Financial Wellness

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau defines financial wellness as, “having financial security and financial freedom of choice, in the present and in the future.”

Financial wellness means that you: 1) have control over your day-to-day, month-to-month finances, 2) have the capacity to absorb a financial shock, 3) are on track to meet financial goals, and 4) have the financial freedom to make choices that allow you to enjoy life.

Financial wellness results in: confidence, contentment, a sense of security, control, and purpose, and even happiness. And, there are numerous ways to improve financial wellness.

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financial prospects

78% of People Aren’t Ready for Retirement: The Good News? Everyone Can Improve Their Financial Prospects

Worried you aren’t ready for retirement? You aren’t alone and the fixes aren’t too painful. Improve your financial prospects.

May 26, 2022
stock market corrections and crashes

Stock Market Corrections, Crashes, and Bear Markets: What to Do When Your Investments Go Down?

Stock market corrections are a reality, but that doesn’t make them less painful. Here are 10 tips for weathering these storms.

May 19, 2022

How to Improve Your Financial Well-Being, Even in Times of Uncertainty

Uncertainty. Fear. Confusion. Your worries might seem unmanageable, but there’s a lot you can do to improve financial well being right now. Get started!

March 10, 2022

Great Financial Advice in 8 Words or Less

Financial advice is often complicated. However, it can be simplified. Browse wisdom for saving, investing, spending and living.

February 2, 2022
reduce 401k fees

401(k) Fees: Get to Know What You Pay and Reduce the Expense

Many of us are oblivious to the fees, but almost everyone with a 401(k) pays them. Get 7 ideas for reducing costs to greatly increase wealth.

September 23, 2021

Monte Carlo Simulations: A Sophisticated Way to Predict Your Chance of Financial Success

Hear Monte Carlo simulations and think gambling? Nope. Learn how this mathematical formula can be used to predict your financial future.

August 5, 2021

Financial Wisdom from Jack Brennan, Former CEO of Vanguard

Get great investing and planning tips directly from Jack Brennan, former CEO of Vanguard (the handpicked successor to Jack Bogle).

July 15, 2021

Podcast: Jack Brennan — Insights from the Former CEO of Vanguard

Episode 58 of the Boldin podcast is an interview with Jack Brennan — the handpicked successor to Jack Bogle at the Vanguard Group

May 20, 2021
Dig out of a financial hole

17 Ways to Dig Yourself Out of a Financial Hole (and Build Toward Retirement)

 At age 47 I was jobless, emotionally broken after an abusive marriage, and running through savings to keep a divorce attorney in my corner. Grieving my mother’s death and terrified that my disabled adult daughter and I would end up homeless, I couldn’t see any kind of future for myself. Within five years I had…

March 18, 2021
foolish financial decisions

The 22 Most Foolish Financial Decisions Ever Made

Recently online, individual Boldin subscribers were discussing the most foolish financial decisions they had ever made. The conversations were interesting in that many highlighted a few bits of “wisdom” about being “foolish.” Foolishness Can Be a Great Learning Tool Making foolish decisions can be one of the greatest learning tools. “A wise man can learn…

March 11, 2021
average retirement savings

How Much Should I Save for Retirement? Average Retirement Savings Rates for Every Age

Keeping your retirement savings on track helps you meet your retirement goals. That seems like a very simple concept, and in a way it is. But living with that plan every day isn’t quite so simple. Knowing how much one should save for retirement is useful — it can motivate you to take action. And…

January 21, 2021

Bad News that Will Be Really Good Economic News in Today’s Topsy Turvy Times

As you look for signs of recovery from the economic turmoil of the pandemic, you’ll want to keep your eye on a few economic indicators that are usually seen as bad news. Why? Well, because in the topsy turvy world we live in today, bad news may actually be good news. Rising Unemployment Rising unemployment…

January 12, 2021

Podcast: Ashley Whillans — Time Smart

Episode 49 of the Boldin podcast is an interview with Ashley Whillans — assistant professor at Harvard Business School and author of Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life — and discusses how to think about and value your scarcest resource, your time. Listen Now: Don’t miss out on future…

November 19, 2020

Podcast: JL Collins — The Simple Path to Wealth

Episode 48 of the Boldin podcast is an interview with JL Collins — a best-selling author and financial independence guru — and discusses the what, why, and how of Financial Independence as well as Collins’ book, “The Simple Path to Wealth”. Listen Now: Don’t miss out on future episodes: subscribe on iTunes subscribe on Stitcher…

October 15, 2020

Big Wealth-Building Lessons From the 5 Most Recent Financial Crises

They say that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. The bad news is that the last 50 years have seen 5 major financial, market, or economic crises. The good news is that each crisis has lessons that you can apply today to help you build more wealth and feel…

September 18, 2020

Podcast: Christine Benz — Morningstar & 25 Years of Personal Finance

Episode 43 of the Boldin podcast is an interview with Christine Benz — author and Morningstar’s director of personal finance — and discusses the big financial and life lessons Benz has picked up over her 25-year career at Morningstar. They also talk about Benz’s works, 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances…

July 23, 2020

How Much Time Should You Spend On Retirement Financial Planning?

Would you believe some people give retirement financial planning less attention than planning a vacation, choosing a restaurant, or buying a television? It’s a bit scary, but it’s also true. Retirement isn’t an event, and it’s not something to buy. If you want to keep your current standard of living for the long haul, you’ll…

July 3, 2020
401(k)

When to Roll Over Your 401(k) Plan Into an IRA

When you move from one place of employment to another, you’ll probably want to at least give some careful thought to taking the funds in your old 401(k) plan with you. In many cases, rolling them over into an IRA is the best choice. But then again, sometimes it’s better to leave your funds in…

July 2, 2020
Retirement

Retired at 30: A True Story of Saving for Retirement

Jacob Lund Fisker is not your typical retiree. He’s certainly not at an age where he could collect Social Security. He’s not in his 60s or his 50s. Jacob isn’t even in his 40s (at least not yet). It’s almost astonishing that Jacob is retired – and financially independent – and he is still in…

July 1, 2020
Money Talks

Money Talks, But Do You Speak the Language?

Have you ever traveled to a place where they speak English, but the people have a heavy accent and a different dialect? You have a vague and slowly formed idea of what they are saying, but it can make you feel confused. Most of us feel that same confusion when dealing with personal finance issues.…

June 30, 2020
straight talk

4 Reasons Why Straight Talk About Retirement Can Give You a Better Future

It’s taboo. It’s not polite. It’s personal. These are all things you’ve probably heard when it comes to talking about money. Keeping your lips sealed about your personal finances is pretty common, but your financial future may be in jeopardy if you’re not willing to have a straight talk about retirement planning. Straight talk about…

June 29, 2020
retirement coach

6 Ways a Life Coach Can Improve Your Retirement

You’ve saved money, but are you really ready for retirement? Using a life coach for retirement might sound crazy, but it’s not. While some people prepare for the financial aspects of retirement, it is not clear how many people develop clear plans for the non-financial aspects. Both are important. A financial advisor or an online…

June 29, 2020
FIRE -- Financial Independence Retire Early

Is Your Retirement on FIRE (Financial Independence Retirement Early)?

“FIRE” stands for Financial Independence Retire Early for a group of fired-up young people. In a nutshell, it’s about making some significant lifestyle choices immediately to try to achieve financial independence as quickly as possible. For most followers, it’s actually more about mindfulness, frugality and simplicity – not just about money and financial independence. FIRE…

June 26, 2020
wealth inequality

Wealth Inequality: We Are All Affected, But Black Households in Particular

Wealth inequality is real. The disparity effects most of us. However, the black-white wealth gap is staggering. What is Wealth Inequality? Wealth inequality is the gap in net worth — your assets minus liabilities — between the wealthy and the poor. The differences in wealth between the rich and poor in the United States are…

June 11, 2020

Boldin Planner

Take financial wellness into your own hands and do it yourself retirement planning: easy, comprehensive, reliable.