Today’s column addresses questions about potential survivor’s benefits available to spouses and children based on a worker’s record, how disability benefits are calculated and the availability of benefits based on an ex’s record. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc, which markets
Retirement
Retiree Sylva Coppock had some strong interests and hobbies before she left the workplace in her early 70s. She had worked as a desktop publisher, graphic designer, and executive assistant. When she retired, the plan was to just pursue hobbies. “I loved doing ancestry research,” said Coppock. “I spent a great deal of my free
The global pandemic has changed the way lawyers interact with clients. Meetings are now routinely held virtually and many people have adapted to the convenience of meeting from home. While virtual meetings will become part of the new normal, there is often no substitute for in person interactions. Many people prefer in-person meetings, and for
When parents reach a certain age, or level of need, perhaps you want to find someone to help them as they lose independence. Advertising abounds about how wonderful a home care agency is or how enticing life in assisted living can be. Maybe you know someone who took care of another relative or friend and
Are you considering converting part or all of your traditional IRA or 401k accounts to a Roth account because you’re worried that future income tax rates will increase? If you are, you’ll want to conduct a careful analysis to determine whether it’s realistic to expect that you’d be paying taxes at a higher rate in
There seems to be a notion floating around that elders in Europe and parts of Asia have access to services we do not have here, that we in the United States have overlooked our older citizens’ welfare and happiness where other developed countries have systems and services we do not. Is that the case? Maybe.
Just about everyone will agree that dealing with Medicare can lead to a whole lot of confusion. One of the first confusing points is figuring out who is eligible to get or enroll in Medicare. Here are three relevant queries submitted to me recently. I am 52 years old with serious health problems. How can I
If you inherited an IRA recently — or are following tax developments after the enactment of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act) — you’ll be pleased to note that an IRS Publication error has been fixed. IRS Pub. 590-B Error Fixed IRS Publication 590-B for tax year 2020,
Earlier today, the FDA gave its approval to a new Alzheimer’s medication, the first to be approved in nearly 20 years: aducanumab, given the brand name Aduhelm. The wife of one patient, cited in the New York Times NYT credited it with slowing disease progression “enough to allow him to participate in tasks like choosing
You’ve got to be on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram—and have a newsletter, blog, podcast and a YouTube channel, right? If you’re a financial advisor today, this is likely the message you’ve gotten from what feels like an onslaught of self-styled financial advisory consultants and coaches. But while I absolutely agree that each advisor should