Retirement

getty A note to readers: The main concept of this article was originally published on December 19th, before the ultimate version of this Act was finalized, voted on, and enacted. Now that this Act has been signed into law and we’ve received further guidance from the SBA, I wanted to publish this updated variation to

By Chris Farrell, Next Avenue getty During a recent Minnesota Public Radio program I hosted about Social Security, I was surprised at the number of callers with questions and complaints about the program’s survivor benefits for widows and widowers. One caller protested the “unfairness” of the benefits since she felt they ignored her own work

Mistakes seniors make with HECM Reverse Mortgages getty FHA insured reverse mortgages, called HECMs, allow seniors to withdraw cash from their home while retaining the right to live there indefinitely. They are a potentially powerful tool for helping seniors live better lives during their retirement years. However, the benefits can also be frittered away, with

For most investors, Target-Date (TDFs) or Lifestyle Funds are a great idea. They reside in your 401(k) as a basket of mutual funds. Professional managers pick them and adjust risk based on your age. The closer you are to retirement — your “target date” — the lower the stock market risk in a TDF portfolio.

ELLICOTT, MD – NOVEMBER, 20:Regina Peterson, 83y, and Linda Umstead, are delighted while speaking to … [+] Howard County students that deliver food to her and other disadvantaged senior citizens at the Tiber Hudson Apartment Building, (Photo by Evy Mages/For The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post via Getty Images Workers’ retirement accounts

Many Households Borrow From Friends and Family In the Current Recession getty Misery loves company or so the saying goes. In the current recession, it is more accurate to say that misery creates company. Millions of households struggle amid the onslaught of rising health care risks, growing childcare costs, and a deep recession with massive

By Kerry Hannon, Next Avenue Eldera When S. Jay Olshansky, 66, a professor of public health at the University of Illinois at Chicago, virtually met math and science whiz Hyunseung Lee, 11, in May, something “sparked,” he says. “It was special. He just reminded me of myself at that age,” Olshansky adds. Olshansky, a renowned

getty Social Security is an important source of income for most U.S. retirees. On average it accounts for almost 40% of retirement income. Social Security becomes more important the longer a person is retired, often accounting for 50% or more of income for older retirees. Yet, many retirees make decisions that cost them additional lifetime

Seneca the Younger Universal Images Group via Getty Images Running out of money is an anxiety that keeps even well-prepared potential retirees in jobs that they hate and keeps many fresh retirees in a state of perpetual dread. The ‘what-ifs’ and ‘buts’ of living on savings or a fixed income keeps untold thousands from making

getty Test your hand to see how well you know the December COVID-19 stimulus package. Tis’ the season for economic relief! It looks like Congress was in the giving spirit as they delivered a much needed COVID Stimulus package just in time for the New Year. It took a few months of negotiations but there

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Editor getty You might not think there’d be much difference between the way members of Generation X (who are 40 to 55) and boomers (56 to 74) feel about money, since they’re age-adjacent. But truth is, survey after survey is showing that Gen Xers are far more financially fragile and

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about widow’s benefits when a spouse dies before full retirement age, whether continuing income will increase benefits, having worked in the US and a foreign country and the possibility of taking spousal benefits before retirement benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and

Social Security is falling short because of persistent wage inequality and political inaction; President-elect Biden has comprehensive plans to strengthen Social Security. A woman with her children walks with a placard reading ‘Social Security, not Global Security’. … [+] Thousands protesters marched again against the ‘Global Security Law’ bill promoted by French President Macron and

Organize a compilation of your 2020 trust planning now! getty So, you created one or more trusts in 2020 with interesting sounding acronyms: SLAT, DAPT, SPAT, etc. And now you are just happy to be done. Well, you are not done yet! You and your advisers should prepare a compilation of the planning documentation you have

Blueberry vendor at Lake Chapala, Mexico Bryan Clark Although you don’t know me, here’s a fun riddle that could apply to lots of people, and maybe even you: “Guess what these four things have in common for the author of this article: blueberries, shrimp, and the services of Raul (my local auto body shop owner)

Start 2021 with New Year’s resolutions that can really improve your life in retirement. getty It’s likely you’ve seen or made typical New Year’s resolutions that could make your retirement better: save more, spend less, lose some weight, and so on. While those resolutions can definitely help improve your life, following are four New Year’s

Within the last 12 months, we have essentially seen the passage of three major pieces of federal legislation that impact retirement planning. Far and away the biggest retirement planning bill of the three was the SECURE Act, passed at the end of 2019, and mostly going into effect in 2020. However, due to COVID-19 and

Young graduates wearing rented gowns and mortarboards applaud a speech in the central hall of their … [+] university during their graduation ceremony, on 13th July 2017, at the University of York, England. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images Images) In Pictures via Getty Images Before my wife and I got

FEBRUARY 29, 2020: A set of gold-plated tea cups (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images) Getty Images Most likely you will pay your Social Security taxes all year round. But some high earners will stop paying before their hangover headache hits in the wee hours of New Year’s Day.  Social Security benefits are paid by the

getty The clock is running out on 2020. If you’re like the 83% of Americans who think that 2020 was either just “OK,” “bad,” or “terrible,” you’re probably looking forward to ringing in the new year. But if you have an hour or so to spare before the ball drops, a smart money move before