Retirement

What is “just enough” money to meet your needs and be happy? getty Most American pre-retirees and recent retirees haven’t saved enough money to be able to retire full time at age 65 under their pre-retirement level of income. To make up for this shortfall, they’ll either need to work longer, reduce their spending, or

With an election coming up and a second stimulus package being discussed, assuming that we’ll be … [+] seeing a change in taxes is a pretty safe bet. getty With an election coming up and a second stimulus package being discussed, assuming that we’ll be seeing a change in taxes is a pretty safe bet.

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE – AUGUST 20: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden delivers his acceptance … [+] speech on the fourth night of the Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center on August 20, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. The convention, which was once expected to draw 50,000 people to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is now taking place virtually due

getty When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act doubled standard deductions in 2018, it had the unintended consequence of greatly reducing the amount of people who could benefit from this famous itemized deduction. Despite this, the United States continues to give the most amount of money per person of any other country to charitable causes. The total

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks on the economy at an airport hanger on August 17, 2020 in … [+] Oshkosh, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images As the Republican Convention opens I expect President Trump will make the case he is best

As the CEO of a company whose mission is to help people secure retirement, I am obsessed with the unintended consequences of retirement planning and advice that focuses more on assets than income.  It makes sense that the companies that produce this advice and manage the assets, from brokerages like Fidelity and Schwab to robo-advisors

Trump’s DOL is pushing 401k sponsors to include the highest cost, highest risk, most secretive … [+] “private equity” investments ever devised by Wall Street in retirement plans offered to America’s workers, without warning of the massive dangers. getty Trump’s U. S. Department of Labor is pushing 401k sponsors to include the highest cost, highest

Saving money concept getty Stock market feeling a bit too risky for you? Here’s a list of ways you can fight back. Some market watchers look at stock market valuations. Some look at the economy. Others focus on geopolitical events. And all are trying to account for the risks that the impact of Covid-19 is

getty On January 1, 2021, the 401(k) world as you know it will be reborn. It may start out slowly at first, but ultimately the popular retirement savings vehicle will change. And you should be happy. It’s very possible, if not likely, the new and improved “401(k) 2.0” will allow you to benefit from broader

getty Historically low interest rates can generate historic tax benefits. At least one of these tax benefits can be reaped without giving up immediately any cash or property: a charitable contribution of a remainder interest in a home, vacation home, or farm. Ownership of property can be divided into two portions. A lifetime interest, or

By Juana Poareo, Next Avenue Contributor getty Kaci Smith, 36, recalls the gradual emergence of her PTSD symptoms about three years ago when she’d been caring for her mother at home following her mom’s 2012 stroke. “It would be things like almost feeling like a panic attack,” says Smith, a Rochester, N.Y. teacher. “If she

HARTFORD, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 17: Mailboxes from across the country are stored outside of Hartford … [+] Finishing Inc. where they will be refurbished or repaired on August 17, 2020 in Hartford, Wisconsin. A viral photo of the mailboxes has been misused on social media as evidence of the Trump administration tampering with the United

By Grace Birnstengel, Next Avenue Editor “I’m sometimes a bit lonely, but I’m adjusting,” says Louise Jackson, 83, of the pandemic. Courtesy of Louise Jackson Nearly six months into the pandemic, the biggest change to Carmen and Bernie Rollins’ lives is a lack of spontaneity. The retired couple in San Bernadino County’s Upland, Calif., ages

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Editor getty Back in 1982, I remember devouring futurist John Naisbitt’s bestseller, Megatrends: Ten New Directions Transforming Our Lives. Now, Wharton management professor Mauro F. Guillén has published 2030: How Today’s Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything. It’s equally fascinating, for its predictions ranging from the

By Carol Levine, Next Avenue Contributor getty Part of growing up is learning how to help others, starting with the family. For most kids, that means doing ordinary household chores — walking the dog, helping with meals and clean-up, folding the laundry. It might mean showing Grandpa how to use his new computer or helping

Retiring is a huge life event, and it isn’t one that comes with many do-overs. You have to get it … [+] right the first time. getty Retiring is a huge life event, and it isn’t one that comes with many do-overs. You have to get it right the first time. Luckily, there are ways

Getty Images On Monday, August 17th, I reported on the over 1,150 lawyers who cannot get licensed in Florida any time soon because the July exam that was moved to August is now moved to a yet to be determined day in October.  We hope that this is October of 2020! Monday’s article can be found

The message about fees is worth digging into further, as it presents one of the biggest objections made to variable annuities. Variable annuities have generally come under attack for the higher internal costs relative to an unprotected investment portfolio. But it is important to frame the issue of variable annuity fees in terms of the

NEW YORK – JANUARY 22: A tour bus passes the Wall Street bull in the financial district January 22, … [+] 2007 in New York City. In a study commissioned by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), it was determined that New York could lose its place as the

Millennials are taking a new look at suburbia and small towns – and surprised at what they are … [+] finding. getty Suburbia. Just the word often conjures up images of endless lines of cookie-cutter homes. From the air the streetscape resembles a plate of unruly spaghetti. No one would want to live in a