Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. A recent study from Marketwatch.com revealed that 80 percent of spouses in the early stages of dementia were still managing the couples’ money. Unfortunately, this means the person who manages the family finances unknowingly may be making serious financial mistakes… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. In 2015, retirees will see a 1.7 percent increase in their Social Security benefits, which translates to an average increase of about $20 a month. Based on the current rate of inflation, this is the third year in a… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. Many times people don’t think about conducting basic estate planning until they’re in their 50s and 60s, believing that it’s a function for people who are older and/or have sufficient wealth. The reality, however, is that nearly every… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. The Social Security Commission estimates that one in four people will live past the age of 90 and one in 10 might live past age 95. If these numbers appear more ambitious than the ones you usually hear, such as… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. For years, employers and the government have encouraged people to save money for their retirement income through tax-deferred vehicles such as an IRA or company-sponsored 401(k) plan. In fact, many employers provide an additional incentive by offering to match a… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. I believe strongly in a regular program of exercise. The benefits are many and speak for themselves. When I was younger I was a runner, until my body clearly let me know how hard it was on my… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. Who takes an emergency cruise? The answer is no one. People book emergency flights all the time — to visit someone ill, attend a funeral, see a new baby or even decide to go on an impromptu vacation. It’s this… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. Last week I read an article in the Wall Street Journal that had several great tips on successful investing. It was titled The Three Mistake Investors Make Over and Over Again and the following is I believe worth passing on.… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. When we talk about inheritances, generally we think first about assets and real property. However, a recent survey found that 86 percent of baby boomers and 74 percent of Americans 72 and older believe that documenting their family history is… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. In the past few months I’ve had a number of inquiries about when is the best time to purchase long term care insurance. Long-term care insurance premiums increase as you get older, but generally you can lock in… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. Starting in 2015, new rules will permit only one rollover per year from one traditional IRA to another traditional IRA. The new provision is designed to discourage IRA owners from taking temporary tax-free loans from their IRAs via multiple rollovers… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. I took a few days off to rest and renew. My Chesapeake Bay retriever Sheba and I were able to enjoy some excellent dove shooting in Mississippi over the labor day weekend. I hope that the attached weekly economic… ...

Greetings I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life! You all know the emphasis I place on financial education and the value of knowledge. I believe that the more you know about the economy and personal finances, the better and easier it is for you to make sound financial… ...

Greetings! I hope this finds you well and in good spirits. Please find the following information on maximizing Medicare. We need to all be prepared to manage this government program to our maximum advantage. After all, you pay for it. One of every three U.S. residents is insured by Medicare… ...

Greetings! I hope this finds you well and in good spirits. I have had a number of clients to downsize their homes recently. I suspect that this trend will continue. The following information will be useful if you plan to downsize or relocate. A recent report found that the residential… ...

Greetings! I hope this finds you well and in good spirits. I saw this article recently on discovering travel cost and thought you might find value in it. We are now fully into the summer travel season. About 41 percent of the U.S. population — approximately 72 million Americans — plan… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. Whether you’re already retired or knocking on the door, one way to potentially maximize your savings, investments and income is to minimize your tax liability. Tax-deferred vehicles are more tax efficient since money can grow without the annual burden of… ...

A common strategy to save for retirement is to allocate funds to a tax-deferred retirement account, such as a traditional IRA, employer-sponsored 401(k) or 4013(b) plan. However, one drawback to saving via these plans is that when you take distributions in retirement, they are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate. This strategy… ...

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life. Please find attached this weeks’ economic and market update. I hope that you will find it useful. I send a weekly update as well as an over view of the month because I believe that the more information… ...

MONTHLY ECONOMIC UPDATE     MONTHLY QUOTE “Variety is the soul of pleasure.” – Aphra Behn      MONTHLY TIP   A finer retirement strategy pays attention to tax implications. Many pre-retirees embark on retirement transitions without studying them.      MONTHLY RIDDLE   An ancient invention (still used the world over)… ...