Retirement

getty On January 1, 2021, the 401(k) world as you know it will be reborn. It may start out slowly at first, but ultimately the popular retirement savings vehicle will change. And you should be happy. It’s very possible, if not likely, the new and improved “401(k) 2.0” will allow you to benefit from broader

getty Historically low interest rates can generate historic tax benefits. At least one of these tax benefits can be reaped without giving up immediately any cash or property: a charitable contribution of a remainder interest in a home, vacation home, or farm. Ownership of property can be divided into two portions. A lifetime interest, or

By Juana Poareo, Next Avenue Contributor getty Kaci Smith, 36, recalls the gradual emergence of her PTSD symptoms about three years ago when she’d been caring for her mother at home following her mom’s 2012 stroke. “It would be things like almost feeling like a panic attack,” says Smith, a Rochester, N.Y. teacher. “If she

HARTFORD, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 17: Mailboxes from across the country are stored outside of Hartford … [+] Finishing Inc. where they will be refurbished or repaired on August 17, 2020 in Hartford, Wisconsin. A viral photo of the mailboxes has been misused on social media as evidence of the Trump administration tampering with the United

By Grace Birnstengel, Next Avenue Editor “I’m sometimes a bit lonely, but I’m adjusting,” says Louise Jackson, 83, of the pandemic. Courtesy of Louise Jackson Nearly six months into the pandemic, the biggest change to Carmen and Bernie Rollins’ lives is a lack of spontaneity. The retired couple in San Bernadino County’s Upland, Calif., ages

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Editor getty Back in 1982, I remember devouring futurist John Naisbitt’s bestseller, Megatrends: Ten New Directions Transforming Our Lives. Now, Wharton management professor Mauro F. Guillén has published 2030: How Today’s Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything. It’s equally fascinating, for its predictions ranging from the

By Carol Levine, Next Avenue Contributor getty Part of growing up is learning how to help others, starting with the family. For most kids, that means doing ordinary household chores — walking the dog, helping with meals and clean-up, folding the laundry. It might mean showing Grandpa how to use his new computer or helping

Retiring is a huge life event, and it isn’t one that comes with many do-overs. You have to get it … [+] right the first time. getty Retiring is a huge life event, and it isn’t one that comes with many do-overs. You have to get it right the first time. Luckily, there are ways

Getty Images On Monday, August 17th, I reported on the over 1,150 lawyers who cannot get licensed in Florida any time soon because the July exam that was moved to August is now moved to a yet to be determined day in October.  We hope that this is October of 2020! Monday’s article can be found

The message about fees is worth digging into further, as it presents one of the biggest objections made to variable annuities. Variable annuities have generally come under attack for the higher internal costs relative to an unprotected investment portfolio. But it is important to frame the issue of variable annuity fees in terms of the

NEW YORK – JANUARY 22: A tour bus passes the Wall Street bull in the financial district January 22, … [+] 2007 in New York City. In a study commissioned by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), it was determined that New York could lose its place as the

Millennials are taking a new look at suburbia and small towns – and surprised at what they are … [+] finding. getty Suburbia. Just the word often conjures up images of endless lines of cookie-cutter homes. From the air the streetscape resembles a plate of unruly spaghetti. No one would want to live in a

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Editor kamalaharris.com Here’s a 2020 presidential election riddle: Is presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris a boomer, a member of Generation X or part of Generation Jones? The answer is complicated. And to get there, it helps to understand what Generation Jones means. Until a few days ago,

TOPLINE Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday blamed Democrats for refusing to “strike a reasonable deal” on the next coronavirus stimulus bill, shooting down hopes of progress in the ongoing negotiations which remain at a standstill. The Treasury Secretary was hopeful negotiations could resume later this week. Alex Wong/Getty Images KEY FACTS The Treasury Secretary

By Rachel Hartman, Next Avenue Contributor getty As Covid-19 sweeps across the globe, “we know now more than ever our health is at risk and that we may experience unexpected medical expenses,” says Juan Carlos Cruz, founder of Britewater Financial Group in Brooklyn, N.Y. What you may not know is that a health savings account

getty Lawyers and many other professionals know that the bar exam is one of the most difficult and unpleasant experiences in professional and academic life.  It normally takes at least 12 weeks of 60 to 70 hours per week of intense preparation and “cramming” of a great deal of largely irrelevant material, with the failure

Reality Check Ahead sign on desert road getty There’s a lot of talk about “fake news” these days and the same could apply to retirement planning. I often hear quite a few recurring myths that could be hurting people’s ability to plan properly for their retirement. Here are ten of the most common ones I come

getty Let’s review some of the assertions being made about Trump and the Post Office recently, shall we? “Trump admits blocking Postal Service funding to undercut vote by mail.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as reprinted from the Los Angeles Times, August 13, 2020. “President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would block a funding boost for the

Corbis via Getty Images If you’re not familiar with the details on what happened with Kodak stock in the last few weeks, you can catch up here and here. In a nutshell, though, this is what you need to know for the purposes of this article: On Tuesday, July 28th, the Trump administration, in a

WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 12: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a briefing at the White House … [+] August 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Trump answered a range of questions during the briefing related to the ongoing pandemic and the U.S. presidential race. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images Both houses of Congress