Retirement

The labor market recovered quickly from the massive pandemic induced downturn in early 2020. The labor market regained its pre-pandemic strength within a few short years. Moreover, it stayed strong with low unemployment and rising wages. This stability helped to eventually overcome the onslaught of supply side driven inflation, so that wages outpaced inflation in

Many of us are accustomed to focusing on financial goals and there’s nothing wrong with this approach, as goal-based planning has become commonplace in the financial planning world. However, goal-based planning can sometimes become myopic, making us nearsighted and ignoring everything else around us for the sake of a singular objective. While this focus can

Can you think of anything that makes a person more desperate for relief than being in constant pain? People can fall for anything that promises to end chronic, debilitating pain. My late mother in law, Alice, then in her 90’s, was feeling like that. She had chronic knee pain that kept getting worse. She had

The Social Security Administration still is doing a disservice by coaxing applicants into taking the optional lump sum cash payment when they sign up. The beneficiaries more than pay for it over the long term. The lump sum option isn’t new. But many applicants don’t know about it until the SSA offers it to them

If you’re approaching retirement or have just recently retired, a mission-critical task is using your 401(k), 403(b), 457, IRAs and other retirement savings to support your life in retirement. If you’re like most people, you’re concerned about stock market crashes and outliving your money. Let’s look at how you can withdraw from your retirement savings

Too many people wait until near the end of the year to consider key IRA actions and strategies. Your after-tax wealth is likely to increase when you plan them early in the year. Here are some key steps many people should consider. Donate Via A QCD A qualified charitable distribution is the best way to

Many workers approaching retirement today haven’t saved enough for the retirement of their dreams. But that doesn’t need to be a bummer: You can take charge of the rest of your life by informing yourself and taking appropriate action steps. Let’s start by looking at the average benefits today’s pre-retirees might expect. Most Pre-Retirees Will

Too many people wait until near the end of the year to consider key IRA actions and strategies. Your after-tax wealth is likely to increase when you plan the IRA strategies early in the year. Here are some key steps most people should consider. Donate via a QCD. A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is the

The Open Enrollment Period (OEP), a time for making changes to Medicare Part D drug coverage, ended on December 7. Heading into the OEP, there was considerable excitement because the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was going to save seniors millions of dollars. But how did that play out in real time? As I do every

As we approach April 15, let’s discuss the federal taxation of your Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration estimates that 40% of recipients pay income tax on their benefits. The taxable benefits include retirement and spousal, survivor, and disability (SSDI) benefits. Keep in mind that if you have a child receiving benefits under their

In response to the current inflationary environment, the Internal Revenue Service announced a modest increase in the maximum contribution limits for 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts for 2024. This year, 401(k) savers can contribute a maximum of $23,000, marking an increase of over 2% from the $22,500 limit set for 2023. The new contribution limit,

The most important part of your estate plan isn’t about taxes, investments, gifts, or other financial issues. The priority of every estate plan, for people of every age, is the medical care documents. These documents should be completed even if you’re still considering other issues in the plan. This critical part of the estate plan

Former President Trump is blasting GOP primary rival Nikki Haley for wanting to restore Social Security solvency by increasing the age when today’s young workers receive full retirement benefits. In a new ad titled “Threat from Within,” Trump says he’ll “never let that happen.” On his campaign website, Trump insists he “will always protect…Social Security….”

One of the best books of 2023—and one sure to land on my list of Advisor Resources for Financial LIFE Planning—was published near the year’s end. I’ve been following Shane Parrish’s work for years as the creator and curator of the Farnam Street blog and newsletter, so his new book, Clear Thinking, was in the

If you’re married, it’s critical that you maximize the money you and your spouse will each receive from Social Security over both of your lifetimes. That’s because most married couples will receive a very large portion of their total retirement income from Social Security. For most couples, this money usually represents more than half of

Trying to get financial control can be a highly frustrating problem for adult children. They have been appointed as agent on an impaired parent’s Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA), but the parent stops them from getting involved. The dilemma is this—the kids see that Mom or Dad is losing it, forgetting to pay bills, getting

When it comes to retirement planning, conversations often center around portfolio management and investment strategies—what I like to call the bling of the financial world. Generally, you sit down with an advisor and begin your work together by listing all your assets and expenses. They, in turn, provide you with a thick report of projected

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Seniors saw a boost in Social Security benefits in 2023 to offset the rising cost of living. But there could be a downside—the increase may result in a higher tax bill this tax season for some taxpayers. Social Security benefits are designed to supplement income in

Everyone nearing retirement always seems to have a ton of questions surrounding how to maximize their Social Security benefits. These questions range from “When should I take Social Security?”, “How Can I maximize my Social Security benefits?”, “Are Social Security benefits taxable?” to “Can you help me choose the best time to start receiving Social

How happy would you be living in Mexico? In order to get some useful guidance, we asked the experts what they thought; not only expats who moved here, but also the Mexicans who were born and live here and who have watched us expats and who have come to conclusions of their own about the