Retirement

Are you looking for a “way out”? With everything that’s going on in the world… war in the Middle East… war in Ukraine… seemingly endless political dysfunction in the United States… we could all be forgiven for wanting an escape. I’m not talking about a vacation… I’m talking about a “bolt hole” where you feel

Ray is 85, widowed, and lonely. He lives alone and has two homes in different states. He goes back and forth between them.Ray’s son and daughter were very alarmed when they found out about their Dad giving personal information and money to scammers. He is diagnosed with dementia, in the earlier stage. He’s also very

While inflation may be stressing workers’ budgets, it also brings some good news for those looking to maximize their contributions to retirement accounts. If you are looking to get on track to becoming a 401(k) millionaire or achieving financial freedom, the IRS has just announced the new 2024 401(k) contribution limits. Workplace Retirement Plan Contribution

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin American Tower (AMT) and Crown Castle (CCI) are two of the largest real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the United States. They not only compete every day in their businesses, they also compete for potential shareholders. Their stocks are considered close peers. Here is an overview

These days, it’s not uncommon to hear stories of individuals achieving millionaire status through their 401(k) retirement savings plans. In fact, Vanguard’s first annual How America Saves report found that features like automatic enrollment and automatic annual increases have led to broad increases in 401(k) participation rates, a first and necessary step in pursuing a

“I don’t want to be old when I’m old.” That sentiment was shared in a recent article in The New York Times by Elaine LaLanne, the 97-year-old widow of Jack LaLanne, who was one of the first TV celebrities to introduce personal fitness to millions of Americans. So, what does it mean to be “old”?

In several press releases over the last few months, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) touted improvements in Part D prescription drug plans. CMS projected that the average total monthly premium in 2024 would decrease 1.8% and premiums stabilization measures would limit the growth of the base beneficiary premium to 6%. These announcements

If you are self-employed or own a business and are annoyed by how much you pay in taxes, you should check out the Solo 401(k). While saving for retirement may not be top of mind for those who love what they do, paying fewer taxes helps you keep more of your hard-earned money. Keep reading

I was expecting the October jobs report to be dull and many other economists agreed. We were right: The numbers didn’t change much. Unemployment is still at a historic low at 3.9%. Hourly wages are up as workers slowly get wage increases to make up for inflation. Last month (September 2023), real wages were down

Hopefully, everyone reading this knows to add a beneficiary to their retirement accounts. I’m guessing a few of you know that you can add a Transfer on Death beneficiary to your other investment accounts. Adding a Transfer on Death beneficiary can be an excellent estate planning first step for those who don’t need or are

Remember old-fashioned teeter-totters? The kind made from a wobbly wooden board? As a child, I’d spread my arms wide and stand in the middle of the board with one foot on each side, swaying back and forth, trying to balance and suspend both ends above the ground. I guess it was the closest I could

“I’m an older single woman looking for a change. Is overseas retirement an option for me?” This is one of the questions I’m asked most frequently as publisher of Live And Invest Overseas. There’s a misconception, especially among older folks, that it’s uncommon for women to explore the world, whether as tourists or expats, on

I expect tomorrow’s October jobs report will be so so. Why? Tuesday’s Labor Department’s monthly Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) indicated stagnating labor demand and so do business indicators. The National Association of Business Economists mid-October reported falling sales and fewer incidences of rising sales since July. Also, JOLTS reported hires were blah.

Coordination is Critical and Often Ignored Everyone understands the need for certain critical estate planning documents such as a will (and perhaps a revocable trust), health care documents (such as a health care proxy designating an agent to make health care decisions) and a durable power of attorney for financial matters (empower a designated person

We are only two weeks into the 2023 Medicare Open Enrollment Period, and I have encountered four people who are very dissatisfied with their plan. They complained that the copayment for a new drug is “insane” or “ridiculous.” These individuals have two things in common. They are all unhappy that they are paying way too

A growing number of Americans are resorting to hardship withdrawals from their 401(k) accounts, a recent Bank of America report found. This signals that financial distress is on the rise. Hardship withdrawals refer to times when people take out funds from their 401(k) accounts due to immediate and heavy financial need. Federal law states these

A recent report from Bank of America BAC found that a growing number of Americans are resorting to hardship withdrawals from their 401(k) accounts, signaling financial distress is on the rise. Hardship withdrawals refer to funds withdrawn from an individual’s 401(k) account due to immediate and heavy financial need. Federal law states these withdrawals are

We are only two weeks into the Open Enrollment Period, and I have encountered four clients who are very dissatisfied. They complain that the copayment for a new drug is “insane” or “ridiculous.” In other words, they are paying way too much. These clients have two things in common. One, they are all unhappy and,

For a long time, we were entitled to only an annual credit report from the three reporting agencies: Equifax EFX , Experian and TransUnion. Now you can get a report weekly and for free. When you get a parent’s credit report, you can find a lot of information. Your aging parents may be spending more

As income rises, one of the bigger decisions that savers face is where to invest extra funds. If you’re already maxing out your 401(k) or retirement account, then this gives you a few options to consider with that extra savings. Few people realize the value that these after-tax deferrals can have on the long-term savings