Category: Social Security
October 8, 2024 -- With the election coming soon, the issue that most directly affects retired people is the impending Social Security and Medicare funding crisis. If nothing is done, Social Security recipients will face a 20% cut in benefits in 2035, just over 10 years from now. Medicare will run short a few years later. Therefore it is critical to know how each of our presidential candidates would address this urgent crisis.
Both Harris and Trump say they would not cut Social Security or Medicare. (Editor's note: Politically wise, easy and expedient to say, but how are they going to do it?) Here is how the New York Times summarizes the 2 candidates' positions on Medicare and Social Security. After that we have Topretirements poll results and commentary from your editor.
more...
Published on October 7, 2024
Comments 13
Category: Uncategorized
October 7, 2024 -- The votes are in - thank you everyone who took a moment to add your voice! There are several interesting conclusions we can make from the two separate polls we recently conducted, one on your favorite cruise destinations, and the other your pick for the cruise line to get you there. We will detail those results, along with interesting comments, below.
Best Cruise Destinations
We listed 13 possible destinations for you to pick your favorite - either where you've been or want to visit. Other was another option. What we found out is there are a lot of great places to go on a cruise! When it comes to your favorites, a whole bunch of places clustered at the top. If you add all of the possible river cruises we listed, those would be the favorites, getting about 18% of the votes. Those ranged included the Rhine, Danube, other river or barge trip in Europe, plus Mississippi in the U.S. Following those was a close virtual tie for second among Scandinavia/Iceland and Alaska. Australia/New Zealand and South America/Iceland were close behind. Asia came in last place. While the number of votes cast on this poll were disappointing (gentle nudge), we feel like the results are probably pretty reasonable.
more...
Published on October 6, 2024
Comments 3
Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
Updated October 22, 2024 — The stunning devastation from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, so quick in succession, puts an exclamation point on climate and other natural disasters. It would not be crazy to wonder - is there anywhere you retire that is safe. And it's not just hurricanes - the natural disasters that have occurred across the U.S. in recent months are causing a lot of people to reconsider where they retire.
Where is a safe place to retire
Residents of Florida expect hurricanes and their damage, but as people in other states like the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Georgia found out last week, no one is immune from storms like these. What made Helene's damage so bad was that no one was expecting just how serious its impact was. Residents of the Asheville NC area, 500 miles away from the Florida Coast and one of the most popular areas of the country for retirement, are stranded by washed out roads and bridges, flooded infrastructure, and ruined homes. There is no power, fresh water is only available from state, local, and federal emergency supplies, and cell service is limited. Supplies are being brought in by mule trains. At least 57 people were killed in Buncombe County alone, home to the city of Asheville, and no one even knows how many more deaths will be in the final tally. Here is how you can help victims of the storm.
more...
Published on October 2, 2024
Comments 24
Category: Medicare
Sept. 25, 2024 -- The annual Medicare Open Enrollment period starts Oct. 15. This is when people on Medicare can review and change their plans without penalty.
When’s the Medicare Open Enrollment Period?
Every year, Medicare’s open enrollment period is October 15 - December 7.
What’s the Medicare Open Enrollment Period?
Medicare health and drug plans can make changes each year—things like cost, coverage, and what providers and pharmacies are in their networks. October 15 to December 7 is when people with Medicare can change their Medicare health plans and prescription drug coverage for the following year to better meet their needs.
more...
Published on September 25, 2024
Comments 13
Category: Travel
Sept. 24, 2024 — This is our second poll on that ever-popular retirement activity – cruises. Last week we asked you to vote on your favorite cruise line (ocean or river), this week’s is on your favorite cruise destination (where you’ve been or most want to visit). We will report…
more...
Published on September 24, 2024
Comments 4
Category: 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…
more...
Published on September 22, 2024
Comments 9
Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
September 18, 2024 — “What is the worst state for retirement?” This is one of those questions with a frustrating answer – it all depends. Despite what some list you see on the Internet might say, the reality is that while there are many states that would be “worst” for…
more...
Published on September 18, 2024
Comments 7
Category: Travel
Vote Now! September 16, 2024 — Going on a cruise is one of the most popular experiences for retirees of all ages. But there are so many cruise lines, and they go to so many places, river cruises and ocean cruises – which one is the best for you? To…
more...
Published on September 15, 2024
Comments 12
Category: Bucket Lists
A Bucket list trip to Iceland
September 10, 2024– Iceland is both a cold country, and one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world. It is the perfect place for a retirement trip. This giant island country in the North Atlantic attracts tourists from all over the world to experience its many natural wonders. There are many ways for retirees to experience its charms, which we will explore in this article.
About Iceland
This island country, a member of the European Union, is being formed by the separation of the American and European tectonic plates. As they have come apart over the millennia, magma and lava have come out of the earth’s core to form the land. They are still separating at the rate of about 2 centimeters per year - in many places you can stand with one foot in Europe and the other in America.
That land building has created the many sights that people come to experience. There are giant extinct volcanoes to climb, deep blue lakes formed by glaciers and and volcanic activity, immense and intricate lava fields, and gigantic waterfalls. Not to mention a long and beautiful coastline.
more...
Published on September 9, 2024
Comments 2
Category: Financial and taxes in retirement
Sept. 1, 2024 --You could write a best seller on the ingenious ways criminals use to steal money from people, especially those over 60. These crooks capitalize on a sense of trust to drain senior retirement accounts with ploys like asking for help on stamping out corruption, or rescuing a relative or friend in trouble.
Folks 60 and over are often targeted by cybercriminals because they are such a rich source of funds. Among all age groups in 2023, people over 60 lost more than $3.4 billion from scams, according to the F.B.I.
Per the New York Times, retired attorney Barry Heitin lost almost all of his retirement savings, $740,000, to an incredibly complicated scheme. Criminals persuaded him that he was helping out with an important government investigation, so he spent months and many hours draining his accounts, where the money vanished into the black hole of the Internet. What's more, he owed the IRS taxes on his "withdrawals".
more...
Published on August 31, 2024
Comments 5
