Bernstein Rosen & Company, CPAs, PC

Like most people, you probably plan to retire someday. If you have a salary and 401(k), you're off to a good start, but knowing how to take advantage of them is key to a successful and enriching retirement. ?

Can looking at your credit score damage it? Sometimes. When reviewing it with a "soft" inquiry, there is no damage or effect. Reviewing it with a "hard" inquiry causes some damage to your credit. To learn more about the difference, give us a call!

Your goal amount will depend on the lifestyle and retirement date you want as well as the other sources of income you'll have. Just getting started? Save what you can.

Did you know credit reports aren’t always perfect? Make sure you double-check your personal info, address, social security number, and card numbers. In rare cases, someone else with a near-identical name could be damaging your credit unknowingly.

In theory, the idea of a market-linked CD seems sound. But there are many complexities to market-linked CDs that could impact how much you earn.

Finance tip of the day: Make a zero-based budget A zero-based budget simply means that every dollar is assigned somewhere before the month begins - down to the last dollar. Take what your monthly income will be, then start assigning dollar amounts to different areas based on priority (ie. savings, then rent, then food) until every dollar is accounted for. Then stick to it!

At over $1 trillion, student debt is the most common form of debt. While there's no secret trick to pay student debt back in a month, it also doesn't have to loom over you for 30 years. Here's how to tackle that student loan. ?

Want to put more into savings, but having a hard time doing so? Try automating your savings! Set up your bank account to automatically transfer funds from your checking to savings every month. Or, set up your direct deposit to automatically transfer a percentage of each paycheck into your savings account.

A traditional IRA can be a great retirement savings tool because it lets you put money away that will grow tax-deferred until it's withdrawn. But in exchange for the tax break, the Internal Revenue Code imposes some strict rules for withdrawals, and you can be charged with penalties from 10 to 50 percent if you don't follow them.

Anybody who has experienced property damage or major illness can attest to the financial devastation of the unexpected. Rather than find yourself dipping into savings or worse - going into debt - due to emergency expenditures, have an emergency fund handy. Set aside a small percentage of every paycheck to be used if the unexpected strikes.

Managing your money and hitting your financial goals has never been easier with these personal finance tips!

Did you know 36% of Americans only have about $1,000 saved for their retirement? ? While "save as much as you can afford" is the standard advice. It's recommended that you save approximately 10% to 15% of your income for retirement, starting in your 20s.

Because lending involves risk, lenders are more inclined to lend money - and to offer better terms - to people who have good credit. Credit-builder loans help solve the most frustrating problem you face when trying to improve your credit.