Residents of Manhattan, NY, live in the nation's most expensive urban neighborhoods, paying more than twice the national average to maintain a "professional/managerial" standard of living. By contrast, individuals who live in Decatur, IL, can stretch their dollars the farthest, paying less than 80% of the national average. Here are the five most and least expensive urban areas of the country, according to The Council for Community and Economic Research Cost of Living Index (COLI). Source: … [Read more...]
Debt After Death: What Happens to Debt When Someone Dies?
Losing a loved one is never easy. In addition to the emotional challenges you may face, you might also be worried about what will happen to their debts once they are gone. Generally, with limited exceptions, when a loved one dies you will not be liable for their unpaid debts. Instead, their debts are typically addressed through the settling of their estate. How are debts settled when someone dies? The process of settling a deceased person's estate is called probate. During the … [Read more...]
Have You Checked Your Social Security Statement Lately?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides personalized Social Security Statements to help Americans age 18 and older better understand the benefits that Social Security offers. Your Statement contains a detailed record of your earnings and estimates of retirement, disability, and survivor benefits — information that can help you plan for your financial future. You can view your Social Security Statement online at any time by creating a my Social Security account at the SSA's … [Read more...]
ETFs Are Closing the Gap with Mutual Funds
Investor demand for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has increased rapidly over the last decade due to attractive features that set them apart from mutual funds. At the end of 2024, over $10 trillion was invested in more than 3,600 ETFs. This was equivalent to 36% of the assets invested in mutual funds, up from 21% in 2019 and just 12% in 2014.1 Fund meets stock Like a mutual fund, an ETF is a portfolio of securities assembled by an investment company. Mutual fund shares are … [Read more...]
Erb Financial: April 2025
Link to Printable PDF: 2025 04 April Newsletter Cost of Living Varies Widely Across the U.S. Residents of Manhattan, NY, live in the nation's most expensive urban neighborhoods, paying more than twice the national average to maintain a "professional/managerial" standard of living. By contrast, individuals who live in Decatur, IL, can stretch their dollars the farthest, paying less than 80% of the national average. Here are the five most and least expensive urban areas of the … [Read more...]
The Versatile Roth IRA
Used with care, the Roth IRA may help serve several objectives at once — like a multipurpose tool in your financial-planning toolbox. Retirement First and foremost, a Roth IRA is designed to provide tax-free income in retirement. If your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) falls within certain limits, you can contribute up to $7,000 ($8,000 for those age 50 or older) in earned income to a Roth IRA in 2024 and 2025. Although Roth IRA contributions are not tax-deductible, … [Read more...]
Breaking Down the Numbers: The Soaring U.S. National Debt
The U.S. national debt is the total amount of money owed by the federal government. As of January 2025, it stands at $36.16 trillion.1 The difference between deficit and debt When the federal government spends more money than it collects in taxes in any given fiscal year (the government's fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30), there is a deficit. The opposite of a deficit is a surplus. To fund its operations when there is a deficit, the government borrows money by selling … [Read more...]
Erb Financial: March 2025
Link to Printable PDF: 2025 03 March Newsletter Funding the Federal Government The IRS collected a little more than $4 trillion in net taxes (after refunds) in fiscal year 2023. About half was individual income taxes, and around 35% was employment (payroll) taxes, including Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and railroad retirement. Business income taxes made up a little over 10% of the total, with relatively small contributions from excise, estate and trust income, and estate … [Read more...]
Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2025
Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2025. Estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax The annual gift tax exclusion (and annual generation-skipping transfer tax exclusion) for 2025 is $19,000, up from $18,000 in 2024. The gift and estate tax basic exclusion amount … [Read more...]
Accounts for Two: A Team Approach to Retirement Savings
Almost half of U.S. families headed by a married couple include two working spouses.1 With dual careers, many spouses accumulate assets in separate retirement accounts. Each might have funds in an employer-sponsored plan and an IRA. Even if most of a married couple's retirement assets reside in different accounts, open communication and teamwork can help them craft a unified retirement strategy. Working together Tax-deferred retirement accounts such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and IRAs … [Read more...]
