The smarter way to pay estimated taxes
If you’re still working, you probably don’t need to worry about estimated tax payments. Withholding on your paychecks should ensure compliance with the tax system’s pay-as-you-earn demands. But if you’re retired, chances are you need to make estimated payments. You’re basically supposed to figure how much tax you’ll owe for the current year and send it along to the IRS in... READ MORE
Replace funeral with a celebration of life
Some older adults tell their families, “I don’t want a funeral; I want to have a party.” Others request no funeral or party at all. But some families feel that doing nothing isn’t quite right. In any of these circumstances, a funeral celebrant can help create a “celebration of life” tribute ceremony that can be a beautiful, healing experience for everyone who... READ MORE
Volunteer options you may not know of
My earlier column on fulfilling ways to spend retirement continues to generate inspirational responses from readers, many of whom have sung the praises of volunteering. You also named service groups that you have found rewarding. I’ll cite a number of them for those of you in search of a cause that strikes a chord. Many of your efforts focus on children. After working for more than... READ MORE
Should you stay in the stock market?
Many readers have written recently asking if they should be reducing their allocation to the stock market because of the excellent performance over the last few years. I have always recommended re-balancing your portfolio once a year. I do re-balance myself, sometimes more than once a year. Stock markets rarely go up continuously, so it does pay to be prudent and not become too... READ MORE
Why (and how) to buy umbrella insurance
An umbrella insurance policy typically covers the same things as your home and auto policies, plus a few more — including lawsuits that arise when you’re driving abroad or operating rented watercraft, or from alleged libel, slander or defamation of character. Umbrella coverage picks up where the liability limits of your homeowners and auto policies leave off. It’s usually sold in... READ MORE
Billions in lost pension, retirement funds
For years, members of Congress have been trying to pass legislation that will allow the federal government to establish a centralized database to help retirees locate their pension and 401(k) plans. There are billions of dollars in retirement accounts that have been lost, for a variety of reasons. Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., re-introduced the Retirement... READ MORE
How to decide if you can afford to retire
Many people looking to retire in the not-too-distant future question whether they can afford to retire. In the absence of a clear understanding of what their future retirement income will look like, most of those folks hoping to retire will simply choose to work longer out of fear of the unknown. In the same vein, some who are already retired live too frugally to enjoy their... READ MORE
How to replace lost/missing documents
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you tell me what I need to do to replace a variety of important documents? Our house burned down a few months ago, and we lost everything, including our home property deed, car titles, old tax returns, Social Security and Medicare cards, birth certificates, marriage license and passports. —Stressed Seniors Dear Stressed, I’m very sorry for your loss, but... READ MORE
We need a better credit reporting system
In some ways, the U.S. credit reporting system has improved. Credit freezes, which lock our credit information to deter identity theft, are now free and fast. We have free weekly access to our credit reports, courtesy of the credit bureaus Equifax, Experian and Trans-Union, until April 20, 2022. Free credit scores provided by banks, credit card issuers and other companies allow us to... READ MORE
Maximize spouse assets if on Medicaid
The bill for long-term care adds up fast. The annual median cost for a private room in a nursing home was $105,850 in 2020, according to Genworth. The government will up these costs if you qualify for Medicaid, but that’s easier said than done. “Medicaid is a welfare program,” said Neel Shah, estate-planning attorney and a certified financial planner at Shah & Associates in... READ MORE
