Medicare Advantage — pitfalls to avoid
[Ed. Note: We are currently in the thick of Medicare’s annual “open enrollment period,” which runs from October 15 to December 7 every year. That’s the period during which you can a) switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa, b) join, drop or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan, and c) add, drop or change prescription drug coverage. It is... READ MORE
Leave your heat on all day or turn it off?
With energy prices increasing, heating your home is proving difficult for many to afford. This peak in prices is leading many to search for alternative ways to save on energy bills during the winter. Fortunately, the solution can be easier than you think. If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you should leave your heat on low all day or turn it off when you’re gone, keep... READ MORE
Protecting your pets after you’re gone
Dear Savvy Senior, What is the best way to ensure my pets are taken care of after I’m gone? I have two dogs and a cat that are my four-legged family, and I want to make sure they’ll be well taken care of after I die. —Solo Senior Dear Solo, It’s a great question. Every year, approximately 500,000 cats and dogs enter shelters when their pet parents experience an emergency or ... READ MORE
Safer investments for earning high yields
Because the Federal Reserve has been increasing interest rates, there are many conservative alternatives available for investors now who want to take advantage of high returns with minimum risks. Here are some of the alternatives available to you and the associated tax issues: Certificates of deposit The returns associated with certificates of deposit (CDs) are much higher than they were... READ MORE
How to reduce taxes on Social Security
Social Security benefits were once tax-free. That changed in 1983, when Congress decided to tax a portion of benefits for the highest-income recipients. Back then, fewer than 10% of beneficiaries were affected. However, lawmakers failed to update the law to account for inflation, so today most Social Security beneficiaries have to pay federal income tax on at least some of their... READ MORE
How investors can get on AI bandwagon
AI investing has been the megatrend in 2023 — Goldman Sachs economists expect “AI investment could grow rapidly in the next couple of years, approaching $100 billion in the U.S. and $200 billion globally in today’s dollars by 2025.” There’s good reason for the bullishness. Goldman Sachs economists believe generative artificial intelligence will boost global labor productivity... READ MORE
Selecting or changing a Medicare plan
[Ed. Note: The annual Medicare open enrollment period, during which all beneficiaries can change Medicare plans and drug coverage, runs from October 15 through December 7. This article addresses how to first sign up for Medicare as well as sources to help existing Medicare beneficiaries make changes.] Selecting a Medicare plan is complex. I will discuss some of the important factors and... READ MORE
Red flags in cryptocurrency investments
A retired teacher was concerned that his savings might not cover his retirement living costs and rising medical bills. One day, while browsing the internet, the teacher, who we’ll call Henry, stumbled upon an article about cryptocurrencies. Intrigued, he came across a particular cryptocurrency we will call “BitGem” that promised incredible returns on investment. The BitGem... READ MORE
We’re all vulnerable to financial scams
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to protecting yourself from financial scams is thinking you’re too smart to be duped by one. “We can all fall for a scam, given the right set of circumstances,” said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that provides advice and assistance related to identity theft.... READ MORE
Don’t let credit scores retire when you do
Getting rid of debt before retirement is often a good idea. Getting rid of your credit scores? Not so much. People who stop using credit also stop generating enough data to produce credit scores, the three-digit numbers used to gauge creditworthiness. Not having scores can make it harder and more expensive to get loans. Even if you’re sure you’ll never borrow again, lacking credit ... READ MORE
