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,
Retirement
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
By Kerry Hannon, Next Avenue Contributor getty When you’re doing your retirement planning, it’s easy to ignore one vital topic: How much taxes will I owe on my retirement income? Frankly, it’s a hornet’s nest. But the topic of taxes and your retirement income is vitally important for your retirement planning. Anqi Chen and Alicia
By Chris Farrell, Next Avenue Contributor getty What is the largest uninsured financial risk older Americans confront? The potentially crippling cost of long-term care. Approximately half of Americans turning 65 on the day you read this column will need some kind of long-term care and support services sometime. You might think that most of them
ICU/Emergency room getty The current pandemic has caused many of us to confront our own mortality and to think about the “what if” scenarios if we, or someone we love, gets sick. With almost a million Covid deaths worldwide, it’s hard not to be concerned. As difficult as it is to imagine the unimaginable, you
Job seekers fill out applications for employment at the new Sheraton Hotel in Chicago.(Photo by © … [+] Ralf-Finn Hestoft/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) Corbis via Getty Images Chilly Markets for Seasoned Workers Disappointed older workers scatter the news. In 2018, the Atlantic magazine interviewed “energetic, tech-savvy, and positive,” Lisa Edmond, who at age 61 was
Monrovia, CA, September 15, 2020 – Iris, 4, and Castle Snider, 8, look on as flames engulf the … [+] hillsides behind their backyard as the Bobcat Fire burns near homes on Oakglade Dr. (Robert Gauthier/ Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The world feels, both literally and figuratively,
Yes, you can plan for a happier retirement. Financial planner shares some tips to get you there. getty Retirement is about more than money, investments, and never having to work again. I’ve helped many people retire happily over the years, and rarely is this happiness attributable to having the largest 401(k) or Roth IRA. That
By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Managing Editor getty Given the steep number of Covid-19 deaths and cases in nursing homes and lack of PPE there; the recent inability to see loved ones in assisted living and retirement communities as well as the poor pandemic communication between many operators and families of their residents, is it
getty How is Chicago going to solve its budget crisis? Two weeks ago, when Mayor Lightfoot gave her budget forecast address, she spoke of dreams for a “world-class” entertainment district surrounding a Chicago casino, the revenues from which are slated to fund the police and fire pension funds. But, it turns out, that may not
Essentials of Refinancing a Mortgage getty The current low-interest rate market has created extraordinarily attractive opportunities for refinancing. Some borrowers, however, will make better use of the opportunity than others. This article sets out what a borrower needs to know to make the right decisions on whether to refinance, how to refinance, where to refinance,
getty An individual’s approach to managing their personal finances is shaped by a myriad of influences. These may include their upbringing, community, social circles, and religious beliefs. A lifetime of experiences, and the manifestation of all these influences, impacts one’s relationship with, and attitude towards, money. Another, often overlooked, factor that impacts the way individuals
You can’t visit, the signs say. Early in this pandemic, The American Health Care Association recommended that care facilities prohibit visits from families of those in care homes for elders. Many painful reports of separation of seniors from loved ones tell us that isolation has a high emotional price. But you just can’t make mandatory
By Nancy Davidhoff Kelton, Next Avenue Contributor Instructor Nancy Kelton teaching her writing students on Zoom Russell Saray Considered technologically inept by people who know me and by strangers who have heard my curses and cries for help in the “quiet” New School faculty room in New York City, I am as surprised as anyone
Young adults living with their parents well into their 20s and 30s – It might not be the best, but … [+] it’s not terrible. getty “So, what’s it like?” I ask. Looking away 26-year old Noah remarks, “It’s not the best. But hey, I get good food, my laundry gets done, so it isn’t
getty The Calmar Ratio tells you what you really want to know You have probably not heard of Terry W. Young. And you likely have not heard of the Calmar Ratio, which he invented nearly 30 years ago. But when I tell you what it measures in an investment’s past performance you might remember it
Group of older adults having breakfast getty In an earlier post, we explored retirees’ freedom to choose where to live and what kind of home to occupy, along with the many options they enjoy. As retirees get older, or any time their need for household support and medical care increases, the availability of care becomes
getty The Department of Labor (“DOL”) recently proposed an update to its proxy voting rule for retirement plan fiduciaries. On the face of it, it’s not too different than the existing rules. It emphasizes that fiduciaries must always (and only) do what’s in the best interest of plan participants. There is one part of the
By Bob Blancato, Elder Advocate and Next Avenue Contributor Pundit Joel White of Horizon Government Affairs offers his views Panel of Pundits 2020: The Decision Year What’s in store for older Americans from the 2020 presidential election? For answers, the American Society on Aging (ASA) just hosted its Panel of Pundits — an annual event
getty Compared to generations in the past, millennials have had a tough time in their lives so far. This is a generation of investors who grew up during the Great Recession, are dealing with exorbitant student loan debt, inflated home prices and rent costs, and are now dealing with the economic fallout of COVID-19. Despite