Best Retirement Locations In The US

A big question when it comes to retirement is whether you should retire and stay where you are or retire to another location. While a big part of that decision can be based on your personal preference, retiring to another location can offer a lot of benefits such as a better quality of life and lower cost of living. If you’re considering hanging up your work hat and moving, here are some of the best retirement locations in the U.S.

Athens, Georgia

If you’re looking for a lower cost of living and better tax situations, Athens is for you. The cost of living here is 8% less than the national average, and there is no income tax on Social Security earnings, as well as no state inheritance or estate tax. It ranks very high on the Milken Institute’s list of best cities for successful aging and offers a warm climate and good air quality. Plus, it’s home to the University of Georgia, so you sports fans can always catch a Bulldogs game.

Clemson, South Carolina

Another college town, Clemson offers an extremely low crime rate, lots of free public transportation, and great air quality. The state is also great for retirees when it comes to taxes, offering state income tax breaks for pensions, no state tax on Social Security benefits, and no estate or inheritance tax.

The Villages, Florida

This town is fast-growing and senior-oriented, so you can make plenty of friends to spend retirement with. The Villages also offers a good number of doctors per capita and a low crime rate. You’re probably heard that Florida is generally a good state to retire to, so you can read up on more great locations in our president Lee Rosenberg’s book “Destination Florida...the Guide to a Successful Relocation.”

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Do you want more of an outdoorsy place to spend your retirement? Then welcome to Chattanooga. Here you can marvel at the mountains, walk (or ride) the Tennessee River, and visit the shops, historical battlefields, and museums. Public transportation is cheap, as is the cost of living, and there is no state income tax. Plus Chattanooga has its own airport, so you’re grandkids will have an easy way to get to you for visits.

The perfect retirement is only possible with the perfect retirement plan. At American Investment Planners LLC, we make it a priority to help you prepare for the best financial future possible. From retirement to estate planning, we’re here to help with anything you may need. To schedule an appointment with one of our advisors, please call (516) 932-5130 or email info@americaninvestmentplanners.com.

Cash Or Credit - Which Is Better?

When it comes to how you spend your money, there’s always the age-old debate of cash versus credit. Each has their own pros and cons, but which you decide to use more often should really depend on what you’re buying and your personal financial situation.

Cash is Better When You’re:

• Buying From a Small Business: If you’re making a purchase from a local mom-and-pop shop, cash helps them stay in business since they can’t always afford to pay the fees credit card companies will charge them.
• Buying Something You Might Return: Different stores have different return policies and it does you no favors to return an item only to be stuck with store credit you may never use. If you pay with cash, that money will go right back into your pocket.
• In a High Amount of Debt: If you have medical bills or student loans that still need to be paid off, use cash rather than rack up more debt via a credit card.
• In the Process Of Getting a Mortgage: Lenders look at your credit report to determine the kind of mortgage (if any) they’ll give you. If they see any jumps due to credit card usage, it may prevent you from getting a good interest rate or getting a mortgage at all.
• Sticking to a Budget: Simply put, it’s way easier to spend money when you’re just swiping a piece of plastic than it is when you see dollars physically disappearing from your hand. If you’re trying to spend less, cash is the way to go.

Credit is Better When You’re:

• Earning Cash-back or Points: If you have a credit card that earns you points or cash-back for certain purchases, such as gas or groceries, it may be in your favor to use that card rather than cash since it could save you money later on.
• Earning Flying Miles: In the same regard, if your credit card earns you travel miles and you tend to be on a plane more often than not, forgo cash to save your money on future travels.
• Using Benefits of Specific Cards: Certain credit cards give you perks, such as buying better concert tickets before they go on sale to the public or earning hotel upgrades, so it can be in your favor to use those cards when making purchases.
• Traveling: Travelers are usually at a higher risk for theft, so credit cards offer less of a chance of losing money since they can be canceled in a matter of minutes on a phone and charges can be contested. Once cash is gone, you’ll never get it back.

Need help managing your cash? A financial advisor can help determine what the best option is. At American Investment Planners LLC, we make it a priority to help you prepare for the best financial future possible. From retirement to estate planning, we’re here to help with anything you may need. To schedule an appointment with one of our advisors, please call (516) 932-5130 or email info@americaninvestmentplanners.com.

Simplifying Your Retirement Plan For The Future

Retirement is something that we all look forward to once we begin our careers, and there’s a huge sense of pride knowing you worked hard your entire life to get to a place where you’re comfortable enough to relax for the rest of your days. However, that’s only possible with a good plan in place. The easiest way to do that is by simplifying your retirement plan for the future.

Set Goals Early

The earlier you start thinking about retirement, the easier your planning will be. You need to start asking yourself some of the important questions:

• When do I want to retire?
• What is my current lifestyle?
• What will I need to do to live a certain lifestyle in retirement?
• Where do I want to retire?
• If I’m not on the right path to achieve a comfortable retirement, what do I have to do to get there?

Save, Save, Save

You could make a six or seven-figure salary every year, but without saving some of that, it means nothing since you won’t be setting yourself up for a comfortable future. When you get your paycheck, pay what bills you have to, set aside a small amount to spend, and save the rest. The more you save, the simpler your retirement planning can be.

Watch Your Investment Portfolio

Especially when you’re younger, there is an energy and desire to be the next Warren Buffet. But don’t go too crazy and overexpose yourself. Always make sure to have a good risk balance when it comes to your retirement plan, and use retirement portfolio calculators to help keep track of your investments.

Organize Everything

Not everyone is a pro at holding onto and organizing certain files and information, but planning for retirement gives you a great chance to improve. Make sure to keep all your important insurance, health, and financial documents in one place so nothing goes missing when you need it.

Even something as important as retirement planning doesn’t have to be with the help of a financial advisor. At American Investment Planners LLC, we make it a priority to help you prepare for the best financial future possible. From retirement to estate planning, we’re here to help with anything you may need. To schedule an appointment with one of our advisors, please call (516) 932-5130 or email info@americaninvestmentplanners.com.

How to Reduce Your Property Tax

There’s a certain sense of joy and pride that comes with owning your own home and calling it yours. However, there’s also no denying that the property tax on your home can be a thorn in your side. But that doesn’t always have to be the case! There are a few simple tricks you can use to help reduce your home’s property tax.

Study Your Tax Card

You’re allowed to go to your local city hall and request to see or get a copy of your tax card that holds information your town has collected about your property over time. You’ll be able to take note of any discrepancies and, if there are any, the local tax assessor will either correct them or schedule a re-evaluation of your home.

Avoid Building

It may be tempting to add a new inground pool, backyard patio, or other amenity to your home, but these are all considered permanent fixtures and will increase your property tax. If you really want to add onto your home, call your local tax and building departments to get a rough estimate of how your property taxes would be affected if you make these additions.

Cool Your Curb Appeal

While tax assessors have strict guidelines to follow when evaluating your home, they also are allowed to make some subjective decisions — namely by comparing your property to that of your neighbors. Since you’ll probably know when your assessor is coming, try to avoid making your yard look too pretty or adding any improvements — new countertops, large deck, stainless steel appliances, etc. — to your home until after your assessment.

Check Your Neighbors’ Homes

Information about other homes in your area is open to the public. Do some research, and see how your home compares to your neighbors’. For example, if you have a 4-bedroom home with a two-car garage and your home was valued at $550,000, but your neighbor has a four-bedroom home with a two-car garage, inground pool, and large deck, but was valued at $540,000, they may be a discrepancy or mistake that could warrant you a re-evaluation.

Take the Tour with the Assessor

Your tax assessor will probably only see the good things about your home — the stone fireplace or backyard shed. However, they might not note the out-of-date appliances or drafty roof. Walk with your assessor to highlight these type of things (along with the good things) to get a fair evaluation and help reduce your property tax.

If you’re thinking about your home’s finances, we can help! At American Investment Planners LLC, we make it a priority to help you prepare for the best financial future possible. From investments to estate planning, we’re here to help with anything you may need. To schedule an appointment with one of our advisors, please call (516) 932-5130 or email info@americaninvestmentplanners.com.

4 Tips for the Best Credit Score

Just as your license is the part of your identity that allows you to drive, your credit score is just as big a part of who you are. It can affect your ability to take out mortgages or student loans, what type of credit card you can get, and the amount of interest you’ll pay on lines of credit. With that being the case, you’ll obviously want to have the best credit score possible. Here are four tips to doing so!

1. Keep Track of Your Credit Card Balances: About 30% percent of your credit score depends on how much credit you have compared to how much you’re using. The smaller you can get that percentage, the better your credit score will be, so pay down your card balances and keep them as low as possible. Aim to have your percentage go no higher than 30%.
2. Leave Old Debt on Your Credit Report: Contrary to popular belief, leaving old, paid-off debt on your credit report is actually a good thing. It shows you’re a responsible borrower and can be trusted to handle other lines of credit. A long history of good debt can help improve your credit score moving forward.
3. Pay Your Bills on Time: We know that making big purchases, such as a car or home, can leave you feeling frazzled to gather a large amount of cash. However, don’t let your regular bills suffer for it. Paying your bills late can cause your credit score to drop, ruining your plans of owning that dream home. No matter what, make sure to make regular, on-time payments each month to keep your credit score up.
4. Become an Authorized User on Someone Else’s Card: If you’re not able to open your own credit card, find a family member or friend who is willing to let you become an authorized user on their account. His or her responsible payments will help boost your credit score, and that card’s limit will add to your existing credit limit, helping reduce your credit utilization ratio. The best part is you don’t even have to use the card to reap the benefits!

If you’re interested in improving your credit score, meeting with a financial advisor can help! At American Investment Planners LLC, we make it a priority to help you prepare for the best financial future possible. From investments to estate planning, we’re here to help with anything you may need. To schedule an appointment with one of our advisors, please call (516) 932-5130 or email info@americaninvestmentplanners.com.

Checking Your Credit Report

Checking Your Credit Report

Your credit report has a big effect on your ability to take out loans and other lines of credit. It can determine if you’ll be able to take out a mortgage, get insurance, or even sign up for a cell phone plan. Since it can have positive or negative influences on you, it’s important to be aware of how to check your credit report and see what’s on it.

What is a credit report?

It’s a detailed statement of your credit history and financial behavior collected by credit reporting companies.

Can I get my credit report for free?

Yes! Under federal law, you are allowed to request a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every 12 months. It’s highly suggested that you take advantage of this option and check your credit report annually.

How do I get my credit report?

You have three ways of getting your credit report.

1. You can request a copy online at www.AnnualCreditReport.com
2. You can request a copy by mail from the Annual Credit Report Request Service
3. You can request a copy over the phone by calling 877-FACTACT.

What is on my credit report?

There are four main sections of your credit report.

1. Your personal information — your name, current and former addresses, social security number, birthdate, and phone numbers.
2. Your credit accounts — your current and historical accounts and what type of accounts they are, credit limit, account balance, account payment history, and name of creditors.
3. Public Records — foreclosures, bankruptcies, liens, and civil suits and judgements.
4. Inquiries — any inquiries made to see your credit report by yourself of other agencies.

Your financial advisor can help you further understand your credit report and help you work to be in better financial standing with creditors. At American Investment Planners LLC, we make it a priority to help you prepare for the best financial future possible. From investments to estate planning, we’re here to help with anything you may need. To schedule an appointment with one of our advisors, please call (516) 932-5130 or email info@americaninvestmentplanners.com.

Why Choose AIP

When it comes to finding an Investment planner you can trust, the process is sometimes more difficult than it might seem. Retirement, estate planning, investing and more all come into play when you meet with a financial planner — so how do you know who can be trusted or not? At American Investment Planners LLC, we take pride in the service we provide for our clients, and we’re happy to show how our personal approach has yielded nothing but positive success for out clients.

Experience

This is perhaps one of the most important things that play a factor in your financial planner’s resume. With AIP, we’re proud to boast a number of years of experience in our field and can provide the personal approach needed. Your custom portfolio will be tailored based on your investment philosophy, short and long-term goals, tax burden and more. These small details create the bigger picture which all lead to the end goal — financial success.

Flexibility

With many planners, you might not find the flexibility needed to make your payments when they’re due. Because of this, we make it much easier than you might think, allowing you to customize your plan based on specific needs. We’re proud to be a member of the most highly regarded independent brokers in the country.

Staffing

We’re proud to also have some of the best financial professionals in the industry under our roof. These members make everything during the process an absolute breeze, and will work tirelessly to make sure you’re in good hands at the end of the day. From start to finish, everyone at American Investment Planners is looking out for you every step of the way.

If this is something you’re thinking about, make sure to sit down with the careful and professional financial planners at American Investment Planners LLC. From investments to estate planning, we’re here to help with anything you may need. To schedule an appointment with one of our advisors, please call (516) 932-5130 or email info@americaninvestmentplanners.com.

3 Ways To Avoid Falling Into Debt

3 Ways To Avoid Falling Into Debt

There are a lot of ways to be successful in life, and a number of these methods can lead to long term growth and prosperity. However the reality of life can sometimes keep you from enjoying yours, which can lead to spending money you don’t necessarily have. Debt is a reality that many of us face today, and there is simply very few ways to combat it once you’re actually behind on your finances. To help you fight back and resist falling into debt, we’ve got a few ideas you can apply to your daily life.

Spend Cash

One of the best ways to only spend what you have (or less), is to use cash for most of, if not all of your transactions. This helps you in a few ways. Cash is something tangible, and you can only spend what you have in your wallet. On the flip side, there are also benefits to saying goodbye to the money in your hand — and that’s the reality of it leaving! For some people, they don’t like actually seeing the money leave their hands, which might make them think about what it is they’re spending on.

Pay Off Cards Immediately

There’s no better way to not have a bill every month than just paying it from the start. Instead of racking up a bill and paying the minimum, try to only charge what you know you can afford to pay off at the end of the month. This has a number of benefits, which is both monetary gain, as well as the improvement of your credit score each month!

See A Financial Professional

Whether you’re looking for a reason to start saving for your retirement or your short term financial goals, there are a number of different approaches — however a financial planner is likely your best option. Any of the professionals at American Investment Planners LLC would be happy to hear your situation, offering unsurpassed advice that cannot be had elsewhere.

If this is something you’re thinking about, make sure to sit down with the careful and professional financial planners at American Investment Planners LLC. From investments to estate planning, we’re here to help with anything you may need. To schedule an appointment with one of our advisors, please call (516) 932-5130 or email info@americaninvestmentplanners.com.

Budget Questions To Ask Yourself

As it’s always good to check your finances throughout the year, it’s especially important during the summertime, before anything can happen in terms of spending. But from a grand perspective, there has to be ways to decrease the spending in your budget, isn’t there? Of course there is! In order to do so, you’re going to need to take a look at your finances and see where you can begin saving and putting away. Below are a few things to think about before making any decisions.

What Are You Spending On?

It’s important to think about what it is you’re spending your money on in the long run, and where it could possibly be going towards. Credit card debts, car payments and other expenses can take away from saving, so it’s important to look at what you can cut out of the equation when it comes to actually moving forward on a deal.

Where Are You Saving?

If any, you should also be looking at where your money is being put away, and how much of it is actually being put away for the future. This way, you can assess your expenses and see where, if any places can be added to. Your 401(k) is a great place to begin saving — especially since it’s going to be an important aspect of your retirement.

Are You Planning For The Future?

One of the best ways to ensure you’ll be able to enjoy life down the line is to make sure that everything has been lining up the way it should. To do so, it’s important to plan for the future. One of the best ways you can do that is by meeting with a professional financial planner. At American Investment Planners LLC, we have everything necessary to help you plan for your future life and more.

If this is something you’re thinking about, make sure to sit down with the careful and professional financial planners at American Investment Planners LLC. From investments to estate planning, we’re here to help with anything you may need. To schedule an appointment with one of our advisors, please call (516) 932-5130 or email info@americaninvestmentplanners.com.