Retirement

Being part of the “sandwich generation”—adults caught between raising their own children and caring for aging parents—can feel like an endless financial and emotional marathon. Many middle-aged adults are juggling mortgages, college tuition for their kids, and the stunning costs of elder care, not covered by Medicare. The weight of these responsibilities can lead to

Medicare Advantage prior authorizations have few friends. Doctors hate them. Patients hate them. Politicians say they hate them and introduce bills to curb them. But how onerous are they really? Less than many people think. But they still create opportunities for insurance companies to maximize profits at the expense of needed care. And they can

I have been following Sahil Bloom through his bi-weekly newsletter, The Curiosity Chronicle. I consider him to be one of the smartest thought leaders in the field of personal growth and development. He offers action oriented practical wisdom. Bloom’s book, The Five Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life, has just

One of the most common questions I get asked by people thinking of retiring is, “What do I need to do to ensure I won’t run out of money in retirement?” If you’ve asked this question, you have reasons to be concerned: Healthcare is costly, most people live longer, and inflation has eroded purchasing power.

Fortunately, we’re in one of those seasons when we get headlines about new market highs pretty regularly as one or the other index surpasses a new, never-before-seen threshold. These benchmark superlatives tend to inspire a moment of celebration—only to be soon followed by hours of anxiety, as investors ponder when their new all-time high will

For families with an elder who abuses alcohol, fear is nothing new. Sometimes the issue of alcohol abuse is so extreme, it boggles the mind that family has not taken action to protect the aging parent, and the public. Driving is a prime issue. Real Case Study In a family of two adult children and

Retirement planning has always been a long-term journey, but for younger generations, navigating this path has become more complex. With rising costs and other economic factors at play, young investors face a variety of challenges. However, the key to a successful retirement requires proactive planning and consistent effort. Here’s how younger generations can better plan

Combining annuities with IRAs or 401(k)s can be powerful. Annuities offer principal protection and guaranteed lifetime income. But often people don’t even consider the combination because of widespread misinformation and confusion. Some people say that an IRA isn’t allowed to hold an annuity. That’s not true. The tax code allows most types of annuities to

The ability to switch Medicare plans isn’t as available as many beneficiaries are told or believe. Most Medicare beneficiaries know that each year during open enrollment (October 15-December 7) they’re allowed to change their coverage. The new coverage will take effect the following January 1. During open enrollment, a beneficiary can switch from one Medicare

By Rachel Leland, Next Avenue An 81-year-old Illinois woman recently encountered legal issues as a result of dental bills and contacted CJE SeniorLife, a nonprofit that provides services to older adults in Chicago. Her dentist had advised her to undergo a $4,000 procedure and she believed she had secured a no-interest payment plan with the

When it comes to retirement decisions and strategies, many preretirees and retirees overlook the most important ones they need to consider for their particular circumstances and goals. Instead, they may often place a low priority on more important retirement decisions and place a higher priority on decisions that won’t significantly impact their financial wellbeing. Let’s

By Chris Taylor, Next Avenue Katerina Stroponiati has a thought exercise for you: Go out on the street and ask any random person about the age of most successful tech company founders. “They will probably tell you 30 or less,” says Stroponiati, a New York City-based venture capitalist and founder of the investing firm Brilliant

By Lucy Lazarony, Next Avenue Michael Murray has been trading Massachusetts’ snow for Florida’s sun for 15 winters. At first, he and his wife, Caroline, headed south on vacations; two years ago, they bought a home in Florida. They relish the snowbird lifestyle, living in the warmth while winters rage up north. “We enjoy being

By Linda Goor Nanos, Next Avenue Older Americans are staying in the work force well beyond the traditional retirement age; 20% of people over 65 are employed. Mature workers bring life and career experience to their jobs and overall have lower turnover rates than younger employees, but by virtue of their advanced age, they may

Late Monday night on January 27, President Trump neutralized the National Labor Relations Board, which is an independent federal agency designed to function without direct political interference. The law explicitly states the President of the United States cannot fire a sitting Board Member without cause, due process, and a hearing. She did not get a

By Lucy Lazarony, Next Avenue When her children went off to college, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox saw it as an investment opportunity. Rather than pay for a bed in a dorm room — at an average annual cost of $7,456 at private universities or $7,167 at state colleges, according to the National Center for Education Statistics —

There’s a gap most people have in their insurance plans, and it eventually could cost them a bundle. In general, people have the right amount of insurance for damages to their property, whether it is their homes, other real estate, vehicles, boats, or other items. But people often underestimate their potential liabilities and carry far

The power dynamic in families can be highly problematic as a parent ages. Often, one adult child has authority over decisions about the aging parent. Things can go wrong when that power is misused. When siblings disagree over the actions one sibling takes, things can escalate quickly. When the aging parent legally appointed one person

Forget E. F. Hutton; when Warren Buffett talks, people listen. And I don’t feel like that’s simply because he’s the world’s most famous investor, though he is. He’s a person of wisdom. A wisdom that seems to have been applied not only in his investing, but also in his marriage, his parenting, and his own

Taxpayers should give as much consideration to the form in which they make charitable donations as they do to the amounts they give. By making some changes they might deliver more benefits to themselves and the charities. Cash contributions, including donations made by checks and payment cards, are the most common and easiest way to