Retirement

Key Takeaways A ‘Santa Rally’ is the term used to describe the gains for the markets in December, with many believing it’s generally a good month for investors. Funnily enough it’s actually true, with the probably of a positive return for US large caps at a massive 77.9% from 1926 to 2020. So far this

Key Takeaways Inflation was up just 0.1% in the month of November, bringing the headline annual rate to 7.1%, down from 7.7% last month. Today the Fed has raised interest rates again, though the 0.50 percentage point increase is a less aggressive raise than the past four 0.75 percentage point increases. The ‘dot plot’ of

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period is over. It seems as though every beneficiary I spoke with during the last two months had questions about one topic: pharmacies. So, here are answers to 10 frequently asked questions about Part D drug plans and pharmacies. What pharmacies can I use? Medicare requires Part D drug plans to

The United States is confronting a number of economic challenges – turbulent markets, rising interest rates, high inflation, and growing economic inequality. Despite these challenges, public pension plans in the U.S. have remained resilient in recent years. In fact, many plans achieved double digit investment returns during 2021. And while the markets took back some

Under both federal (ERISA) and state law pensions are supposed to be managed for the “sole or exclusive benefit” of beneficiaries—participants such as you. Yet forensic investigations reveal that our nation’s public pensions are never managed for the sole or exclusive benefit of participants. So, if your government pension is not managed for your exclusive

Year-end tax planning this year is likely to be different than the last few years, especially for retirees. Many retirees should take a close look at their estimated tax payments and determine if they need to adjust their last payment, due January 15, to avoid penalties. Interest rates increased in 2022. A result is many

Procrastination in saving for retirement is so pervasive that it can be considered the norm. Retirement is a long way off and how much will be needed is unclear. The question is complicated by possible allocation to estate bequests and (for homeowners) the possible use of home equity in the process. Procrastination is further encouraged

Congressional Bill Would Create Federal Ally for Booming Elderly Workforce Older workers are flooding the labor market — many of them are struggling to stay afloat and could use a life raft. It’s time for America’s 37 million older workers to have a strong ally in the federal government. A new bill in Congress offers

You may see some public notices from governments, nonprofit agencies and consumer organizations warning about increased scammer activity at this time of year. There is a lot of focus on internet and phone scams, everything from fake threats to pay money or fake enticements to get a “deal” on something. People are shopping during the

One of my most self-aware friends said of a habit he’d like to change recently: “First, I have to get sick of myself; then I have to get sick of getting sick of myself; then I have to complain about it for a while; then I’ll actually change.” He must have been reading Prochaska and

This article explains the terminology and concepts that you should be familiar with as you determine your best Social Security claiming strategy. As you work through this process, keep 3 things in mind: Claiming Social Security benefits is a one-time decision that you must get correct. A married couple needs to look at this decision

Key Takeaways Carvana is looking to be on the brink of bankruptcy, with yields on their corporate notes above 30% according to the Wall Street Journal. The stock price has jumped in early trading on Thursday after a major crash this week. Despite this bounce, the price has collapsed almost 98% to just over $4

The time has come. You’re thinking of starting that retirement side hustle you’ve always wanted to. You’ve thought through the idea over and over again. It’s a solid idea. You know there’s an interest in it. You’re ready to go. So, what’s holding you back? If you’re like most people, including many creative people, you’re

2022 has been a turbulent year for investors and retirees. However, in the month of December, there are some actions that can have a significant positive tax and economic impact. Tax-Loss Harvesting. A simple idea is to harvest losses in taxable accounts. Losses are deductible against gains, can be carried over, and can even offset

Key takeaways Treasury yields are up again, hitting 3.589% compared to just 0.55% in 2020. This might seem like good news, but for existing bondholders it means a huge fall in the prices of their existing Treasuries. The inverse relationship between yields and prices has caused bond prices to crash, and it’s likely that they’ve

It’s that time of year again: The Holidays. As the year starts to wane, the accompanying festivities bring cheer to some hearts and a song to some lips, but it is a knife that cuts deep for others. These holidays are rooted in two things: family and religion. Many Americans believe that those are both

Gertie is a sharp 89, with a history of being well organized in her life. She is widowed, and was living alone. During Covid, one of her four daughters and her husband moved in with her, a plan that was supposed to be temporary. Gertie needed a little help with shopping and transportation, as she

The $100 billion Ohio Teachers pension fund recently responded to a public record request from a former board member indicating it had no records in its possession regarding its cryptocurrency investments. Later, in response to a media inquiry regarding crypto investments identified in its portfolio, officials at the state pension responded, “No comment.” So much

Once you’ve tackled the mental world, it’s time to move on to the physical world. If you’ve got a fairly simple web-based side hustle, you’ll have very limited physical needs. “I just needed a laptop, a logo, and a website,” says Julie Bee, President and Founder of BeeSmart Social Media and Lead From Anywhere in

Ah, yes. This is the need that often arises first in the minds of new entrepreneurs. Notice it is the last in this series after initially getting your mind ready and making sure you’ve got your physical needs. There’s a reason for that. Many folks who start a small side hustle have modest expectations. With