Erick Durol

11/30/2022

Good news to more than 65 million Social Security beneficiaries - the official 2023 COLA is a whopping 8.7%!

We have the final CPI-W for September, providing the official 2023 Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment as a whopping 8.7 percent

11/24/2022

I gotta go with pecan pie! Thanksgiving without it just isn’t Thanksgiving.

Sure Thanksgiving’s about expressing your gratitude for what you have and what you’ve been given – but you can only sit around and feel thankful for so long. After that, it’s about enjoying your favorite traditions and sharing moments with some of your favorite people you don’t see often enough.

Whether it’s a parent, grandparent, sibling, cousin, niece, nephew, uncle, aunt, or a dear friend, I hope you get the rare chance to enjoy a moment you’re forever thankful for.

May this Thanksgiving be a slice of heaven!

11/11/2022

You’re invited to a live Estate Planning seminar presented by Atty. Lorna Garcia on Monday, November 14th at the Elk Grove Financial Center. Learn to protect your family, your assets, and everything you own against probate. Atty. Lorna will discuss the importance of Wills, Living Trust, Power of Attorney, and Advance Healthcare Directive.

We are committed to protecting families and their futures so we partnered with a network of Estate Planning experts in the US.

Let me know if you’re interested to attend this event and I’ll be glad to help you register. Every guest who attend will get a FREE 30-minute consultation with Atty. Lorna ($350 value). Zoom is available if you’re unable to attend in person. Hope you can join us!

10/02/2022

👉 Important FAFSA Notice to Parents and Students

As of today, October 1st, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available for the 2023-2024 academic year. Both incoming and current students will have until June 30, 2024 to submit their completed FAFSA form. Additionally, legislation passed in 2021 means that the FAFSA will be different for this academic year.

🔸 FAFSA is too complicated so filling all of them out and completing them correctly and on time is critical for the College Financial Aid Process.

🔸 There are over $150 billion in federal student aid - including grants, scholarships, loans and work-study - available each year from the federal government, states, colleges and universities, private foundations and organizations. It is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Filing the FAFSA earlier will help the student maximize the amount of aid for which they are eligible.

🔸 Through partnerships with Education Encompassed and HIFE College Coaching Program, our teams of College Consultants are ready to help parents and students with FAFSA and college preparation needs. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or need help.

🔥 Don’t delay applying for aid so you don’t end up with burdensome debt after graduation!

08/04/2022

Plenty of stressors can affect relationships from day to day
● What temperature do you set the thermostat on?
● Who's doing the dishes?
● Which TV show are you two going to watch tonight?

These might be fairly easy to sort out. Put a sweater on. You cook, I'll clean up. Let's watch the game tonight and the reality show tomorrow.

But there's one stressor that can affect relationships on a deeper level... And it's called "Financial Infidelity."

Never heard of Financial Infidelity? Read more on my blog.

Calling it infidelity might seem a bit dramatic, but it’s fitting when you consider that money and the stress it may bring are among the most common reasons for divorce.² Each couple has their own definition of “a lot of money,” but as you can imagine, or may have even experienced yourself, m...

07/14/2022

You’re invited to our webinar this Friday, July 15th. Learn more about Social Security and how you can maximize your lifetime income.

I’ll be glad to help you register if you’re interested to attend this event. Hope you can join us!

*US Residents only

04/28/2022

Inflation. The elephant in the room. We know it's there but no one wants to talk about it.
What is there to do in the face of this underlying force that you can't control? Gaining awareness is the first step. Read my blog article for some clues.

Unlike the value of stocks, real estate, or similar assets, candy doesn’t appreciate in value. What has happened is that your money has depreciated in value. Inflation has a sneaky way of eating away our money over time, forcing us to either find a way to earn more – or to get by with less. Even...

04/07/2022

Purchasing a home is a big leap. But does it always make sense to buy? Are there times when renting is a big move? Check out my blog to learn more.

But sometimes it might seem more convenient (or economical) to rent rather than buy. Here are two things to consider if you’re looking to buy a house instead of renting.

03/30/2022

Keeping a credit card around (instead of ditching them) has some serious benefits that you should consider before you decide to free yourself from plastic’s grasp.
Check out my blog article to learn more.

On average, each household that has revolving credit card debt owes $7,104 (1). It might be tempting to see those numbers and decide to throw out your credit cards entirely. After all, why hang on to a source of temptation when you could make do with cash or a debit card? However, keeping a credit c...

03/08/2022

If you’re looking for a new home, ask yourself if you’re in danger of becoming “house poor” - when every spare penny might be going toward your mortgage or home upkeep with nothing leftover for saving or having a little fun every now and then.

Thankfully, there’s a different way. If you’re going house hunting any time soon, there are four areas to consider before you start your serious search.

Learn more from my blog article below.

Blog Article: 4 fundamental home buying guidelines

03/01/2022

On the surface it might seem better to always cover your bills with cash and simply save up for whatever items you wish to purchase. This is generally a sound practice.

However, if this habit leads to becoming "credit invisible", it may have a detrimental effect on your creditworthiness.

Find out more about credit invisibility in my blog article.

Blog Article: Are you credit worthy?

02/09/2022

You might think that deciding when to start preparing for retirement requires complicated algorithms. Yes, there may be some math involved - but the simple answer is - if you haven't started preparing yet, the time to start is right now!

Check out my blog article to learn more.

You might think that deciding when to start preparing for retirement requires complicated algorithms. Yes, there may be some math involved – but the simple answer is – if you haven’t started preparing yet, the time to start is right now!