Benchmark Financial Group Blog

Now that Fall is in full swing, and the holiday season has arrived, we’re all feeling a bit busy and pressured. You might have a full calendar of events ahead of you, and you’re squeezing in some shopping and travel time as well. It’s no wonder quite a few of us suffer Credit Card Regret when our statements arrive in January! Try these tips to...

It’s not exactly something we all love to think about, but what would happen if you became disabled due to illness or injury? Since last month was National Disability Awareness Month, it might have sparked some thoughts or conversations for you. Or, if not, now is the time to consider the issue. Of course, we all know that there are some...

Retiring a bit early is something we all dream about, at some point. Who wouldn’t love to skip out of the working world a bit early, and start enjoying a life of leisure? Luckily, for some of us an early retirement is a very real possibility. But because we always caution our readers to consider this decision carefully, from all angles, we did...

Each fall, a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is announced, and news this impacts Social Security beneficiaries and some federal retirees. Essentially, it means that these individuals will receive a bit more money in their monthly checks. However, current federal employees often get this news mixed up with news regarding their own pay. “Does this...

As you plan for retirement, it’s always a good idea to examine your budget more carefully. You can reap two primary benefits by cutting back on expenses: First, you free up more money that you can use to pay down debt or stash in your Thrift Savings Account. Second, you can reduce your living expenses so that easing into retirement will feel...