Category: Retirement Finance
Learn retirement financial strategies for success
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Why Retirees Should Care About Treasury Bonds – The Truth
If you had told me years ago that U.S. Treasury bonds would become dinner table conversation, I would have laughed and gone back to worrying about my golf swing. Treasury bonds were supposed to be boring, dependable, and about as exciting as beige wallpaper. Lately, though, they have been acting more like a caffeinated squirrel, Read more
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What’s Going On With Social Security Right Now?
Let’s start with the basics: Social Security isn’t breaking tomorrow, but it is definitely acting its age. In 2026, retirees are seeing a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of about 2.8 percent, which means your monthly check is a bit bigger than last year, roughly $56 more on average, depending on your benefit amount. That’s helpful, though Read more
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The Retirement Reality Check: How Prepared Are People 60+?
Let’s start with the numbers, because cold hard facts are like kale smoothies, tough to swallow, but ultimately good for you. According to data from recent Federal Reserve research, about 88 percent of Americans aged 60 and over have some retirement savings, which sounds reassuring at first glance. But here’s the twist: only 51 percent Read more
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The Sneaky Costs of Retirement No One Warns You About
When I first started writing about retirement, I assumed most people worried about the big obvious things. Housing, healthcare, food, taxes, maybe the occasional vacation if the budget allowed. Those are the headline expenses, the ones everyone talks about. What surprised me, and what continues to surprise many retirees I hear from, are the unexpected Read more
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How Retirees Can Legally Lower Federal Taxes in Retirement
When I first retired, I naively assumed my tax days were behind me. After all, I wasn’t earning a paycheck anymore, my briefcase was collecting dust, and my alarm clock had officially been fired. Surely Uncle Sam would leave me alone now, right? Safe withdrawal for tax purposes are important, but there’s more. What I Read more
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Why Married Couples Need Financial Honesty More Than Ever in Retirement
Retirement has a funny way of shining a very bright light into corners we didn’t spend much time looking at while we were working. Some of those corners are emotional, some are psychological, and some are purely financial. And if there is one place where retirement absolutely refuses to tolerate secrets, it is money. Learn Read more
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How Retirement Calculators Really Help You Know If You’re Ready to Retire
I’ll be honest, the first time I used a retirement calculator, I was hoping it would pat me on the head, tell me I was doing great, and confirm that I could retire immediately and live happily ever after. Instead, it gave me a number that made me blink twice and check if I had Read more
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Your 2026 Financial Plan: December Decisions Matter More Than Ever!
Look, I get it. You’re probably eyeing that last slice of pumpkin pie and thinking about whether you really need to watch another holiday movie, not contemplating your investment portfolio. But here’s the thing: the final days of 2025 might be the most important financial moments of your year. Make your 2026 financial plan before Read more
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Robo-Advisors: Can a Computer Really Manage My Retirement Money?
I still remember the first time I heard the term “robo-advisor.” My immediate mental image was a shiny robot in a tie, sitting behind a mahogany desk, tapping away at a keyboard while judging my questionable investment decisions. Thankfully, the reality is much less sci-fi and far more practical. A robo-advisor is simply a technology-driven Read more
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How to Save Money at Christmas – Holiday Gifts Without Looking Cheap
There was a time, back when I was working and thought nothing of it, when December meant one thing financially, mild panic wrapped in tinsel. Credit cards came out, budgets went out the window, and I convinced myself that love was best expressed through receipts long enough to qualify as short stories. Retirement, thankfully, has Read more