A combination of rising living costs, high inflation, unexpected financial emergencies, and reliance on credit has created a perfect storm for personal debt. In fact, American household debt increased from 16.9 trillion in 2022 to 17.05 trillion in the first quarter...
MKR Blog
How to Prepare Your Personal Finances for a Recession
With record high inflation and rising interest rates, an economic recession has been the subject of many conversations lately. Now with two consecutive quarters of a drop in GDP (gross domestic product)—the benchmark many economists use to gauge a recession—the...
How Late-Start Savers and Investors Can Make Up for Lost Time and Retire with a Solid Nest Egg
The Federal Reserve reports that 26% of working Americans have no retirement savings. And among the working Americans who have retirement investment funds, 45% feel that their savings projections fall short of their long-term goals. If you’re a late retirement...
Simple Steps for Staying on Target with Financial Goals
Setting goals is a necessary start to achieving a financially secure future, but sticking to those goals is another hurdle altogether. Unexpected expenses, the costs of day-to-day life, and failure to track spending all have the potential to derail any roadmap we may...
The Pros and Cons of Borrowing Against a 401(k) for a Down Payment on a Mortgage
If you’re in the market for a new house, you might be wondering if you can tap into your workplace 401(k) to cover the down payment. The short answer is yes, but there are definite disadvantages in doing so. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons to this...
Smart Money Moves and Goals for Financial Progress in 2021
The beginning of a new year has long been associated with starting from a blank slate and setting new goals for the year ahead. While 2020 taught us that plans and goals can quickly veer off course through no fault of our own, maybe 2021 can teach us the value of...
How Veterinary Practices Can Manage Walk-In Patients Without Disrupting the Schedule
Every veterinary practice deals with the client who shows up unannounced with a sick or injured pet, with no appointment and no call-ahead notice. You’ve already got a full schedule for the day. What now? Walk-ins don’t have to throw your whole day off. With systems...
Planning to Work During Retirement? Here’s What to Know About Social Security
If you’re nearing retirement and thinking about staying in the workforce, even part-time, you’re not alone. But if you plan to collect Social Security while still working, it’s important to understand how your earnings could affect your benefits. Here’s what you...
How Small Business Owners Can Tackle Back Taxes and IRS Debt
Few things create more stress for a small business owner than receiving a notice from the IRS. A tax debt can quickly become overwhelming, but the worst thing you can do is nothing. The good news is that IRS debt doesn’t have to derail your business. The key is...
How Small Businesses Build Customer Loyalty Through Consistent Operations
What builds customer loyalty? Sure, clever campaigns, major sales, and successful product launches can build loyalty, but more often, real loyalty is built in quieter ways. It’s built over time through small, everyday actions that prove your reliability and...
TrumpIRA.gov: A New Retirement Savings Option for Workers Without a 401(k)
With high inflation, high gas prices, and high mortgage rates, it’s no wonder Americans feel like saving for the future is currently an uphill battle. Financial anxiety is up, and many Americans are cutting back on their 401(k) contributions. But for millions of...
Construction Labor Shortage 2026: How Firms Can Stay Competitive
The construction industry needs to bring 349,000 new workers in 2026 just to keep labor supply and demand in balance. That’s according to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). And most of that demand is coming from the need to replace retiring workers....
Roth 401(k)s Just Got Better. Here’s Why
If you’ve been sleeping on the Roth 401(k), it’s time for a second look. Yes, they used to come with that inconvenient drawback known as the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), where you had to withdraw money on a set schedule, whether you needed it or not. But with...
Turning Telehealth Into a Competitive Advantage for Healthcare Practices
Telehealth is long past being just a pandemic workaround. It’s now a core part of how healthcare practices deliver care. But simply offering virtual visits isn’t enough. The real value comes from how well telehealth is built into everyday operations. If you want to...
What Small Business Owners Need to Know About Their Retirement Planning Options
When it comes to reinvesting in their businesses, small business owners are pros. Buying equipment, hiring employees, and upgrading systems tend to come naturally. But setting money aside for retirement? That often gets put in the “later” category. Here’s the problem...
Professional Services Firms Are Replacing Billable Hours with Value-Based Pricing
Key Takeaways Hourly billing rewards time, not results. The traditional billable hour model creates a misalignment between client and firm. Clients want efficiency, but firms earn more when work takes longer. That tension is prompting a shift toward alternative fee...