Summer vacation season brings excitement, but it shouldn't derail your long-term financial objectives. As a Certified Financial Planner®, I regularly help people navigate the challenge of enjoying meaningful travel experiences while staying committed to their retirement savings, emergency funds, and debt reduction goals. The key lies in strategic planning and making your travel budget work within your overall financial framework.
Travel Medical Insurance: Are You Covered for Foreign Emergencies?
Reflections on Reaching Retirement Age as I Turn 65
Real I.D.: Added Step To Fly Domestically
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 to set a standard for identification cards. As of December 2013, the Department of Homeland Security implemented an enforcement plan schedule that was modified in 2018 by President Trump. The Act sets a minimum-security standard for licenses and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting identification cards that do not meet the criteria.
Traveling Made Easier: TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
As of January 2019, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that 99.9% of passengers wait less than 30 minutes for security checks at airports. This doesn’t seem factual when you are waiting in the security line with no end in sight. During my very warm welcome back into the states in the customs line, I was curious as to what traveler program provides the highest value for the lowest cost. There are many programs that are offered through the government and private companies, but the two most popular programs are the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.