Category: Financial and taxes in retirement
September 10, 2012 -- With all the discussion going on about the poor state of most retirees' financial preparation for retirement, it seems like this might be a good opportunity to talk about financial risks in retirement. While we are not financial professionals, we have surveyed the literature to prepare this list for your consideration. While you probably are aware all of these risks, it is always worth considering how they might apply to you one more time.
Background
Data from the Federal Reserve’s 2010 Survey of Consumer Finances found that the typical U.S. household between ages 55 and 64 held just over $45,000 in their tax-exempt retirement plans in 2004. In 2010, after the biggest financial crisis in U.S. history, these plans held only $42,000 (this figure is for all Americans, including folks not in an employer-sponsored savings program). Households headed by a baby boomer age 60 to 62 with a 401(k) plan was more - $149,400 – but not even twice their median annual income of $87,700, according to Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research.
The Big One
The chief financial problem in retirement stems from
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Published on September 10, 2012
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Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
September 4, 2012 -- Weather and climate are important considerations for most people when they think about where they might retire. For some folks, as we have learned, humidity is a four letter word. Winter cold is a scourge for many, while others feel the same way about dust and allergens. Other weather considerations are rain, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, lightning, ice storms, snow, number of days of sunshine. Not exactly weather related, but earthquakes are an issue to worry about too. This short article will provide you with some resources to research the weather wherever you might be considering retiring, so you can make the best
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Published on September 4, 2012
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Category: Family and Retirement
By Shannon Keating, Assistant Editor
September 4, 2012 - I’m a college senior, the oldest in my family of five, and I am lucky enough to have something number of friends do not: a deep and lasting relationship with my grandparents.
Retirement is a new stage of life. Your new lifestyle might be an opportunity to spend more time with your grandchildren, or, particularly if you move far away, it could be a challenge for the relationship. Either way, it is up to you to seize the opportunity if you want a stronger connection with your grandchildren (or niece/nephew/godchild), whether they are toddlers or twenty-year-olds like me.
Not to say that there aren't barriers aplenty. In addition to new
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Published on September 4, 2012
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Category: Downsizing
August 27, 2012 -- Downsizing from your big house in the suburbs could be one the smartest retirement decisions you make. Assuming your children are grown and out of the house, there is usually not much logic in having all of those extra bedrooms to heat, maintain, clean, insure, and pay taxes on. Generally you can sell that big home and use the proceeds to buy an easily maintained and energy efficient smaller home or condo, and still have a considerable sum left over to add to your retirement income. Not to mention
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Published on August 27, 2012
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Category: Adventurous retirement
August 21, 2012 -- You name the activity - from skydiving to learning how to play chess - there is somebody from the Topretirements.com community who wants to do it in their retirement. Ditto for travel - From cruising to Antarctica to taking a train ride across Canada or Europe.
The results are in from last week's poll, with 215 people taking the time to share part or all of their bucket lists with us. We are so excited about your plans - what you folks are planning on doing couldn't be more interesting!
Here in this article we will share
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Published on August 21, 2012
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Category: Retirement Planning
August 20, 2012 -- As we increasingly find out, members and visitors at Topretirements are not typical retirees (actual or future) by any means. Last week's 5 question poll made it clear that you are more prepared to retire, have better resources, and are much more willing to relocate in your retirement than comparable baby boomers nationwide.
The response to our poll was once again fantastic, with almost 400 people taking the time to respond. Your input is incredibly helpful in understanding your retirement concerns and hopes - thanks! This post will provide an analysis of what we learned.
1. What are your top concerns about retirement?
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Published on August 20, 2012
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Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
August 14, 2012 -- We're as guilty as any other website - we just loving creating "Best of" lists about various aspects of retirement. And occasionally we like to poke fun at some of the "best" lists other groups come up with. But this past week saw a new list on the "Best Cities for Successful Aging" that is so fact based that it is hard to criticize. The Milken Institute, a West Coast think tank, has provided by far the most carefully researched and multi-dimensional study we have seen.
The Milken Institute came up with 2 different lists for its Best Cities for Successful Aging Index - Best Large Metros and Best Small Metros. There are 100 "best" metros on each. To develop the lists Milken sorted the Metros on 8 major
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Published on August 14, 2012
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Category: Retirement Planning
August 13, 2012 – As part of our ongoing research into our members’ concerns about retirement, we have just developed a new survey on your retirement plans. Please take this very quick poll and give us your input. Your anonymous inputs will help us develop a future article about retirement…
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Published on August 13, 2012
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Category: Active adult communities
Note: This article provides our 2012 list. Here is where you can go to see the "2014 List of the 100 Best Active Adult Communities"
August 8, 2012 -- The results are in, and Topretirements members and visitors are most interested in exploring active adult communities in Florida, North Carolina, and Delaware. Those 3 states accounted for 60 of the 100 most popular communities. Left in the dust were the 3 next most favorite states - Arizona (8 communities), Texas (7), and Tennessee (5). As was the case with our 2011 List of the Best Active Adult Communities, Sun Belt states achieved near total domination over their colder brethren. (See also: 100 Most Popular Towns for Retirement - 2014).
Florida, the runaway favorite, topped the 2012 list with an amazing 35 communities (it had 40 in 2012). North Carolina improved its showing from 10 to 13 on the 2012 list. Delaware was close on NC's heels with 12 communities on the list - by far the best representation of any non-Sun Belt state.
We take several conclusions away from these results:
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Published on August 8, 2012
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Category: General Retirement Issues
July 31, 2012 - There have been so many interesting articles about retirement lately that we just had to put together in one place for your education and pleasure. Here you go:
Luxury golf communities struggle -some owners selling out for $1
22 Strategies and suggestions to help women get a better retirement
Top 10 places to retire in England
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Published on July 30, 2012
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