Retirement

Today’s Social Security column addresses questions about whether to delay filing after stopping work early, whether there’s any reason to delay filing past 70 and potential benefits for a surviving spouse with two young children. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc.

Are you the responsible one who takes leadership in attending to your aging parents? Unless you are an only child, it seems that there is a responsible adult child in all the families we work with at AgingParents.com. That would be the person who notices signs of declining health and expresses concern. That would be

May was Older Americans Month and this year’s theme, “Age My Way!” highlighted a much needed takeaway by learning from older Americans what they wish they’d known to prepare for their post-work lives. First, 78% of those recently surveyed wish they had saved more. Many also regret not creating a plan for how they wanted

For many Americans, summer 2022 is the season of revenge travel. They’re willing to go a little farther and spend a little more than they normally would on a summer holiday to ensure they have an unforgettable trip. Revenge travel is all about making up for time lost and opportunities missed because of the pandemic.

The beat of Pomp and Circumstance is playing across the country this month. From high schools to colleges young people are graduating in commencement ceremonies. Commencement is all about celebrating the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Life is a series of chapters, and now that our lifespans are increasing, there are

If you have sold a business for a significant financial profit, inherited a large sum of money or recently won a very large lottery, you might want to consider the merits of a “family office” in order to manage your financial affairs. A reader, C.P., wants to know how to get started. What Is a

Bruce Feiler is an excellent author whose newest book, Life Is In The Transitions, refutes much of what we have been taught about successfully navigating life, all while cluing us into something that we already know but rarely say: Life isn’t linear. In fact, Feiler puts it even more starkly: “The linear life is dead.

Topline Stocks finished higher on Friday—capping off a solid rally this week that saw markets rebound from more than seven consecutive weeks of losses, as recession fears continued to subside in light of positive economic data showing inflation moderated slightly last month. Key Facts The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.8%, nearly 600 points, while

As you celebrate National Hamburger Day (May 28th) this Memorial Day Weekend, retirement is probably the last thing on your mind. But as the sizzling aroma of those grilling burgers captivates your nostrils, consider for a moment how your retirement is like a mouth-watering juicy hamburger. “A hamburger represents all you’ve achieved and accumulated from

Topline With stocks on track for one of their worst years in recent history amid concerns around persistent inflation, rate hikes from the Federal Reserve and rising recession risks, top firms on Wall Street say investors should turn to defensive stocks with stable margins and cash flow that should be able to weather a bear

The subject of driving for elders can get quite emotional. It is a symbol of independence and freedom. It can also be increasingly dangerous as we age. At AgingParents.com, where we consult with families of elders, we see many families with a general reluctance to bring up the topic with an aging parent. This occurs

Topline With the stock market on one of its worst losing streaks in decades amid a relentless selloff that has pushed the S&P 500 nearly 20% below its record highs, recession risks are rising—but history shows that not all bear markets lead to long term downturns and stocks can often rebound over the next year.

Topline Stocks rallied slightly on Wednesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s most recent policy meeting showed that the central bank is likely to continue raising interest rates by a half-percentage point each in June and July, amid growing urgency to combat surging inflation and avoid an economic downturn. Key Facts Stocks moved higher as

Topline The retail sector has been hard-hit by a selloff in recent weeks amid warnings from major companies that surging inflation has impacted profits, and despite a rebound on Wednesday, experts predict further challenges ahead as consumer spending becomes increasingly hard to predict. Key Facts Retail and consumer stocks rebounded thanks to reports that Kohl’s

The editors of Bloomberg recently published a series of editorials on America’s impending “retirement crisis,” which they assert could “under reasonable assumptions … overwhelm state budgets across the country” as impoverished seniors increasingly rely on government handouts to survive. Scary stuff, if true. In fact, the assumptions driving these frigthening claims are anything but reasonable.

Topline The stock market fell on Tuesday—reversing a comeback rally a day earlier—as the months-long selloff on Wall Street persists with investors continuing to offload shares amid a gloomy profit outlook from Snap, which sent tech stocks plummeting and led to rising recession fears. Key Facts The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.5%, nearly

Topline The Federal Reserve isn’t doing its job fighting runaway inflation—and unless the central bank tightens monetary policy and raises interest rates “more aggressively,” the ongoing stock market sell-off could well turn into a full “economic collapse,” warned hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman on Tuesday. Key Facts The Federal Reserve has lost credibility as it has

Is your traditional IRA or 401(k) down in value this year? Many financial experts are touting this as a good time to convert it to a Roth since you can pay taxes on the lower account value, and when the market recovers, your money can grow to be tax-free. However, here are some reasons why

The nearly $100 billion State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio never tires of telling its members of past transparency awards it has received from Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber. The fact that Faber’s office is currently conducting a special investigation into the pension’s transparency practices, prompted by public records lawsuits and numerous member complaints—the results

Earlier this month, a dramatic headline appeared at the New York Post: “No kidding: Rearing 3 or more children could make you literally lose your mind, study says.” The dramatic statement from the article, three sentences in? “The scientists found that having three or more kids vs. two children has a “negative effect on late-life