Category: Singles and Retirement
Oct. 7, 2023 -- Who says people in retirement are too old for love? The Golden Bachelor, a new spinoff on ABC from the popular Bachelor series, has many seniors glued to their TV sets. Community centers are hosting viewing parties, where folks watch, cheer, speculate, and gossip together.
The New York Times reported on three girlfriends at a New Jersey who attended a viewing party for The Golden Bachelor, a handsome fellow of a certain age. They had different takes on the featured bachelor, Gerry Turner, a widowed 71 year old from Indiana. One woman in her late 70's thought Mr. Turner was "too young" for her, but Toni Plugh, 68, commented that he was "right up her alley".... except, that she already has a husband. Her 73 year old friend, also married, agreed, except she joked that after 50 years, she was ready for a change.
more...
Published on October 7, 2023
Comments 14
Category: Medicare
October 5, 2023 -- The Biden administration announced that 10 drugs will negotiate Medicare price to lower prices in the future. Several of them complained of being " forced” to sign on; but all will participate to avoid penalties if they do not agree to negotiate prices.
The White House predicts that the ten drugs selected for negotiation meant $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs for an estimated 9 million Medicare enrollees in 2022, and would save the government about $100 billion over a decade. The negotiations were authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed without any Republican votes.
more...
Published on October 4, 2023
Comments 4
Category: Active adult communities
Sept. 26, 2023 -- When it comes to the best selling communities in Florida for 2023 many of the usual suspects, like The Villages, are pretty obvious. But within the top 10 there were plenty of surprises too, with some communities, like Westlake and Wellen Park, not previously on Topretirements radar.
Master planned communities might be a foreign term to some people. They are large-scale, mixed-use residential developments that try to approximate the experience of living in a self-contained town. They usually have amenities like parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses and more. Many master planned communities are aimed at 55+, while others are aimed at families or even singles. Some of those have 55+ neighborhoods within them. Some claim to be New Urban Style communities.
These are the best selling communities in Florida
No surprise - The Villages on top as a best selling master planned community in Florida.
The Villages in Central Florida was the hottest selling master planned community in Florida in 2023, according to a survey by Real Estate Consulting (RLCO). With 150,000 residents, this ever expanding community has both resales and new homes. The average home here sells for more than $400,000. It has an almost endless array of amenities with dozens of golf courses and hundreds of pickleball courts. Plus 3 central shopping and entertainment centers. RLCO reported 1,960 sales so far in 2023.
more...
Published on September 25, 2023
Comments 4
Category: Uncategorized
September 19, 2023 - Quick - What is the maximum Social Security benefit in 2023? $2810/mo., $3035/month, $4193/mo., or $4,555/mo.? And, how much is the average benefit? If you guessed $4,555 as the highest benefit, which amounts to $54,660 a year, you are correct. Compared to the average 2023 recipient's payment of $1,827, that is an amazing difference!
So what is driving this $2,728 per month disparity? The answer is a combination of 3 big factors.
The first is that the Agency uses your highest 35 earning years to calculate your benefit. If you had zero or very low earnings in some of those years, that will knock down your benefit.
more...
Published on September 18, 2023
Comments 5
Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
January 18, 2023 -- Is Cape Cod a good place to retire? Yes, it is definitely one of the most popular places to retire on the East Coast. Almost a quarter of million people live year round on Cape Cod, and about a fourth of those are people over 65. A short visit will quickly show a multitude of reasons why this sandy hook on the Massachusett coast attracts so many retirees. It is a magical place - every time I go there it seems like the world slows down, gets sunnier, and is more peaceful.
My friend Jeff's retirement in Dennis, Mass. is a fairly typical story. He has known for a long time that Cape Cod is a good place to retire. His family had owned a cottage here for over 60 years, so when it came time to retire from his busy job, it was an easy decision to do an extensive renovation of their Cape Cod home in Dennis, and sell the main home near Springfield, MA. He and his wife could not be happier with the decision. They are a short walk to a sandy beach on the Bay, and can easily drive to freshwater ponds for refreshing swimming. Golf is terrific here, with courses like The Captains Table, Dennis Pines, Dennis Highlands, Cranberry Valley, and many others. Some courses are municipal, some public, and there are exclusive private golf clubs too. Fishing, boating, antiquing, are all popular activities on Cape Cod.
more...
Published on September 17, 2023
Comments 5
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
more...
Published on September 12, 2023
Comments 3
Category: Medicare
Sept. 8, 2023 -- The number of people using Medicare has grown steadily as baby boomers become eligible. But defying predictions, spending per Medicare recipient has levelled off, which brings unexpected good news for U.S. taxpayers.
Speaking with the New York Times, Harvard professor David Cutler said: "WIthout a doubt, this is the most important thing that has happened to the U.S. budget in the last 20 years". According to an Upshot analysis, spending was $3.9 trillion less than expected between 2010 and 2020.
Many reasons for it
There is no shortage of possible reasons why Medicare spending is lower than predicted. Some of it comes from reductions in payments to providers from the Affordable Care Act and a 2011 congressional budget deal. Medicare Advantage plans are part of that.
more...
Published on September 8, 2023
Comments 6
Category: Home and Garden
Sept. 7, 2023 -- Driving is one of life's great necessities, and for many, one of its top pleasures. The feeling of freedom that comes with getting one's driver's license is hard to forget. At the other end, losing that license to old age or infirmity can be a crushing blow. Just about every American retiree has a car to attend to life's necessities, as well as to enjoy activities and travel. In this article we will make the case that, particularly for retired people, the next car should be some kind of electric vehicle.
Electric Vehicle (EV) sales are taking off in the U.S. and in many countries of the world. In 2021 EV sales represented 3% of all U.S. sales, but they are expected to hit 13% in 2023. The target in Norway is 100% of the market by 2025, and China and other European markets are not far behind. Car companies are frantically trying to come up with new models and improve the ones they have.
more...
Published on September 6, 2023
Comments 21
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…
more...
Published on September 5, 2023
Comments 2
Category: Financial and taxes in retirement
August 31, 2023 -- One of the more common predicaments in the retirement world comes when an organization offers a retirement buyout package to a long standing employee. Many times Topretirements has been asked for advice on this topic, which usually came from someone whose employer is a government entity (state, university, local police department).
Honestly, it is a very tough decision to make, with a number of factors to consider. Ultimately each individual has to make their own decision based on that totality of factors, ideally mixed with input from professional advisors and family members.
more...
Published on August 30, 2023
Comments 7
