President Donald Trump’s tax cut plan which took effect in 2018 has reduced income taxes for many Americans and is credited by supporters with helping boost the U.S. economy. But hidden in the new law is a potentially unwelcome tax surprise for many retirees, according to your friends at the Internal Revenue Service. An Unhappy…
A new report just released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) has revealed a startling statistic. Researchers now predict that the number of cases of Alzheimer’s disease in the United States will soar in the next four decades, creating a health care crisis that could be three times worse than what…
From our earliest days most of us were taught to be generous, especially with those closest to us. But ironically, as we enter retirement and confront the need to be more fiscally cautious, our adult kids and grandkids are just coming into the phase of their lives when financial crises seem to pop up on…
Some may wonder why we at AgingOptions report fairly frequently on celebrities who pass away leaving chaos in their wake in the form of terrible estate planning. It’s not that we seek to gloat over the fall from grace of the rich and famous. We fully realize that the family members of these famous men…
Most people approaching retirement age probably dream about retiring debt-free. Entering retirement without the burden of debt is certainly the ideal – but if you think it’s the norm, think again. The reality is, about seven out of ten households headed by those in the 65-74 age group are carrying at least some debt load,…
Fall is here, arriving this past week. That means football games, chilly nights, falling leaves, and that other familiar autumn ritual – Medicare open enrollment. Whether you’re completely satisfied with your current coverage or eager to make a change, this is the season when you really need to do your homework and make your choices.…
If you live in an assisted living facility, or have a loved one who does, you’re part of a growing group of Americans – currently about three-quarters of a million – who are healthy enough to live more or less independently but need some help with activities of daily living. This assistance can take the…
Disability affects millions of Americans, in one form or another. Studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 1-in-4 chance of becoming disabled before reaching full retirement age. Social Security is here to help you and your family, but there are strict criteria for meeting the definition of disability. The definition of disability under Social…
One of the most important legal decisions an older adult can make is to designate someone close to them to act as power of attorney (POA) on their behalf. In choosing a POA, a senior is empowering another person to make both financial and – in many cases – medical decisions on their behalf. It’s…
We recently ran across this article published a few months back on the CNN Money website. Written by retirement expert and well-known money writer Walter Updegrave, the article tackles a question we hear often at our AgingOptions LifePlanning Seminars and on our radio program: What do I do if I’m in my 50s or 60s…