Weekly Newsletter

“The future ain’t what it used to be,” the inimitable Yogi Berra once said. Yogi knew the future is unpredictable. No one in 2019 could have predicted a devastating worldwide pandemic in 2020. Nevertheless, we can look to the past for hints on how the next year may...

Inflation adjustments and the phase-in of Secure 2.0 provisions have implications for retirement savers and retirees alike. The dawning of 2024 will usher in more changes than usual on the retirement-planning front. As is typical with the turn of the calendar page,...

How changes in Social Security, Medicare, taxes and more will affect your finances For most people, retirement finance is a delicate balance between income that’s likely less than what you made while working and expenses that may be lower in some areas (no more...

While inflation has been falling in recent months, seniors remain especially vulnerable to price increases, experts say. Social Security recipients and others on fixed incomes will soon see a slight increase in their monthly benefit checks from the U.S. government....

As 2023 comes to a close, many Americans are turning their attention to 2024 and contemplating resolutions for the new year. Many focus on financial resolutions. as people seek to earn more or create breathing room in their budget. For some, making a commitment...

Yes. If you become disabled after filing early for retirement benefits, you may be able to change to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Similarly, if you retire early but belatedly discover that an existing condition might have qualified you for a higher...

A few reasons to consider buying an annuity include the tax advantages, income for life and customization options for added benefits. The Annuity.org editorial team interviewed annuity buyers and financial experts to understand the best reasons to purchase one and how...

Take these steps together to help you both get the retirement you want Retirement can last for decades, so the choices you make in the years leading up to it will have huge implications for your financial security, lifestyle and legacy during your golden years. They...

Get trusted annuities advice, news and features. Find annuities tips and insights to further your knowledge on kiplinger.com. Rising interest rates are making annuities more attractive to investors, so much so that annuity sales are smashing records set in 2008 during...

A budget is the best way to avoid running out of money in retirement Too many online shopping sprees. Frequent dinners at your favorite steak house. Pricey vacation getaways. And, of course, high inflation. Houston, we have a problem: Many retirees are spending way...

A recent retiree shares lessons learned late about saving money and spending time Everyone nearing retirement has a vision of what their road will be like once they clock out of the 9-to-5. Maybe that prophecy includes regular travel, longer trips to see the...

Facing an insecure financial future, America’s ‘neglected middle child’ may have to chart a different path to post-work life For years, Mike Cundall Jr. thought he was on the proper path to retirement. A professor of philosophy at North Carolina A&T University,...

Inflation, stock swings and more erode Americans’ confidence in future financial security When it comes to retirement readiness, many Americans are feeling disillusioned. A spring Gallup poll found that only 43 percent of nonretired adults expect to live out their...

A little planning can ease the financial hardship You may not think a disaster can hit you, but a disaster of some sort can occur just about any place, at any time, with little or no warning. Garrett Sorensen knows that. His car was totaled when a powerful tornado hit...

You may think that your big expenses in retirement will be for greens fees at golf clubs, spa charges at that resort in Crete, and taking the kids out for avocado toast on weekends. And that may well be true. But some of your biggest expenses may surprise you —...

The Secure 2.0 Act of 2022 has several provisions that could significantly impact your retirement savings, and some of the most important ones are set to take effect in 2024. The legislation was designed to make it easier to save for retirement, streamline retirement...

3 ways to ensure you’ll be able to afford your essential retirement expenses If your safe investments won’t produce enough income to cover your “floor” expenses, the answer is to rethink and reduce your expenses. When you’re young, you can’t be too aggressive when...

Are you prepared for retirement? With longer life expectancy, rising healthcare costs, and the possibility of Social Security insolvency the pressure to prepare is mounting. To help you navigate the process, here’s an overview of the key factors you should consider...

These five steps will help you toward a safe, secure, and fun retirement Retirement planning is a multistep process that evolves over time. To have a comfortable, secure—and fun—retirement, you need to build the financial cushion that will fund it all. The fun part is...

When you retire, you leave behind many things—the daily grind, commuting, maybe your old home—but one thing you keep is a tax bill. In fact, income taxes can be your single largest expense in retirement. Taxation of Social Security Benefits Many older Americans are...

Planning to retire in 10 years or less? Find out what you need to know and do for a smoother transition. If you’re thinking of retiring within the next 10 years, you may feel like you’re confronting quite a few “what ifs” and unknowns. “Many retirees say transitioning...

KEY POINTS Today’s workers are tasked with making sure they will have enough money when they retire while also juggling competing financial priorities. While planning for retirement may seem daunting, experts say there are strategic moves you can make to improve your...

Average life expectancy has risen by 16 years since the national retirement age was set at 65. We asked health experts when they think people should stop working now. In 1881, the conservative German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, plagued by a rise in socialist...

There’s no denying that recessions are harsh. They bring about business failures, job losses, and economic downturns. If you are close to retirement you have likely wondered if a recession is coming and exactly happens during a recession. This comprehensive guide will...

Key takeaways Like a good financial plan, insurance takes into account your goals and current financial situation and should evolve as your life changes. In addition to income replacement, life insurance, in particular, can help diversify your portfolio, protect...

Annuities offer powerful tax benefits to those planning for, or entering retirement. Unlike money market accounts, savings accounts, certificate of deposit (CDs), and most bonds, annuities carry the potential to create tax-deferred accumulation. For example, interest...

Fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) have grown in popularity over the years, primarily due to their unique combination of safety, growth potential, and guaranteed income streams. In this people-first guide, we’ll explore the benefits of fixed-indexed annuities, how they...

More than a quarter of Americans have no money saved for retirement. That’s according to a new survey from personal finance site Credit Karma, which found older respondents are even less prepared by some measures than their younger counterparts. Nearly one in five...

Average life expectancy has risen by 16 years since the national retirement age was set at 65. We asked health experts when they think people should stop working now. In 1881, the conservative German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, plagued by a rise in socialist...

KEY POINTS Without action from Congress, Social Security may only be able to pay full benefits for another decade. As lawmakers weigh potential fixes, getting bipartisan agreement won’t be easy. Lawmakers are hashing out plans to shore up Social Security’s ailing...

There are a lot of myths about retirement out there. Here are several retirement statistics that might just surprise you. While we may know family members or friends who have retired, we don’t usually discuss what their finances look like and the things they wish...

Fixed index annuities can help you accumulate money for retirement and provide guaranteed income after you retire. A fixed index annuity may be a good choice if you want the opportunity to earn indexed interest, but don’t want to risk losing money in the market. What...

KEY POINTS This holiday season, it may be possible to lower your taxes while supporting your favorite charity, experts say.  If you itemize deductions, consider donating profitable investments or selling losing assets before gifting the cash proceeds. Donors age 70½...

Are emotional health and personal fulfillment part of your retirement portfolio? Retiring successfully requires careful planning to ensure financial and physical health, but what about other important aspects of retirement, such as emotional health and personal...

If you have a dream destination in mind, careful planning and a willing boss could help you make the move ahead of schedule Rob Nehrbas was winding up his career as an executive at an Arizona-based laser device company he’d sold to a bigger competitor when he realized...

Tax changes, RMD rules, Social Security COLA and more will affect older Americans’ finances You might have heard about big changes coming to retirement finance due to Secure 2.0, a package of provisions included in the massive spending bill enacted by Congress and...