Retirement

By Craig Miller, Science journalist and Next Avenue Contributor getty Scientists say 2020 is on track to be among the hottest years on record. They know this from a worldwide network of sensors and satellites that constantly monitor land and ocean temperatures. But my favorite index for global heating is Charlie, my 92-year-old father. I

When it comes to Medicare, a Power of Attorney has no power. getty A power of attorney (POA) is a powerful thing. A financial power of attorney document allows an appointed person to make financial, legal and property decisions on another individual’s behalf. A person holding another’s POA can sell the individual’s car to pay medical bills,

Older Workers Stay In Labor Force Because Of A Lack Of Savings getty The current recession shows an odd pattern among older workers. Unlike in prior recessions, the unemployment rate is higher among older workers than among younger ones. Many keep looking for work, because they have little or no savings, when in the past

By Nancy Collamer, Next Avenue Contributor getty Catching the attention of a job recruiter has long been a challenge, but it’s especially difficult right now. In the week ending July 24, 2020, 1.4 million Americans filed for unemployment, marking the 19th straight week that jobless claims have topped one million. Still, since over 90% of

Lack of money, inflation, default. Young businesswoman looking with despair. Financial, economy … [+] concept getty Does the 401(k) no longer make sense? That’s what a recent article in Bloomberg Opinion is claiming because of lower tax rates and lower fees on investments outside of 401(k) plans. Before you cancel your 401(k) contributions, let’s look

Managing an investment portfolio in retirement is like playing a game of tug-of-war against yourself. On the one hand, you need to pull cash out of a portfolio for monthly expenses. On the other hand, you need your investments to grow to support future spending and offset the ravages of inflation. These twin goals often

the Caribbean coastline of Grand Cayman gets battered in a hurricane. getty Today’s market offers many alternative ways to pursue profits and hedge risk As a South Floridian, the best analogy I can make to the last few years in the stock market is to hurricane season. The thing about hurricanes is that they have

getty The pandemic inspired economic shutdowns have had a demonstrably negative impact on the economy. The Department of Commerce’s U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) issued its first preliminary estimate of second quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and it was devastating. While a “second” estimate will be released later this month, the BEA announced the

getty Many estate planners will admit that a lot of the plans don’t achieve the owners’ goals. Most of these failures were avoidable. The failures most often result from the nontechnical aspects of the plan, what some refer to as the human side, or soft side, of an estate plan. There’s not a lot of

There is one thing about the current pandemic about which there is no controversy—seniors are most vulnerable. With every warning and every description of preventive measures telling seniors to self-isolate, stay home, and avoid others, there is an inevitable consequence: loneliness. Loneliness among elders was problematic before Covid-19. Now it is worse. And lip service

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Managing Editor getty Ever since I wrote the viral 2017 Next Avenue post, “Sorry, Nobody Wants Your Parents’ Stuff,” I’ve been a little obsessed with Americans’ love/hate relationship with their possessions and downsizing. So, I was fascinated to read University of Kansas sociology and gerontology professor David J. Ekerdt’s new

As benefits expire, rent comes due, the school year looms and states struggle, Washington’s warring factions are racing to rescue the economy—and their political fortunes. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, Mario Tama/Getty Images, Alex Wong/Getty Images, Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images. Design by Forbes The coronavirus pandemic has taken an inconceivable toll on the American

getty In order to make the most of your retirement savings in your former employer’s plan, you need to act sooner rather than later. This is particularly true if you have recently changed your job, have become disabled, or are nearing 59 ½. It is necessary to understand what options you have and the inherent

Upset couple in self isolation. getty Have you decided to get divorced during the COVID crisis? You are not alone. This prolonged period of quarantining is causing many people to reevaluate their lives. They have had enough of their spouses during this pandemic and decided to finally start anew.   If you have decided that now

Senate Republicans proposed another stimulus check bill yesterday, the Coronavirus Assistance for American Families (CAAF) Act. Stimulus checks under the CAAF Act would provide $1,000 to eligible adults and dependents. As an example, an eligible family of four would receive $4,000. WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 24: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) talks to reporters after leaving a

getty Are composite plans, that is, risk-sharing plans that protect participants from outliving their assets even if employers are no longer willing, or even able, to make this guarantee, a part of the future of retirement? I’ve no doubt of that. Is every component of the legal structure of the enabling legislation, the GROW Act,

getty Continued economic uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is concerning to Americans of all ages, especially those living in retirement. Below we address four questions retired investors are asking about ways to optimize their planning in the months ahead. 1. Should I waive my RMDs? The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security(CARES) Act—the $2

By Roger McIntosh, Next Avenue Contributor getty As our country braces against the ebb and flow of mandates to stay-at-home, we should give serious consideration to the repercussions of self-quarantine or isolation on the mental and physical well-being of those most vulnerable to Covid-19. As a health psychologist and expert in human immunodeficiency, I know

TOPLINE Senate Republicans unveiled a new coronavirus relief proposal Monday that would replace the extra weekly $600 unemployment aid (which end this week) with a 70% wage-replacement program—but state labor departments are scrambling to figure out how their overwrought systems would handle the payments. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called for an extension of unemployment

getty This past June, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) released new guidelines regarding the proper use of incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) factors in determining the investments within a retirement plan covered by ERISA. This hasn’t gone over well with ESG advocates. Aron Szapiro, director of policy research for Morningstar MORN , recently wrote,