What is the Optimal Age for the Average Retiree to Claim Social Security?

My Comment: My post earlier this week was designed to help you decide if waiting to age 70 to claim your Social Security benefits made sense. This post takes the same idea a step further. By Adam Levy / 10 DEC 2023 / http://tinyurl.com/b2nkwnbc One of the biggest decisions you'll make while planning for retirement …

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My Thoughts About the 4% Rule

The 4% rule ~ This “rule” is used to describe the rate at which money is withdrawn from “retirement” accounts designed to help pay bills when you retire and stop working. The goal is to never run out of money. It evolved many years ago to include the assumption it would keep you from running …

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How to manage your money after you retire

My Comments: Over recent months, I’ve received negative comments from readers suggesting I don't know what I’m talking about when it comes to investing money. One recent comment suggested I clearly had no clue what I was talking about; the comment was just buy and hold with no attempts to time the markets. However, that …

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This Is One of the Worst Stock Market Mistakes You Could Make Right Now

My Comments: My hope is all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and/or friends. Yes, it’s Friday and for some still a holiday, but I’m trying to keep to my blog post schedule. Most of my investable money today is in a Vanguard cash reserve money market fund. It’s current yield is about …

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The Little-Known Downsides of Medicare Advantage Plans

My Comments: Personally, I’ve always avoided Medicare Advantage Plans. I’m not deaf and have never had to spend much money on dental care. So why pay extra for coverage that I don’t need. But I may be the exception. Meanwhile, those of you already on Medicare are facing the current open enrollment period when you …

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5 Needed Documents for Anyone Over 65

My Comments: This article is directed toward younger folks who have elderly family members. It's very relevant for those whose life span is getting shorter. If you have someone like that in your life, you can help them and yourself if you read this carefully. To me it’s difficult to appreciate that a majority of …

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5 No-No’s While Planning for Retirement

My Comments: I prioritize the following this way: #1 - #4 - #5 - #2 and #3. Yes, some of this is self-serving as I’ve been in the retirement planning business for almost 50 years. And yes, I’ve created an online course that features 8 critical questions you must ask of yourself, and answer, if …

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An Uncomfortable Truth About Aging and Retirement Planning

My Comments:  Despite being a financial planner and investment advisor for almost 50 years, earning a living and growing a family, the reality is I didn’t do a good planning job for myself. Looking back I now realize my clients did better with their money than I did with ours. I had too many choices …

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The Complex Truth About Reverse Mortgages

My Comments: When the Fed started raising interest rates in March of 2022 in an effort to combat inflation, the reverse mortgage industry took a huge hit. That’s because the cost of money for reverse mortgage companies became too high. They could no longer wait sometimes many years for the last person to leave the …

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A Guide to Social Security for Seniors

My Comments: An email recently appeared in my inbox from a Deloris Johnson who identified herself as the Community Outreach and Senior Advocate for an organization called Caring.com. I clicked on the link she sent and found myself looking at A Guide to Social Security for Seniors. I've been a Social Security benefit recipient since …

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