Ah, the holidays… an annual time of food, fellowship, and fun with family, friends, and loved ones. Everyone returns home and catches up on all of the family happenings over the past year. But the holidays can also be stressful and fast-paced, as people have cookies to bake, presents to wrap, and shopping to do.…
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If you’re covered under Medicare, don’t let complacency prevent you from reviewing your health insurance options and maybe saving some money. Open enrollment for Medicare begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7. It is during this period that those covered by Medicare — people 65 and older — can change their health plan and prescription…
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As an annuity owner, you take comfort in knowing that you have planned for an uninterrupted lifelong retirement income stream. Working alongside other income sources from your nest egg, it will pay out, like clockwork, to fund the retirement you have always imagined. But have you considered whether your income streams are as “efficient” as…
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Today, Americans bear more financial responsibility for their retirement than ever. The days of receiving monthly pension checks are gradually fading. According to Willis Towers Watson, only 16% of Fortune 500 companies were offering pensions to new hires in 2017, down from 59% of firms in 1998. Defined-contribution plans like 401(k) accounts are taking their…
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With new swells of Americans turning 65 each day, it’s one of the most-pressing questions in financial planning: How can I make my money last in retirement? Today’s retirees aren’t just sitting back. As they live longer, they are delving into new opportunities with full steam. Second-act careers. Entrepreneurship. Volunteering for personal causes. Cross-country tours.…
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You just sold your business and half of your staff lost their jobs. Are you obligated to offer COBRA continuation coverage to those former employees? Perhaps. When an employee loses their job, they may become eligible for COBRA. COBRA is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which gives certain former employees and their dependents access…
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Most people consider investment returns as a benchmark for judging the performance of their portfolio. This may be especially true for retirees and pre-retirees who likely have been invested in the market for some time. That experience might have been through brokerage mutual fund investments, brokerage accounts, or even retirement savings plans such as 401(k)s…
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As 2019 begins, two new surveys suggest that both advisors and economists aren’t so optimistic about where the economy is headed. This kind of insight from industry experts is useful, but especially to those who are approaching retirement. Knowing what pundits and advisors believe could lie ahead, and exploring what action can be taken in…
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While a volatile stock market is often referred to as a roller coaster ride, the closing days of 2018 seemed to have been the next step up. After a prolonged growth period, the market moved into a new record-setting path of volatility. And some financial pundits suggest that it may continue in the new year. Welcome to…
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With age comes wisdom – and apparently the ability to better handle unexpected expenses, according to the Society of Actuaries (SOA). In their recent study, the SOA analyzed financial risk management across generations. Chief among their findings? That “the ability to handle unforeseen expenses increases with age, peaking with Early Boomers and then declining for the Silent…
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