Retirement

2022 has not been kind to investors. Virtually every segment of the market has fallen in value. Even investment grade bonds, which is historically a haven for conservative investors, has plummeted by over 12% as of this writing. It’s easy to get caught up in your emotions during a tough market and weak economy. However,

For those with aging loved ones, it may be difficult to distinguish a few signs of “normal” aging from things that should raise some red flags. No one teaches you in school how to spot trouble signs with aging loved ones. And it’s our human nature to avoid unpleasant things, isn’t it? Watching our aging

Is retiring with a mortgage a good idea? Most individuals will jump through hoops to live mortgage-free, regardless of whether it makes the most sense financially. Sure, all else equal, it’s always better to reduce your expenses. But in most cases, all isn’t equal: paying off a mortgage early or forgoing one entirely typically comes

State laws mandate that pension fiduciaries have a duty of loyalty to manage retirement plan assets for the exclusive benefit of beneficiaries, i.e., state workers and retirees. Yet all-too-often public pension assets are steered into secretive, risky, poor-performing investments based upon “dark money” contributions by Wall Street to politicians sitting on oversight boards and unions—private

We all know we need to save for retirement, but it can be tricky to know which of all the various tax-advantaged accounts to prioritize with our limited savings. Making the wrong choice could cost us in higher taxes, less flexibility, or even missing out on free money. Here are some factors to consider in

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Oil prices continued to tank on Friday, posting a fourth straight week of declines and falling to their lowest level since January amid rising fears that a looming economic downturn will hurt global demand in energy markets. The price of U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate slid

Saving enough money to retire is a goal that nearly everyone shares (and those who don’t, maybe it’s time that changes). Also shared by most is the uncertainty of how much “enough” truly is. I’ll say right now that determining the hard figure needed to retire comfortably is not a difficult calculation, but it’s also

A great misconception of aging in America is the belief that Medicare will pay for your health care needs in old age. It won’t. It will pay for some of those medical costs. But a typical senior can expect to foot the bill for a substantial portion of their health care, even if they are

The Federal Reserve hiked interest rates yesterday to curb consumer demand and inflation acknowledging the move risks triggering a painful recession. Defending the move, the Fed points to low official unemployment numbers indicating a tight labor market that could induce a wage price spiral. But I disagree. A late August Brookings Institution report by Katie

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin In a widely expected move on Wednesday, the Federal Reserve wrapped up its two-day policy meeting by announcing a third consecutive 75-basis-point interest rate hike, raising borrowing costs to their highest level since the Great Recession. Stocks immediately tanked in volatile trading after the news, and

Most of us know someone or have a family member affected by this brain disease. The word “dementia” is often used interchangeably with Alzheimer’s disease, though there are other kinds of dementia, with some different symptoms. The importance of awareness is not about the definition. It’s about how families need to recognize the early signs

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported inflation continues to rise. With prices increasing at an 8.3% annual rate, it makes sense to investigate what strategies you can muster to counter this trend. What is the best way to beat inflation? Inflation means the cost of living increases. As your expenses rise, you need solutions

The promise at the inception of the HECM reverse mortgage program was that the program would strengthen the retirement plans of homeowners with limited wealth. Inclusion of the HECM reverse mortgage in retirement plans that last for the retiree’s life was an objective. Until now, however, that promise has not been kept. The HECM has

September 18th is National Cheeseburger Day. That’s just a random act by whoever publishes the “National Day” calendar. But did you know that September 18th has a real historic hamburger fact associated with it? Sometime in the late morning of Friday, September 18th, 1885, after the warm rains had stopped, two young brothers from Canton,

Historical research has pinpointed September 18th as “Birth of the Burger Day.” On this date in 1885, a series of fortunate events led two desperate young food concessionaires in their early- to mid-twenties to sell the world’s first “hamburg sandwich.” How Charles and Frank Menches happened to be in the right place at the right

What happens when you run out of your top-selling product? On September 18th, 1885, Charles and Frank Menches faced this very question. Hiram Hopkins and the rest of the Erie County Agricultural Society’s Board of Directors had agreed to allow the Ohio brothers to run a food concession stand at its annual Erie County Fair

By Chris Farrell, Next Avenue Planning for retirement and personal finances became practically synonymous with the rise of 401(k) retirement savings plans. Together, they made mutual fund performance, asset allocation and safe withdrawal strategies top of mind for millions of people. Sound household finances in retirement are critical, of course. Yet many financially prepared near-retirees

By David Robinson, Next Avenue Beset by headlines about stock market volatility, a spike in inflation and potential recession, Americans who are in or approaching retirement are understandably concerned about preserving their wealth. Though it has waned in recent weeks, inflation is still higher than it’s been in decades, and most bond investors continue to

Missing the year-end deadline for some IRA transactions could mean missing out on tax saving opportunities or being subject to excise taxes. If you are one of the 60 million plus individuals with an IRA, you might need to complete certain IRA transactions by the end of this year. Meeting this deadline could mean taking

By Christina Leimer, Next Avenue At an age when many homeowners are paying off their mortgage, thinking about downsizing or giving up home ownership to rent, I bought my first house. Buying wasn’t my top choice. Housing stability was. Renting no longer offers stability in this crazy housing affordability climate, but a mortgage I’ll pay