Retirement

An ambitious project from the Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL) attempts to improve retirement outcomes by encouraging pre-retirees and retirees to plan ahead for the challenges they face as they transition into retirement. The widespread lack of forward-looking planning among people approaching their retirement has vexed retirement planners and researchers for many years. Often, people

Many investors make the mistake of assuming advisers who appear wealthy must be financially savvy and will make them rich. Scammers count on the allure of real or imaginary wealth. To be sure, hiring a penniless pauper to advise you on how to get rich makes no sense. On the other hand, many people believe

Many Medicare beneficiaries will pay lower premiums for their coverage in 2023, but the headlines aren’t the full story. There are two key parts of Medicare affected by the latest premium news. Part B is the main part of original Medicare that covers doctor’s services and many other types of non-hospital care. (Part A covers

In the mid-1990s, a plethora of regional mutual funds popped up across America. Today, when you think of a “regional” fund, you think of broad global regions. But, three decades ago, a “regional” fund might have also referred to so-called “cheerleader” funds that promoted a particular state in whole or part. Think of these as

The Social Security Administration announces the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the following year each year. With the bout of inflation hitting American wallets over the past year, the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment could be huge for 2023. The September 2022 Consumer Price Index (CPI) report is set to be released on October 13, and the

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows in Friday’s data, a labor market that is growing at a modest, stable pace. In general, job and wage growth have moderated to a point, where they do not exert inflationary pressures. This could create the policy space for the Federal Reserve to proceed cautiously with further interest rate

As we approach this year’s December 31st deadline for Roth conversions, and with the looming expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), set to expire at the end of 2025 causing 2026 tax rates and brackets to be higher for most households, many people are looking to see if Roth conversions are appropriate

Today’s Surprise: Unemployment Is Down But So Are Wages Not sure what the Fed will make of today’s jobs report. My guess is that it will likely double down and keep gunning for a recession. Outside of impacting financial markets, the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate hiking campaign is focused on suppressing job growth, as James K.

Factors to consider Assisted living homes continue to spring up, with owners hoping to attract the highest paying residents to the nicest facilities. After all, Medicare does not cover assisted living and residents must pay out of pocket. If you are considering this for an aging parent, cost is a primary factor in the decision.

As you transition into retirement, you face many important decisions that will impact your quality of life for the rest of your life. The trouble is, many people ignore or put off these critical decisions, according to Disconnected: Perception vs. Reality in Retirement Planning, a recent study from the Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL). Most

The Justice Department recently announced an expansion of its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to fight against financial abuse. We applaud its efforts. However, no matter what the expansion puts into better transnational law enforcement, the heart of the problem and the worst of elder financial exploitation does not come from international crime rings. It

I will assess this question for a homeowner of 62 with a house now worth $400,000 who has no current need to draw funds from a HECM but wants the largest possible credit line looking ahead – say in 3 years. I will call this homeowner Prudent. The data used in answering this question are

In 2023, the premium for Part B, medical insurance, is going down by $5.25, to $164.90. After last year’s hefty increase, Medicare beneficiaries are relieved. With that drop, higher-income beneficiaries will be even more relieved. Since 2007, higher-income beneficiaries have paid more for Part B (in addition to the monthly premium) because of IRMAA, the

Around the world, there are millions of workers and retirees who are counting upon pensions set up by corporations and governments to provide for their retirement security. These individuals believe they have been “promised” certain benefits and that promises made will be kept. Unfortunately, many pensions are severely underfunded, i.e., not enough money has been

It’s been the craze for several years now as the generational change in demographics highlights new marketing trends, but it has come under fire lately from several different directions. What is “ESG” investing, really? The problem is no one knows. Or maybe everyone knows. And they all believe (very strongly, by the way) it’s something

There’s a significant perception/reality gap among most pre-retirees and retirees today. That’s one of the key takeaways from a new study published by the Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL), titled Disconnected: Reality vs. Perception in Retirement Planning. The study shows that most of today’s pre-retirees and retirees lack sufficient savings to fully retire at age

Can you feel inflation eating away at your income? Are you worried matters will only get worse as the nation dives deeper into recession? Perhaps you’re eying that favorite hobby of yours, wondering if you can tweak it a bit to bring in some much-needed revenue. What’s holding you back? If you’ve spent the bulk

Critics of Medicaid’s long-term services and supports (LTSS) program often complain that it is so poorly designed that lavishes benefits on wealthy retirees and wastes billions of dollars in taxpayer money. Some people do abuse the system. And they should be stopped. But the real problem with Medicaid LTSS is that in many states its

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released on Sept. 27, the 2023 Medicare costs. The standard monthly premium for Part B, medical insurance, will drop $5.20, from $170.10 to $164.90. A drop in the premium is very unusual. Last time this happened was in 2012 when the premium decreased $15.50 a month, primarily

Legendary investor Warren Buffett says “cryptocurrencies basically have no value and don’t produce anything.” Yet, according to a recent study, 94% of America’s state and local government pensions—often regarded as the dumbest institutional investors in the world by Wall Street—are gambling on cryptocurrencies. If you are a participant in a state or local government-sponsored pension