Andrew Latham, Certified Financial Planner® | Source | Content Director at Supermoney.com
Andrew Latham, Certified Financial Planner®
Andrew is the Content Director for SuperMoney, a Certified Financial Planner®, and a Certified Personal Finance Counselor. He loves to geek out on financial data and translate it into actionable insights everyone can understand. His work is often cited by major publications and institutions, such as Forbes, U.S. News, Fox Business, SFGate, Realtor, Deloitte, and Business Insider.
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Supermoney.com
Content Director
started Jan 2013
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US News: When Your Adult Children Launch: What to Do With the Money You Aren’t Spending on Them
When your adult children are financially responsible for themselves, you may have more money to spend and save – here's what to do with it.
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WSJ: What Is Cash Value Life Insurance and Is It Worth It?
Cash value policies provide permanent coverage, but they can be significantly more expensive than term life insurance
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Best total stock market index funds of 2023
When you invest in a total stock market index fund, you are buying a particular slice of the stock market, not just one or a few individual stocks.
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Florida's 2025 Tax Changes: Relief or Temporary Fix?
Andrew notes that while Florida's tax changes offer some relief, they are mostly seasonal and targeted. "The elimination of the 2% tax on commercial leases provides $904 million in business relief, but household savings are modest." Long-term benefits include a planned sales tax cut in 2026, but core financial pressures remain unaddressed. -
Navigating No-Credit-Check Loans: Insights from Financial Expert Andrew Latham
Andrew explains that no-credit-check loans require proof of stable income and an active checking account. While accessible, they often come with high fees and interest rates. Alternatives like secured loans offer better terms. Andrew advises demonstrating consistent income and offering collateral to improve approval chances. He warns that these loans rarely help build credit, as most lenders don't report payments to credit bureaus. -
Navigating Wage Garnishment: Expert Tips for Financial Stability
Andrew explains, “Wage garnishment can claim up to 25% of your income.” He advises prioritizing essentials, cutting non-essentials, and negotiating with creditors. Bankruptcy may be a reset option if garnishment strains your basics. Though it impacts credit scores, rebuilding is possible with secured credit cards and timely payments.
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Who should have cash value coverage?
Permanent or cash value life insurance is a more complex and expensive form of coverage, so it’s not suitable for everyone. Generally, financial planners say that cash value policies are best for the following groups:Those who have an existing permanent policy may consider switching to term life coverage to save money. But if you have existing health issues, you may not qualify for coverage (and may be denied coverage entirely). Keeping your permanent policy may be the only way to maintain life insurance coverage.
High net-worth individuals who are looking to take advantage of tax-deferred cash value growth and tax-free death benefits for their loved ones.
Those who have trouble saving on their own
Andrew Latham, a financial planner and director of content at SuperMoney in Santa Ana, Calif., said the cash value insurance may be useful for high net-worth individuals, but it doesn’t make sense for most families.“If you’re terrible at saving or if there’s no way you’ll put [the amount of your premiums] in an investment account on your own, maybe it’s worth it,” says Latham. “But otherwise, term life insurance and investing the difference is the smarter option for most people.”
https://www.wsj.com/buyside/personal-finance/what-is-cash-value-life-insurance-a3b8f643 -
"The use of tax brackets in the United States dates back to the introduction of the modern income tax in 1913," says Andrew Latham, a certified financial planner and editor of the financial site SuperMoney. "Initially, the tax was a flat rate of 1% on income over $3,000 for single filers and $4,000 for married filers. However, the Revenue Act of 1916 introduced a graduated tax system with 14 tax brackets and rates ranging from 2% to 15%."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/understanding-tax-brackets-what-to-know-to-maximize-your-return/ -
“A 2022 study on the employee participation in Bank of America's benefit programs showed that 58% of eligible employees participated in a 401(k) plan -- which was an improvement over previous years,” said Supermoney.com Managing Editor Andrew Latham. “Yet 61% of them contributed below $5,000 last year.”
https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/a-new-retirement-plan-for-millions-of-americans-ready-for-something-different
