Nervous investors look to dividend stocks

By Michael Andersen
Posted on August 28, 2017

While most investors are publicly celebrating this record-setting bull market, many tell me in private that they’re nervous about the possibility of a downturn.People have different reactions when the market does so well for so long. Some are sure they should get out, but greed won’t let them pull the plug. Others are eager to get in on the action, but fear won’t let them... READ MORE

Widows need an attorney to protect assets

By Renée Henning
Posted on August 18, 2017

Recently widowed women and their children are vulnerable. After losing a spouse, many women are treated poorly. They need a champion with expertise in estates, contracts, competency, and other legal subjects. As explained below, this area of law is effectively a “wronged widow” practice.For centuries, numerous people have profited from the death of a colleague, friend or... READ MORE

Let’s retire these five myths of retirement

By Ali Swofford
Posted on August 07, 2017

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

By Robert Friedman
Posted on August 03, 2017

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

By Dee-Ann Durbin
Posted on July 28, 2017

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

By Andrew McNair
Posted on July 18, 2017

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

By Rebekah Alcalde
Posted on July 14, 2017

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

By Alex Veiga
Posted on July 10, 2017

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?

By Arielle O’Shea
Posted on June 22, 2017

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

By Anya Kamenetz
Posted on June 12, 2017

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