Retirement

At a recent social event, as so often happens, the conversation turned to Medicare. An acquaintance mentioned that, since he has long-term care (LTC LTC ) insurance, he doesn’t need a Medigap policy. His comment reminded me of some of the misconceptions I’ve heard about Medigap policies. If these are not clarified, Medicare beneficiaries can

Your imagination contains hidden treasures. If you allow it to percolate for only a moment or two, you can smell that delicious meal you’re about to cook. If you let it simmer longer, a creative story leaps from your mind. If you permit yourself to dive deeper, a beautiful work of art emerges. And that’s

Next week at the National Institute on Retirement Security’s 14th annual retirement policy conference, veteran financial journalist Mark Miller will share insight from his new book, Retirement Reboot: Commonsense Financial Strategies for Getting Back on Track (Agate Publishing, January 2023). The book serves as a guide for the millions of Americans who just aren’t financially

One of the most important decisions for Americans age 65 or older is the choice of Medicare coverage. The first big decision is whether to enroll in original Medicare or sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. It’s expected that in 2023, for the first time, half or more of Medicare beneficiaries will be enrolled

Buying real estate with someone other than a spouse can be a costly mistake. If you are married and split up, you have rights that are addressed in the divorce process. However, if you are not married and no longer see eye to eye, you are going to need to resolve the issues on your

A feature of the US banking system that mystifies many foreign observers is the wide spread in savings account interest rates. On February 14, rates on savings accounts reported by Bankrate.com ranged from 0.01% to 4.15% with an average of 0.23%. In general, the low-paying banks are the large ones with extensive branch networks and

“This has been more helpful than couples therapy!” is something that good financial advisors will inevitably hear in their work with couples. It’s a powerful testimony, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise with more than 50% of marriages ending in divorce and most of those citing “disagreements over money” as the chief reason for

Starting a side hustle provides you with an opportunity for fun and profit. It’s fun because you’re doing something you enjoy. It’s profitable because you’re making money doing it. But here’s a word to the wise: don’t misunderstand that having fun means you can treat your side hustle like an extension of your personal finances.

Many of us have bought and used timeshares for affordable vacations. For some, it was a great investment, for others an albatross. But timeshares are no longer “buy a week at a specific resort and either use it or exchange it for a different resort or week.” They’re now a side hustle where you can

You’ve been pondering this side hustle idea for some time now, wondering if this is the one. You don’t want it to take up too much of your day (or your wallet) to implement it, but you do want it to be successful. Of course, there’s a far more important issue that’s bothering you. It’s