Stefanie O'Connell
Is Delaying Life’s Major Milestones A Good Thing?
There is an 11-year age gap between my mother and her only sister. When people ask them why, they always give the same response, “World War II”. Understanding why someone would push out a major life milestone, like starting a family, begins with evaluating...
The Pros and Cons of New Home Loan Programs
So many people see homeownership as the fulfillment of the American Dream. Making this dream come true looks like it might be even easier now, as Lending giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have recently introduced mortgage programs that reduce down payments...
Does Big City Living Provide a Higher Return on Investment?
Choosing where to pursue the American Dream has become almost as controversial as choosing a college major. Increasingly the rising cost of living has instigated a shift from prioritizing personal preference to return on investment when considering varying...
Why It Pays to Pair Up
In 2009, New York Times reporters Tara Siegel Bernard and Ron Lieber argued that the price of being single could range from $41,196 (best case scenario) to $467,562 (worst case scenario) over the course of a lifetime. While the authors conducted the analysis...
Is Retirement Still a Reality?
Tom Palome is former six-figure-earning marketing executive at Oral-B. Now approaching 80, Tom’s retirement reality is more reminiscent of an eager teen than a comfortable retiree. Working two part-time jobs- one as a food demonstrator at Sam’s Club, the...
Bringing Positivity To Retirement Savings
I’ve always dreamed of retirement as a kind of magical place where late mornings in bed are a regular occurrence and indulgent beach vacations are just a quick plane ride away. But with post-financial crisis realities, longer life expectancies, and largely...
