Retirement

The start line of the annual race in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, was crowded. A rain delay had participants just waiting. I looked over at a woman next to me, and said “hello”. She was friendly and we had a conversation. When the announcer asked who was celebrating a birthday, we both raised our

On any given day, the financial press is chocked full of articles about how the stock market is poised to skyrocket, or is on the precipice of a profound decline—often by 20% or more. The most sensational predictions seem to draw the most readers. Pundits who at some time in the past, say in 2001,

At a recent social event, as so often happens, the conversation turned to Medicare. An acquaintance mentioned that, since he has long-term care (LTC LTC ) insurance, he doesn’t need a Medigap policy. His comment reminded me of some of the misconceptions I’ve heard about Medigap policies. If these are not clarified, Medicare beneficiaries can

Your imagination contains hidden treasures. If you allow it to percolate for only a moment or two, you can smell that delicious meal you’re about to cook. If you let it simmer longer, a creative story leaps from your mind. If you permit yourself to dive deeper, a beautiful work of art emerges. And that’s

Next week at the National Institute on Retirement Security’s 14th annual retirement policy conference, veteran financial journalist Mark Miller will share insight from his new book, Retirement Reboot: Commonsense Financial Strategies for Getting Back on Track (Agate Publishing, January 2023). The book serves as a guide for the millions of Americans who just aren’t financially

One of the most important decisions for Americans age 65 or older is the choice of Medicare coverage. The first big decision is whether to enroll in original Medicare or sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. It’s expected that in 2023, for the first time, half or more of Medicare beneficiaries will be enrolled

A feature of the US banking system that mystifies many foreign observers is the wide spread in savings account interest rates. On February 14, rates on savings accounts reported by Bankrate.com ranged from 0.01% to 4.15% with an average of 0.23%. In general, the low-paying banks are the large ones with extensive branch networks and

Buying real estate with someone other than a spouse can be a costly mistake. If you are married and split up, you have rights that are addressed in the divorce process. However, if you are not married and no longer see eye to eye, you are going to need to resolve the issues on your

“This has been more helpful than couples therapy!” is something that good financial advisors will inevitably hear in their work with couples. It’s a powerful testimony, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise with more than 50% of marriages ending in divorce and most of those citing “disagreements over money” as the chief reason for

Many of us have bought and used timeshares for affordable vacations. For some, it was a great investment, for others an albatross. But timeshares are no longer “buy a week at a specific resort and either use it or exchange it for a different resort or week.” They’re now a side hustle where you can

Starting a side hustle provides you with an opportunity for fun and profit. It’s fun because you’re doing something you enjoy. It’s profitable because you’re making money doing it. But here’s a word to the wise: don’t misunderstand that having fun means you can treat your side hustle like an extension of your personal finances.

A coalition of regulators recently issued warnings about the risks of some self-directed IRAs that many investors aren’t aware of. There are a couple types of self-directed IRAs. Most mutual fund companies and brokers say their IRAs are self-directed. By that, they mean that your IRA can buy any investment on their investment platforms, which

You’ve been pondering this side hustle idea for some time now, wondering if this is the one. You don’t want it to take up too much of your day (or your wallet) to implement it, but you do want it to be successful. Of course, there’s a far more important issue that’s bothering you. It’s

Would you call someone who starts a side hustle an entrepreneur? That’s the problem with side hustles. They usually start with “fun” and, from there, end up in “business.” As a result, the true nature of side hustles can confuse you. Should you worry about side hustles the same way you worry about your day

A recent study from the TIAA Institute reports that longevity literacy is just as important as financial literacy and that retirees with strong longevity literacy tend to experience better financial outcomes in retirement. An important challenge to ensuring a financially secure retirement is that most older Americans underestimate how long they could live. “Longevity literacy

People rightfully worry about inflation since they get to keep less of their paycheck, but there are some, though not universal, positive signs on inflation in the most recent data. In sum, we are already heading in the right direction towards less inflation. But, Congress and the administration need to keep their eye on improving

The Social Security trust fund is projected to be exhausted in 2033, according to a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office. This report inspired the usual slew of hysterical misconceptions that Social Security will become bankrupt and you won’t receive any benefits. Following the CBO report, several sources published articles that helped educate the

So you’re ready to launch that side hustle you’ve always been dreaming of doing. Maybe you’re doing it because inflation has put a strain on your budget. Maybe you’re doing it because you want to take your hobby to the next level. Maybe you’re doing it simply because you’re bored and want to add a

The Social Security trust fund is projected to be exhausted in 2033, according to a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office. This report inspired the usual slew of hysterical misconceptions that Social Security will become bankrupt and you won’t receive any benefits. Following the CBO report, several sources published articles that helped educate the

In 2006, Congress established National Entrepreneurship Week. It is celebrated roughly the third week of February. You might think of “entrepreneurship” in terms of new business start-ups with the intention of having them blossom into Wall Street winners. Well, there’s a new kind of entrepreneur rising from the ranks of not just Main Street but