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Try It NOWCategory: Retirement Planning
Sept 23, 2024 — About a third of people aged 50 or more live alone, according to the AARP. That is a lot of people who can’t rely on a spouse or roommate as they age. So what is their plan going forward? The best advice is to start thinking…
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Category: Retirement Planning
May 29, 2024 - The decade leading up to retirement is crucial for laying the groundwork for a secure and fulfilling retirement. The steps you take in this phase are more important and more complex than you might realize, so spending time and effort now will have have a big payoff in the future.
1. Decide When to Quit Work
Pick a Date: Not everyone has the luxury of deciding when to retire - their employer or health does it for them. That's why it is important to be ready ahead of time. If you are going to retire, or partially retire, plan ahead and set a target that works with your spouse and other criteria. You can always change it, but at least you have an idea to work toward.
2. Financial Planning and Budgeting
Evaluate Retirement Savings: Assess your retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s, IRAs, and other investments. Determine if your savings align with your retirement goals and adjust contributions if necessary. Which accounts will you tap for your living expenses, and in what order?
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Category: Retirement Planning
March 2, 2024 -- To do retirement right, you need all of the great tools you can get. In this article we have assembled our top 10 retirement tools for your consideration. As always, we would love to hear about any helps that you have - please share them in the Comments section below.
Social Security1. SocialSecurity.gov. There is so much good and useful information at the Social Security site. You can find out what your benefits will be, when you can sign up, what your filing options are, etc. You can apply online. Of course you can always visit a Social Security office or call them, but start at the website and you will be amazed with what you can find.
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Category: Retirement Planning
Retirement case study: how 2 urban professionals stay busy
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Category: Financial and taxes in retirement
September 12, 2023 -- Even if you are in your 30's you have probably started the countdown to retirement. Probably with a mix of dread (will I be ready?) and anticipation (can't wait to be free!). No matter what your current age, we've set up a retirement countdown in 10 year periods to help with that. The idea is that by doing the preparation in stages you will be building a solid base, one that will result in an effortless blast off when that retirement finally comes. In our experience the happiest retirees are the ones who planned for it.
R (Retirement) Minus 30.
With 30 or more years before retirement you are lucky to
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Category: Retirement Planning
Sept. 5, 2023 — By now many Topretirements.com Members and visitors are well into their retirement planning, if not already retired. The next generation is coming along now, Gen Xers, folks born between 1965 and 1980. The oldest of the those hit 58 this year, so they are definitely starting…
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Category: Active adult communities
August 24, 2023 -- People in GenX might well be confused about their living options for their retirement. Should they be looking at a retirement, 55+, active adult, active resort, independent living, or assisted living community? At the stage where they are now, which type seems best for their retirement dream?
Not so long ago the choices were a lot more limited. One might stay in their own home until that was too difficult, and then move in with one of their adult children. Nursing homes took care of people who could not take care of themselves. Retirement homes (sometimes referred to as old folks homes) became more popular at some point. One could live there with other seniors and enjoy prepared meals and perhaps some chair based recreational activities.
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Category: Retirement Planning
August 15, 2023 — We have been asked a lot of questions over the 16 years Topretirements has been around. Although our website has changed over time, the inquiries tend to be the same – how do I find things on the site, as well as questions related to the…
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
August 9, 2023 -- It's a question just about everyone thinks about as they reach retirement age, at least to themselves. What is my life expectancy - or, how much longer do I have on this planet as a living being? And, hopefully, will those will be good years, where I can enjoy life and not be a burden to others.
It is not just an idle question. There are plenty of practical considerations in knowing the answer to your life expectancy, or at least knowing the probabilities. For one, when should I take Social Security? If, for example, I know the odds say I will die before age 80 (and the same for my spouse or he/she is a higher earner), then the best bet is to take this benefit at the first opportunity, age 62. Waiting longer will cost me money I will never see.
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Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
July 25, 2023 — We get this question a lot. When people ask, “Where is the best place to retire,” I have a stock answer: “Retirement is a very personal matter. The best place for you might be a terrible retirement destination for me. Before you can make an informed…
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