Retirement

getty Continued economic uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is concerning to Americans of all ages, especially those living in retirement. Below we address four questions retired investors are asking about ways to optimize their planning in the months ahead. 1. Should I waive my RMDs? The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security(CARES) Act—the $2

By Roger McIntosh, Next Avenue Contributor getty As our country braces against the ebb and flow of mandates to stay-at-home, we should give serious consideration to the repercussions of self-quarantine or isolation on the mental and physical well-being of those most vulnerable to Covid-19. As a health psychologist and expert in human immunodeficiency, I know

TOPLINE Senate Republicans unveiled a new coronavirus relief proposal Monday that would replace the extra weekly $600 unemployment aid (which end this week) with a 70% wage-replacement program—but state labor departments are scrambling to figure out how their overwrought systems would handle the payments. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called for an extension of unemployment

getty This past June, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) released new guidelines regarding the proper use of incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) factors in determining the investments within a retirement plan covered by ERISA. This hasn’t gone over well with ESG advocates. Aron Szapiro, director of policy research for Morningstar MORN , recently wrote,

Are there cases when the amount of guaranteed income can be decreased? Generally, if an annuity contract states that a guaranteed income level remains for life then this is the case as long as distributions do not exceed the guaranteed levels. But some annuity providers make clear that there is an option to receive more

getty Separate and apart from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) is the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program.  Initially enacted many years ago to provide loans to businesses that have suffered from major storms, droughts, and other federally-declared disasters, the SBA has already advanced over $150 billion in EIDL money to borrowers who have verified

CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Yesterday, Senators Marco Rubio and Susan Collins released a 92 page proposed Bill for an Act that will be called the Continuing Small Business Recovery and Paycheck Protection Program Act. The Act is intended to correct some problems and a number of challenges that PPP borrowers have had, while

By Arlene Weintraub, Next Avenue Contributor getty When Karen Tibbals of Washington, N.J. heard that more than 100,000 volunteers would be needed for late-stage clinical trials of four Covid-19 vaccines, she wanted to roll up her sleeves and get one of the experimental shots. Tibbals is 65 and has the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis, raising

WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 20: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (L) listens to U.S. … [+] President Donald Trump talks to reporters while hosting Republican congressional leaders and members of Trump’s cabinet in the Oval Office at the White House July 20, 2020 in Washington, DC. Trump and the congressional leaders talked about a

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – JUNE 10: President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gestures during his … [+] daily morning briefing on June 10, 2020 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) Getty Images When Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, or AMLO, was elected as president of Mexico in 2018, he was characterized by

Several retirement trends have been brought into focus by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most disturbing is the number of workers between 50 and 65 who are in jobs without retirement benefits. Today half of all workers don’t have access to a work sponsored retirement plan. According to a recent study by Alicia H.

When federal “regulators” go boldly where no regulator has ever gone before–to promote retirement … [+] gambling, WATCH OUT! getty Private equity—speculative investments in the stocks of companies not publicly traded and hard-to-value—“has the potential to hasten the retirement day for American workers,” Trump’s DOL Deputy Secretary recently gratuitously advised. Trump’s SEC Chairman Jay Clayton

Beach deck chair against a backdrop of Two Brothers Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at sunset getty It’s the $1 million question for those nearing retirement. How much can you spend each year without running out of money? It’s a question I examine in my book, Retire Before Mom and Dad. The answer most commonly

getty It might make sense to treat your retirement savings like the government treats banks. Your savings will, after all, become your bank when you retire. Historically, banks’ internal procedures periodically called for accounting “stress tests.” Similar to what your doctor might order you to take to test the strength of your heart, bank stress

How the next big stimulus package plays out could have a big impact on Social Security and Medicare … [+] recipients. getty Anyone who cares about Social Security and Medicare should be paying attention to the back-and-forth in Congress on the next stimulus package in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest Republican summary of

This strategy offers a safe balance between too much frugality and too much spending in retirement Getty Images/iStockphoto Many retirees are spending their retirement savings quite frugally, according to a handful of recent reports and studies. These studies—from the Employee Benefits Research Institute, United Income, and the Boston College Center for Retirement Research—reveal that as

getty When to collect Social Security and which strategy to use has become a popular topic over the last few years, and a lot of ink has been spilled on the subject. Usually it focuses on how much you might be able to collect through retirement by waiting, or perhaps how much you would give up

TOPLINE  Lawmakers are unlikely to put together another federal stimulus package before certain key parts of the CARES Act—most notably the expanded unemployment insurance—expire. Here’s what you need to know.  Storm clouds pass over the Capitol dome as a severe thunderstorm approaches Washington on Wednesday, … [+] July 22, 2020. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty

The Pandemic and Recession Cut Incomes and Raise Costs For Older Households getty The retirement crisis has been under way for a while. A growing share of older households had little or no savings, as costs for housing, health care and other items went up. Some worked longer, while others went deeper into debt to

By Kerry Hannon, Next Avenue Contributor getty The coronavirus pandemic is causing many older workers who’ve lost jobs or been offered early retirement severance packages to decide to pack it in. But taking early retirement can throw a monkey wrench into your future financial security. That’s why it’s vital to be cautious before doing it.