Retirement

Earlier this year, a family member had a screening colonoscopy. He’d seen the news stories about the Affordable Care Act mandating no out-of-pocket costs, such as co-pays or a deductible. So if this test is supposed to be “free,” why did he get a bill? This isn’t the first time I’ve heard of people receiving

Retirement waits for no one; it’s coming fast for the youngest Baby Boomers and oldest Gen-Xers. The stark reality is that many people are not ready, and studies show that more than half of us wish we’d saved more and had a solid retirement plan. With retirement looming, financial stress is a constant companion for

Medicare Advantage plans are popular. They’re estimated to have enrolled more than half of Medicare beneficiaries for the first time in 2024. But changes are underway. Those enrolled in Advantage plans or considering them need to pay careful attention when evaluating plans in this fall’s open enrollment season. There could be significant modifications to existing

One of the most knowledgeable financial advisors I’ve ever observed had one of the worst communication tendencies one could have in such a role: He constantly interrupted when clients were talking. But it was worse than you think. Although I’m fairly sure it was subconscious, it was almost as though he was gamifying client communication—seeing

The decisions you face as you transition into and through retirement are more complex, with higher stakes, compared to the saving and investing decisions you’ve had to make for retirement throughout your working years. The trouble is, usually you won’t get any “do-overs” with many of your retirement decisions. If you’re like most people, you’ll

This article is for those individuals who are single and have never been married. Most articles written about Social Security claiming strategies address the analysis for a married couple. This is simply because planning for married couples revolves around these 3 criteria: Maximize the high earner Social Security benefit. Coordinate the benefits between the spouses.

Nowadays, you can find many people who call themselves “financial planners” or “retirement advisers.” Unfortunately, there aren’t consistent definitions and professional requirements for these common terms, unlike the situation with professionals such as doctors, dentists, accountants, or lawyers. Another problem is that many people confuse investment advice with retirement planning. While investing can be an

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of the IRS On June 6, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion on a closely held business valuation case that will have significant impact on many family and closely held businesses. Connelly v. United States, U.S., No. 23-146, Opinion 6/6/24. The case addressed the valuation of stock

One of my favorite reads this year has been Michael Easter’s Scarcity Brain. In chapter four, “Why We Crave More,” he describes how we’re hardwired to think that having more—food, money, what have you—makes us safer. To illustrate the point, Michael uses the example of Dr. Leidy Klotz playing Legos with his son. Despite multiple

A new study published in the New York Times demonstrates some startling findings about loss of ability to make money decisions in older people. The study approaches the issue by looking at debt accumulation and reduced credit scores in elders long before being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. The team of economists and

Learning about services that Medicare covers, and their cost, is an important discussion topic for Medicare beneficiaries. However, there is one subject that rarely comes up: hospice, end-of-life care for the terminally ill. Many studies have shown that earlier end-of-life care can have a positive impact: reduced administration of unnecessary medications, fewer hospital admissions and

The opportunities for financial advisor education have improved so dramatically in the past 25 years. When I graduated from college with a generic business and finance degree, only a couple of mainstream colleges were known for doing anything with financial planning and virtually no degree programs were available. Now, more than 200 degree programs are

Seven decades after he became addicted to Superman, Gary Prebula’s collection of graphic novels and comics has a permanent home at the University of Pennsylvania library. It took a team effort. By Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes Staff Gary Prebula blames his mother for his seven-decade-long comic book obsession. He was three when his parents ventured

A recent newsletter from Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk, geriatrician, warns us that some recent studies show that nearly one out of eight adults in the US is prescribed a sedative (benzodiazepine). Is your aging loved one taking Valium (Diazepam), Ativan (Lorazepam), Xanax (Alprazolam) or Klonopin (Clonazepam)? All of these are addictive. As they lose their effectiveness

The May 2024 jobs report showed remarkable strength just in time for new graduates despairing they had to move home. You got this graduate, you can find a job and live on your own. The Biden administration’s efforts to address supply chain issues are effectively slowing down price hikes, and employers are happily and confidently

While the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement is widely popular, some people plan to do the opposite, and never retire. They work because they enjoy it. Why retire at the top of your game? The idea of working longer is becoming more common. Researchers at Pew Research Center state both the sheer numbers, as well

We all know the population of older adults is growing rapidly. But we are aging in very different ways. And if we are going to reimagine medicine, caregiving, and government policy, it is important to better understand who older adults are and how they live. In its newest Profile of Older Americans, the federal Administration

Saving for retirement requires dedication and time. During those years, however, market movements will make significant jumps that you can then celebrate. And we’re in the middle of such a shift. A recent Fidelity study highlights this very fact. According to a review of Fidelity 401(k) accounts, the number of participants with more than $1

We are living through what is being called the silver tsunami. According to Legal Jobs, “about 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day, and the entire generation is expected to reach retirement age by 2030.” While many people spend their working years aiming to eventually retire, there are reasons why complete retirement should not be

Johnny Cash said, “Success is having to worry about every damn thing in the world, except money.” Whether in life, work, or money, the word “success” is so often used. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It works because of its malleability—everyone can make up their own definition. In addition to the legendary Man