Retirement

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

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