Let’s retire these five myths of retirement
After decades of paychecks, you might be counting the days before you can leave your job for good.However, your idea of what lies ahead in retirement years may be far different from reality. You need to be prepared for the fact that life as a retiree may not follow the script you wrote in your head.Here are five myths about retirement that catch many retirees by surprise:Retire-Myth No.... READ MORE
Praising volunteers of all ages
Janice and George Vanisko were “sort of embarrassed” to be heralded a few months ago by the County Council and the Volunteer Center of Howard County with the Dynamic Duo Award, one of several awards honoring county volunteers. After all, they say, shouldn’t we all spend hours each week helping those in need? Janice, a 76-year-old retired nurse, and her husband George, 82, a retired ... READ MORE
Certified used cars offer peace of mind
A certified pre-owned vehicle costs more than a regular used car, but it can give buyers some peace of mind in an often murky market.Certified pre-owned vehicles are used cars that are backed by an automaker’s guarantee. They’re usually newer cars, coming off two- or three-year leases.Certified pre-owned programs limit the miles the cars can have on them — under 60,000, in ... READ MORE
Biggest estate-planning mistakes to avoid
There are several common mistakes people can make when planning — or not planning — for what will happen with their estates when they die.The legacy you leave can either simplify the process of dealing with your personal and financial property, or it can be a worrisome burden for those you leave behind.So let’s take a look at what you should discuss well ahead of time with ... READ MORE
Startups focus on better aging
Can you imagine a pair of glasses that can brighten and enlarge whatever you happen to be reading or looking at, responding to your voice commands? Or can you imagine a phone app that summons a trained driver in a wheelchair-accessible van to take you to a doctor’s appointment? Or can you visualize the difference it would make to an Alzheimer’s patient if his caregivers had instant... READ MORE
Why target-date funds are so popular
When it comes to building their retirement nest egg, investors are increasingly betting on the set-it-and-forget-it approach of target-date funds.Such funds, which are designed to minimize risk over time by gradually shifting from stocks to bonds as an investor’s retirement date nears, hit a record $880 billion in assets last year, according to Morningstar Research... READ MORE
Are you sabotaging your investments?
The stock market has raced to record highs this year, but your portfolio may not show it.In some ways, that’s to be expected: A balanced portfolio won’t post the same returns as the Dow Jones industrial average or the Standard & Poor’s 500, nor should it. You would have to be 100 percent invested in stocks to mirror the market’s performance, and that kind of... READ MORE
Student loan debt hobbling more older adults
Older Americans are shouldering far more of the nation’s debt than in years past.The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released numbers recently showing that the share of all household debt held by people aged 60 and older has almost doubled: from 12.6 percent in 2003, to 22.5 percent in 2016. That’s nearly $3 trillion!Mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, and even... READ MORE
Why pay retail? Bills you can negotiate
The word “bills” used to be synonymous with “fixed expenses.” But there’s nothing fixed about many of the bills a typical household pays today.Some bills have introductory rates that expire, shooting monthly costs skyward. Others offer secret discounts or upgrades to those in the know.Providers constantly tweak their plans and pricing, which means long-term... READ MORE
How to find financial advice you can trust
The Department of Labor recently announced it will postpone putting the “fiduciary rule” into effect. And the Trump administration has signaled it wants to get rid of it altogether.The fiduciary rule stipulates that financial professionals who advise you on your retirement accounts must put your financial interests ahead of their own. Without the rule — and as things... READ MORE
