medicare plan expenses will include particulars like payment for premiums, associated deductibles, expenses incurred for doctor visits and hospital stays if necessary. Supplement plans will also be influenced by these factors which will help compare costs and benefits.
• AARP Medicare and supplement plans will be valid across doctors and hospitals which are covered under their network. Refer to the Medicare hospital directory to find out which hospitals are covered under your plan. AARP also has Medicare select which covers 19 states for select original and supplement plans.
• Check whether you will need any referrals to visit specialists and hospitals covered under Medicare, and AARP Medicare supplement plans 2017.
• Compare costs of prescription medications which might be needed for various health complications which can be generic or even specific. Finding out an estimated number of doctor visits and estimated hospital expenditure on an average can be incurred, will help you compare and choose from the best plans available.
• Medicare supplement plans offer simple billing arrangements like subsidized options and split billing.

AARP Medicare supplement plans provided in association with UnitedHealthcare has the highest satisfaction rate compared across health insurance plans available in the market.

Currently, reward credit cards are one of the most talked about financial products in the market. The best part is that they are specifically tailored for purposes like travel, balance transfer, gas rewards and cashback. But having a rewards credit card also means incurring an annual fee. These can range anywhere from $25 to $2500. However, numerous credit card companies have come up with no annual fee reward credit cards which waivers the charges for the first year.

A reward credit card with no annual fee might give you limited benefits, but it can still be a smart choice as it allows you to experiment without worrying about the year-end expense. The following are some incredible advantages of using a no annual fee reward credit card.

• Sign-up bonuses Not just for the usual reward credit cards, the no annual fee variants too have fantastic deals which offer new users with sign-up points and fabulous deals.
• Services Even with no annual fee, there are several reward credit cards which facilitate services such as purchase security, exclusive concierge service, fraud protection, return on eligible products, special money tools, travel insurance, free memberships in online retail stores, access to FICO scores, etc.
• Rewards The rewards offered by such cards might be relatively limited as compared to cards levying annual fees. But you can earn points worth hundreds of dollars annually. These points can be utilized to redeem tickets, products, vouchers, etc. You can also use this type of card to supplement an existing card to receive better bonuses or returns.
• Credit score These cards can be an excellent way to improve your credit score as you don’t have to pay up an annual fee. Within this year, you can exploit this card to make responsible purchases and strengthen your repayment capabilities. It can help if you are planning to apply for a loan anytime soon.

It is important to note that all reward credit cards with no annual fee will have a diverse combination of incentives. Therefore, before getting one, ensure that you compare these financial products thoroughly. You can find various comparison tools for credit cards online which scrutinize sign-up bonuses, interest rates, purchase points, limited offers, and terms.

At the moment some of the popular no annual fee reward credit cards are Chase Freedom, Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card, Hilton Honors Card from American Express, JetBlue Card, Discover it, Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card, etc.

The American Association of Retired Persons or commonly known as AARP is a non-profit organization providing a number of public outreach programs, to enhance the quality of life for older people in the country. The outreach program focuses on information, advocacy, and service for a positive social change and to deliver value to its 38 million members part of the program.

AARP has several affiliated organizations which include:

• AARP Foundation: A nonprofit initiative to assist people who are of the age of 50 and above.
• AARP Experience Corps: An initiative which encourages older adults to take up teaching and to mentor for a good cause.
• AARP Institute: Holds the charity funds of all AARP nonprofits.
• Legal Counsel for the Elderly: Provides low cost or no cost legal assistance for the elderly.
• AARP Services: Provides quality control and research for profit.
• AARP Financial Services Corporation: AARP’s for-profit real estate group.
• AARP Insurance: The organization which holds health insurance policies and plans like AARP medicare supplement plans 2017 among many others.

AARP Medicare supplement plans 2017: If you are eligible for medical, then it is a good idea to consider AARP Medicare supplement plans 2017 to help cover and take care of your out of pocket medical expenditure and other costs which are not part of your original Medicare plan.

Benefits of taking up AARP medicare supplement plans 2017 include:

• Coverage of out of pocket expenses, which will include many that are not covered by Medicare only.
• Provides options when it comes to choosing doctors and hospitals who accept Medicare patients.
• There is no network restriction which means the plan is applicable and valid in most places.
• Medicare supplement plans ensure no referrals needed for specialist visits.
• Supplement plans do not require any claim forms to support your application.
• UnitedHealthcare has over 30 years of experience of providing AARP Medicare supplement plans with expertise and commitment to guide you through the plan selection process and find the best health insurance plan from which you can benefit immensely.
• Plans are also available for members who are above the age of 65 and are eligible for Medicare due to being differently abled or suffering from health complications.

AARP members enjoy exclusive benefits which cannot be otherwise availed in different Medicare plans available. However, understanding the terms and conditions is imperative to assess which supplement plan would work well with your existing Medicare plan to reap maximum benefits.

It is not a secret that a large section of the population in the country is living their life with the constant fear of their debts. Why do they take these debts? They take them to fulfill their basic needs, dreams, and desires.

But what they forget is that as easy as it seems to take a loan, it is daunting to pay these debts. With a tight budget every month, there is a high probability that you would not be able to pay the debt, and it would keep piling up along with the chunky interest.

Dealing with debt can be physically and mentally daunting, as once you fall prey of the debts, you will feel like you can never overcome the problem. But the good news is that the US government is coming up with debt relief programs which act as an excellent financial aid to the citizens who are drowning in debt.

Read this article to know more about debts and debt relief programs.

What kinds of debts do people take?

Most people fall victims of debts because of taking the following loans:

Car loans

Education debt

Credit card debts

House loans

What are the debt management options you can opt?

Debt Settlement

In this, you can hire a professional debt settlement firm or a lawyer and hope that the bank or the creditor reduces your total amount of debt. While the price is negotiated, you will have to set aside a certain amount of fund every month and pay it at once when both the parties have agreed.

Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation is often done once your debt settlement is successful. A loan is taken to pay off the new reduced loan amount. This loan is at a low-interest level, which makes it possible for the person in debt to pay off his debts.

Bankruptcy

This is the last resort a person can opt for. When you choose this option, you officially declare that you are incapable of paying your loans. It is a long process and has a long-term negative impact on your credit score.

How do debt relief programs help?

Debt relief programs are the best way to overcome your debts. Debt relief programs go hand in hand with credit counseling programs. When you opt for this option, you get financial advice and counseling from the finance experts. They also make sure that your debt amount is negotiated and brought down drastically. Not just that, they help you sanction a loan at a low-interest rate so that you can once and for all get done with your debt.

The best way to manage your debts is to find a good debt management firm and work together to make yourself debt free.