If you were sitting in your doctor’s office, suffering from back or knee pain, and your doctor recommended surgery, would you agree? What if you knew that clinical trials had labelled the recommended surgery as basically useless? That’s the question posed in a fascinating article we read this week on the website of the New…
A recent column in the Wealth Matters section of the New York Times caught our attention. The title brings to mind an issue we deal with often among our clients here at AgingOptions: “How a Will Treating Children Differently Can Still Be Fair.” If you’ve ever wrestled with the notion of dividing your estate unequally…
With 2016 nearly two-thirds gone, there’s an important milestone happening this year that we almost missed: the oldest members of the Baby Boom generation have begun turning 70. And along with all the changes related to that milestone age comes another important adjustment: it’s time for many Baby Boomers to change the way they think…
Through the years we’ve worked with clients to prepare thousands of retirement plans. Almost every client has told us the same thing: they want to do all they can to avoid unplanned institutional care. The Administration on Aging says that about 10 percent of adults 85 and older lived in institutions such as nursing homes…
How common is identity theft? According to a recent article on the website Huffington Post, each year about 17 million Americans fall victim to this frustrating, insidious crime. Because senior adults are often more trusting and less tech-savvy, they seem particularly prone to identity theft, resulting not only in financial loss but also in embarrassment…
By Kirk Larson Social Security Washington Public Affairs Specialist A home run is a highlight of any baseball game. The fans cheer with excitement to see a player rocket the ball into the stands. So, what are you doing to prepare for your retirement home run? Your goal should be to get past 1st, 2nd…
By Kirk Larson Social Security Washington Public Affairs Specialist The Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, holding that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry in all states, resulted in Social Security recognizing more same-sex couples as married. This is important for determining entitlement to Social Security benefits or eligibility for Supplemental Security…
By Kirk Larson Social Security Washington Public Affairs Specialist Perhaps you’ve been planning to read that booklet on Social Security benefits for some time now, but you never seem to find the time to sit down with it. If only you could listen to an audio version, just as you might listen to the latest…
The link between mental stimulation and the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease has been debated for years. Conflicting studies seem to produce uncertain outcomes, with some claiming that keeping the brain active can inhibit the progression of dementia while others deny any connection. Now a new study from Alzheimer’s researchers at the University of Wisconsin suggests…
On the CNN financial website this week (money.cnn.com), we found an interesting article that asks a provocative question: “Is 70 Too Late to Claim Social Security?” This question sounds almost heretical, since most experts advise people to wait as long as they can (ideally until 70) before starting their benefits, but as the article points…
We send out email newsletters and announcements monthly about planning for Health, Housing, Finance, and Legal needs for retirement. Would you like to sign up?