How do you make decisions? Tools can be very helpful for simple situations -- and potentially less useful for more complex cases when more data has to be considered, as in the case of someone transiti... more
I sometimes wonder about the need to name a “day” to draw attention to a cause. However, in this case, the cause is one that needs attention: protecting older Americans from abuse. June 15 is World El... more
Seniors will want to know about a resource that regulators published June 15, 2021, to help train financial firms to implement the Senior Safe Act. The regulators involved in the project are the Finan... more
Beyond the headlines about Social Security cost-of-living adjustments and changes in leadership, there is an ongoing need to warn anyone with a Social Security number to be alert to identify theft. St... more
Not that I would want you to keep up with “the Joneses,” but are you saving for retirement? Don’t be left out. Retirement savings is in full swing right now.... more
In last week’s column, “‘Sudden’ Situation Can Put Retirement Finances At Risk,” I promised to offer advice to couples where one spouse was not able to take charge of retirement investing if need be, ... more
What happens when you suddenly find yourself in charge of your retirement finances without the benefit of having much experience on the subject matter?... more
If it weren’t the year 2020, right around now, I would be cautioning IRA owners over 70 1/2 to make sure they withdrew their required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their individual retirement acco... more
A number of readers of this column have questions about required minimum distributions (RMDs). As a reminder, RMDs are withdrawals from tax-deferred retirement accounts such as traditional IRAs. They ... more
“Matt,” a 65-year-old reader of this column, is about to retire with a substantial 401(k). He has never invested on his own, only through his 401(k). Luckily, his pension and Social Security retiremen... more
A reader expressed concern about her parents, who have not shared information about their financial affairs with any of their children. She and her two brothers don’t even know if their parents have w... more