There’s a common misconception that Medicare is a simple, automatic process when you turn 65. Nothing could be further from the truth. The responsibility to enroll is on your shoulders, and if you miss deadlines or don’t enroll in just the right way, you can incur penalties that will consume chunks...
It’s
the end of an era, at least for Baby Boomers. Some have already retired; many
more can see the finish line of their working years. For Boomers with highly
appreciated company stock in their 401(k) a major decision is whether to do an
IRA rollover, leave the money in the employer plan,...
It
sounds crazy, but if you’re healthy you probably need to save more for
retirement than people with a battery of health issues. Why? Statistically,
people who are healthy will live longer. That means more years paying for
healthcare in a system where costs continue to increase exponentially. So, the
longer you live the...
For most folks heading into retirement, there’s always that time of reflection, deciding if you can actually retire. “Do I have enough saved?” “Will I run out of money?” “Can I count on Social Security?” “How can I make some extra retirement income?”
InternationalLiving.com has come up with some out-of-the-box...
For years now, there’s been lots of talk about what happens if you claim Social Security benefits before full retirement age (FRA) or even waiting until the maximum age of 70. Claiming early means you’ll receive less money, permanently, than if you waited. In spite of the warnings, only...
It may be one of the biggest misconceptions people have about Medicare—thinking that when they’re eligible they can enroll and then they’re set for life—set it and forget it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Never changing your Medicare plan can be a costly mistake.
Every year, insurance companies...
Maybe
it’s your dream—accumulate enough money to retire early and live happily ever
after. You never have to work again and can do whatever you want whenever you
want. That’s the basis of the FIRE Movement—Financial Independence, Retire
Early.
There’s
lots of chatter all over social media about FIRE. Conversation threads run
deep. Online communities search...
Since the Roth IRA was created by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, it’ been an appealing addition to retirement planning. While contributions to a Roth are not tax-deductible, the trade-off is tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals after you cross the age of 59 ½. The withdrawal benefit is one...
Being
elderly in America has more than its share of issues—affording proper
healthcare, being forced to work much longer because of the need for health
insurance or not having saved enough for retirement. Now, throw one more financial
demon into the mix. More and more elders are being forced into bankruptcy.
In 1991, elder...
This is the time of year
when leaves fall and the Social Security Administration announces the annual
cost of living adjustment (COLA) for people receiving Social Security.
For 2020 the increase will
be 1.6 percent, or about $24 per month, raising the average monthly individual
payout to $1503. It will boost the maximum...