If you're enrolled in Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, there's one mistake you should avoid: assuming the plan you have today will still be your best option next year. With Medicare's annual open enrollment period underway, now is the time to take another
Most investors understand that diversification is important. That's why they own multiple mutual funds, ETFs, and investment accounts. But here's a question worth considering: Are you truly diversified, or do you simply own a lot of investments? There's a significant difference. The Hidden Risk
For decades, retirement is often treated like a finish line. Work hard. Save. Invest. Build the 401(k). Pay down debt. Reach a certain age or account balance. Then retire. But retirement isn't the finish line. In many ways, it's where an entirely different financial challenge
Most couples plan for retirement together. They think about Social Security, investment income, required minimum distributions, healthcare costs and how much they can comfortably spend. But there’s another scenario that deserves attention: What happens financially when one spouse dies? One often-overlooked consequence is sometimes referred to as the
Most successful people don’t have a shortage of financial professionals. They may have a financial advisor managing investments, a CPA preparing taxes, an attorney handling estate documents, and perhaps an insurance or Medicare specialist. On the surface, that can feel like everything is covered. But there is an important
Most people approaching retirement have accumulated a variety of financial pieces over the years. They may have a 401(k), IRAs, brokerage accounts, Social Security, insurance policies, a will or trust, and relationships with a CPA, attorney, or financial advisor. But having all of those pieces does not necessarily mean
Every fall, retirees review their Medicare coverage. They compare premiums, prescription plans, provider access, and out-of-pocket costs. But there is one part of Medicare planning that is easy to overlook: Your tax decisions can affect what you pay for Medicare. That is why Medicare planning and tax planning
Most people think of Medicare planning and tax planning as two separate decisions. They aren’t. Medicare uses your income from two years earlier to determine whether you’ll pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, better known as IRMAA. That means financial decisions you make in 2026 could affect
While you’re working, a market decline can be uncomfortable. In retirement, it can be something more—the money that’s falling may also be the money you’re depending on to fund your lifestyle. That creates a challenge many retirees overlook. If your retirement paycheck depends heavily on selling
Many people approaching retirement already have a financial advisor. They have investments. They may have a CPA, an estate plan, insurance and a Social Security strategy. But here’s an important question: Do all those pieces actually work together? Retirement changes the job of your money. It’s no longer
Procrastination is funny. A recent article prompted readers to share things they had not “gotten around to.” Here are a few examples: * A bathroom that began its redecoration twelve years ago is still not painted. Oh, that hurts! * In September, the Christmas tree is still up from the year before.
Each fall, monarch butterflies migrate over 2,000 miles to central Mexico. Interestingly, when making course corrections, monarchs do not simply take the shortest turn to get back on route. They align themselves according to what’s called a separation point, and if a monarch gets off course, it will