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“A general rule of thumb is to float 20% of all earned income towards savings while holding at least three to six months of monthly expenses in a ‘rainy day fund,'” DeLuca explained.

“I would suggest making consistent payments to the biggest interest rate loans, then working your way down. This is the avalanche method. The snowball method utilizes the opposite approach, tackling the smallest balances first. Either way, it's about staying consistent in your payments,” says Anthony DeLuca, a certified financial planner (CFP) and senior financial adviser with Delta Advisory Group.

“AI is going to use its infinitely growing database of financial knowledge to pinpoint the exact decisions one needs to take for the most successful financial future,” says DeLuca.

“Most individuals with great wealth rarely flaunt it,” said Anthony DeLuca, CFP, an expert with RetireGuide. “These individuals practice something that helped bring such wealth — discipline and relative humility.”

“Ideally, you would want to invest in a Roth IRA when you are in a lower tax bracket. Once your salary grows, deferring taxes into a traditional 401(K) or IRA becomes a better tax strategy option,” DeLuca explained.

Living on a fixed income? Financial expert Anthony DeLuca from RetireGuide warns about some key costs that could rise under the new administration.

“California’s housing market demand will take time to recover, but recovery is happening, albeit slower than usual,” said Anthony DeLuca, an expert contributor at RetireGuide.

As with most things, what’s happening with the broader economy affects the rental market.
“Shutting down an economy, choking the supply chain and then following this up by raising the Federal fund rate skyrocketed inflation,” DeLuca shared.
This inflationary pressure has made life in already expensive cities even less affordable. As a result, it’s no surprise that people are moving out.

As DeLuca said, many of the states that could see the biggest impact on upper-class paychecks are also major contributors to the national GDP. The interplay between tax policy, economic growth and income distribution is complex and multifaceted.

Interestingly, Anthony DeLuca, CFP and expert for Annuity.org, suggested that some of the biggest beneficiaries could be in traditionally high-tax states.
“Upper-class earners living in areas with high state and city taxes need federal and corporate relief,” DeLuca explained. “That would be New York, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, etc.”
DeLuca pointed to Trump’s past tax policies as a guide.
“Trump enacted the TCJA of 2017 which gave huge tax relief to the upper-class,” he said. “It lowered both the individual tax rate from 39.7% to 37% and the corporate tax from 35% to 21%.”

“First off, any excess cash should be placed in a money market account. Most are yielding around 5% at a time when CPI is now back down towards 2.9%. That yield differential is a no brainer,” said Anthony DeLuca, CFP, an expert contributor at RetireGuide. Just remember that investing comes with risks and everyone’s situation is different, so it’s a good idea to consult a financial advisor when making investment decisions.

As DeLuca pointed out, “If you are a new family trying to live out the American dream, Vice President Kamala Harris’s policies might align with your wants and needs.”
As always, voters should carefully consider how each candidate’s policies might affect their personal financial situation and the broader economy.

Trump’s tax policy has been a cornerstone of his economic approach. Anthony DeLuca, expert contributor at Annuity.org, explained, “One of the bigger dialogues surrounding former President Trump’s first term was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, which was supposed to create tax relief for all Americans.”

Anthony DeLuca, an expert contributor for RetireGuide.com, pointed out the power of maxing out tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs. “If you max out the IRA each year (assuming the maximum stays at $7,000), for 40 years with an annual return of 7.0% (roughly the S&P average over the last 25 years after inflation) you will have an ending value of $1.3 million,” he shared.

Anthony DeLuca, expert contributor for RetireGuide.com, suggested a long-term strategy: “Perhaps an obvious way to make more of your Social Security check is to delay monthly payments until you optimize at age 70.”

“The reality: The Federal Reserve Board has more controlling power with the Fed fund rate than the policies of any president,” DeLuca said.

So instead of spending so much time worrying about how election night will affect your portfolio, you can use that time to plan your long-term financial goals.

To learn how a Harris presidency could impact the plans of boomers eyeing a 2025 retirement, GOBankingRates consulted two financial planners, DeLuca and Michael Collins, CFA, and CEO and founder of WinCap Financial.

“Always look at your financial plan,” said DeLuca. “It does not matter if there is a new president. Every six months, a financial plan should be revisited and adjusted as need be.”

As both DeLuca and Bellak’s points illustrate, an advisor can help clients feel more confident about their financial future, especially if the professional pays close attention to their needs. A person’s confidence also hinges on their ability to keep an open mind and feel that they’re getting the most monetary value out of their advisor-client relationship.

A financial planner can help you figure out how to begin saving for retirement in your 40s, or even later, and still achieve a successful financial outcome.

For one real-life example, Anthony DeLuca, a certified financial planner (CFP) and financial advisor at Delta Advisory Group in Maitland, Florida, has a client who didn’t begin saving in a 401(k) until she was around 50 years old

DeLuca added that investors need a hefty dose of discipline when it comes to contributing to a retirement plan, as well as the ability to stick to a budget. “But for our client who is now enjoying her retirement, she will attest that the challenge was worth it,” he said.

“There are times when potential debt is unavoidable, and that’s simply life," said Anthony DeLuca, a certified financial planner at RetireGuide.com in Longwood, Florida, in an email. "That’s why certain hardship withdrawals are the correct move to avoid debt, even if it means your retirement plan takes a step backward.”