Mutual Funds

Once you’ve been on this Earth for half a century, it is time to get serious about your retirement and financial planning. For many, your 50th birthday is a kick in the butt to really start thinking about the future. When will working become optional? Can you afford the bucket list trips? Even where will

Topline The cryptocurrency market fell victim to a massive selloff on Monday as several large exchanges either halted sales or announced layoffs, and with Bitcoin plunging to its lowest price in 18 months, experts warn that the ongoing “bloodbath” will only result in more selling pressure on stocks. Key Facts The price of Bitcoin dropped

When your parent is losing independence, and you can see what’s coming, you may question yourself. Am I supposed to do something about this? I really don’t like this person! He/she was not a good parent! Why should I have to take this on when my parent was so nasty to me growing up? There

Introduction Recently a financial adviser requested that I review an insurance trust for a client. The adviser was under the impression that the trust was “pretty good,” until we actually looked at the document. Many of the issues with the trust document may be quite instructive for readers who have old trusts that may suffer

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The CPI-linked savings bond isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. TIPS offer slightly better protection from inflation. Personal-finance pundits love those I bonds. Suze Orman: “The No. 1 investment that every single one of you should have no matter what.” Burton Malkiel: “Absolutely superb.” Last

Today’s Social Security column addresses questions about when you might need to and when you can file retroactively, how disability benefits are calculated versus standard retirement benefits and reduction rates for filing early. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc. See more

Updating Your Estate Plan: Signs Your Long Past Due So, you signed a will a few decades ago and don’t want to think about estate planning because estate planning is less fun then getting a root canal. Estate planning, you think, is about dying and that’s not particularly enjoyable. It’s also complicated stuff and you

Topline Global markets have recently benefited from positive news out of China, which is lifting coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Shanghai and reportedly easing regulatory crackdowns on its tech sector, leading some experts to up their exposure to Chinese stocks as they bet on an economic rebound. Key Facts With infections trending steadily down, China’s rollback

Topline Stocks plunged on Thursday as recession fears continued to weigh on markets and investors nervously looked ahead to a closely-watched consumer price index reading due Friday, with ongoing concern that inflation could come in higher than expected. Key Facts Stocks fell for a second day in a row: The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost

Every family has a wealth culture, a mindset or system informing beliefs about money and how it should be used, preserved or passed between generations, whether they have articulated it or not. Families who enjoy healthy multi-generational family wealth cultures have taken proactive steps to cultivate and foster them. How does a family create healthy

Topline Stocks fell and rates on government bonds surged on Wednesday as investor concerns about a slowdown in economic growth continued to weigh on markets, while oil jumped to a 13-week high on the back of climbing U.S. gas prices. Key Facts The stock market moved lower amid ongoing economic uncertainty: The Dow Jones Industrial

Most of today’s pre-retirees and recent retirees face a serious planning dilemma: They don’t have sufficient retirement savings, together with Social Security benefits, to retire full time at age 65 and continue to spend at the same level as when they were working. This conclusion is supported by several research reports. As a result, pre-retirees

Topline Shares of energy giant Exxon Mobil surged to a new all-time high on Wednesday, continuing a stellar run this year on the back of rising oil and gas prices, which analysts warn could remain elevated well into late 2022. Key Facts Shares of Exxon Mobil jumped over 1% to a new record high on

Adult children wanting to keep aging loved ones safe often suggest that their elders wear a personal emergency device. (personal emergency response system or PERS). With the push of a button, the elder summons emergency help. Despite that fact that a lot of elders have them but won’t wear them, they are important for those

Topline Despite the stock market taking a hit in recent months from growing recession fears, some experts still remain cautiously optimistic about the economy’s prospects, predicting that a downturn can be avoided if inflation continues to moderate and consumer spending remains resilient. Key Facts Investors have been facing recession warnings ever since the U.S. economy

Today’s Social Security column addresses questions about child benefits and the earnings test, effects of not working for a number of years before filing and how delayed retirement credits are applied to benefit rates. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc. See

It’s time for the annual ritual of understanding and interpreting the Social Security trustees’ report. The 2022 report analyzes and summarizes the latest actuarial status of the trust funds that support Social Security’s retirement and disability programs, as well as the fund that supports the Hospital Insurance (HI) portion of Medicare. Let’s look at two

Topline Markets moved higher on Monday as stocks tried to rebound from a losing week; investor sentiment rose thanks to positive news out of China which looks to be easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions and regulatory crackdowns on its tech sector. Key Facts Stocks attempted to rebound from last week’s losses: The Dow Jones Industrial Average

Aging-in-Place — most of us think of this as the decision, as we get older, to stay in our longtime family homes, even as increasing infirmity or cognitive decline makes this harder. We know there are support programs available, providing home health aides, assistance with yardwork or a wheelchair ramp, a “senior freeze” to keep

Americans, we’re told, want to “age in place,” as proven by repeated survey data. And most of us probably think we know what it means — staying put in the home we raised our children in as we age: “the only way I’ll leave this house is feet first,” as my own father used to

By the year 2030, over 20% of the population in the U.S will be over the age of 65. That will be approximately 73 million people. Thirty-one million will be over 75. It is an unprecedented number and, frankly, a bit shocking because the medical systems in this country are ill-equipped to serve those older

Topline The stock market moved lower on Friday and government bond yields surged after the U.S. economy added a more-than-expected 390,000 jobs in May, with the strong labor market signaling to investors that the Federal Reserve will continue with its path of aggressively tightening monetary policy. Key Facts The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5%,

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The stock market has had its worst start to a year in recent history and things could get worse as recession fears loom. Since World War II there have been 13 recessions—defined as two consecutive quarters of GDP decline–and there have been three in the 21st

My 90-year-old uncle, a retired county employee, has had a Medicare Advantage preferred provider organization (PPO) plan for the last eight years. He sees his primary physician once or twice a year. However, now he has been experiencing dizzy spells and falls. His physician ordered a slew of medical tests. I asked my uncle, “Does

Today’s Social Security column addresses questions about whether to delay filing after stopping work early, whether there’s any reason to delay filing past 70 and potential benefits for a surviving spouse with two young children. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc.

May was Older Americans Month and this year’s theme, “Age My Way!” highlighted a much needed takeaway by learning from older Americans what they wish they’d known to prepare for their post-work lives. First, 78% of those recently surveyed wish they had saved more. Many also regret not creating a plan for how they wanted

Are you the responsible one who takes leadership in attending to your aging parents? Unless you are an only child, it seems that there is a responsible adult child in all the families we work with at AgingParents.com. That would be the person who notices signs of declining health and expresses concern. That would be

Those turning to freelancing or contract work have driven one of the fastest growing and robust areas of the labor market. In the past few years, with the labor movement in flux due to COVID-19 and the so-called Great Resignation, the number of people who performed contract or freelance work in the US reached 59

For many Americans, summer 2022 is the season of revenge travel. They’re willing to go a little farther and spend a little more than they normally would on a summer holiday to ensure they have an unforgettable trip. Revenge travel is all about making up for time lost and opportunities missed because of the pandemic.

The beat of Pomp and Circumstance is playing across the country this month. From high schools to colleges young people are graduating in commencement ceremonies. Commencement is all about celebrating the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Life is a series of chapters, and now that our lifespans are increasing, there are