Retirement

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 26: Seventh U.S. Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett looks on while … [+] being introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump as his nominee to the Supreme Court during an event in the Rose Garden at the White House September 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. With 38 days until the election,

IRA individual retirement account. Stack of money and calculator. getty The Covid-19 pandemic has left millions of people out of work, and while the extended unemployment benefits are helpful, they may not be enough for everyone. If you find yourself in a financial bind, you might be curious about tapping your individual retirement accounts for

getty If you’re like most employees, one of the most important decisions that will impact your financial future has already been made for you. In 2006, Congress passed the Pension Protection Act. Despite the law’s name, it represented a watershed event for retirement savers using a 401(k) plan. It allowed employers to change how employees

By Ralph Mroz, Next Avenue Contributor getty Surveys show that most people would prefer to grow older, and even die, in their own home. This desire isn’t hard to understand. While you may have already downsized to a more manageable home or condo, you won’t have to move again, which is emotionally straining, physically taxing

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 24: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on screen, provides his remarks to … [+] Steven T. Mnuchin, Secretary, Department of the Treasury (Photo by Toni L. Sandys-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Economy Is Looking Bad With the prospects of a stimulus package souring (see the tussle between Sherrod Brown and Steven Munchin yesterday), the

The most expansive legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act in the 10 year history of the law and an attack on the ability of the Federal Trade Commission to reimburse consumers for harm highlight the Supreme Court’s coming term for seniors, the AARP Foundation announced this week. The term starts October 5. The importance

Looking to an u unknown future getty Are you prepared to live a long time? You should be because many Americans are now living well into their 90s and 100s. If you are over 60, you can probably remember a time when a radio personality by the name of Paul Harvey used to wish a

getty Choosing to work with a financial planner is one of the bigger decisions many will face. The hard part starts when choosing what to look for in an advisor and firm. To start, there is not necessarily an agreed upon title when making your search. You could see titles such as financial advisor, financial

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Managing Editor getty The employer-sponsored 401(k) plan can be an excellent way to save for retirement when you’re working (if you’re offered one) and supplement your Social Security benefits when you’re retired. But investing in a 401(k) and managing it wisely can be agonizingly hard. Just a few of the

getty Will it keep blowing off bad news, or keep tracking like the year-2000 bear market? Some strange things are afoot in the stock market. The further we go into 2020, the more the market seems to think it’s 2000 all over again. The one big exception, of course, is that 2000 did not include

getty People often underestimate how much they will need to maintain their desired lifestyle in retirement. Most assume their expenses will go down when they’re no longer working, and the kids are out of college. While certain work-related costs, such as commuting, parking, clothing or uniforms, and even that daily latte may cease, other costs

By Marguerite Lorenz, Professional Trustee and Executor and Next Avenue Contributor getty When do you need your estate plan to “go to work” for you? While you may think the right answer is “after I die,” the actual answer is “if I lose the ability to manage my own affairs.” That means having the right

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 17: U.S. President Donald Trump walks to members of the press to answer … [+] questions before departing the White House on September 17, 2020 in Washington, DC. Trump is scheduled to travel to Wisconsin for a campaign event. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images When the Senate returned from

getty Your investment future is, in part, tied to the futures Earlier this year, Bespoke Investment Group published a study that said something many investors will find either confusing, disappointing or both. All of the S&P 500’s gains since 1993 have not occurred during the main trading day. Specifically, they said that buying the S&P

getty On March 18, 2020, the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (“FFCRA”) was enacted. This means that the Government will pay Employers to provide paid time off for certain virus related situations.  As discussed in my blog post dated March 20, 2020, two separate provisions were established to provide paid leave for employees absent from

Charlie Campbell accompanies his mom Dorothy Campbell to see her husband Gene Campbell through his … [+] room window at the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Washington. (Photo by JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images A national Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes has identified more than

Will COVID help or hurt your finances? Emma Slater, Sharna Burgess and Peta Murgatroyd are seen … [+] arriving at ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Studios on September 17, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by fupp/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) GC Images The impact of the Coronavirus on people’s finances may vary, depending on who you speak with.

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Managing Editor getty A huge concern for people as they approach retirement and when they’re in retirement is: How can I ensure I don’t outlive my money? One way to try to avoid that unsettling prospect is to figure out ways to spend less in retirement so the money you

getty When investors are seeking to maximize current income within a portfolio to live on, it is natural to seek out fixed income securities with higher yields. This is especially true today with interest rates near zero and high quality bonds offering little yield to maturity. Reaching for yield is a mistake we see often,

getty We’re approaching a crossroad in estate planning, and those who might be affected need to take action before we reach it. Few people today have to worry about federal estate and gift taxes, because of the high level of exemptions. But there’s a high probability of significant changes in the estate tax law in