The income ranges, adjusted annually for inflation, determine which tax rates apply to you Even though we’re still in the 2022 tax year, and you filed your 2021 tax returns back in April, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “Gosh! I wonder what the tax brackets are...
Surprisingly, some things are bargains today — but not many Remember 1972? Richard Nixon was president, the Oakland Athletics were on the way to winning the first of three consecutive World Series and All in the Family was the number 1 television show. Still, what you...
Whether you opt for a real or a faux one, expect to pay 5 to 15 percent more this holiday season Christmas tree prices, whether for faux or real ones, are rising this holiday season as inflation spills over into decorations. How bad? Expect to pay anywhere from 5 to...
Economic downturns are inevitable. Here’s how to protect your retirement nest egg Is the U.S. in a recession? The media was filled with speculation after the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) announced that the nation’s economy had contracted in the first...
If these actions sound familiar, you may want to make some changes If worrying about running out of money in retirement is keeping you up at night, you aren’t alone. Untold numbers of older adults have that concern, and for good reason. Inflation is soaring, gas...
Limits adjusted higher for soaring inflation A 401(k) plan is a great way to increase your retirement savings. Your employer will deduct your pretax contributions from your paycheck, and your savings will be tax-deferred until you take withdrawals during retirement....
The answer requires a realistic look at your savings and spending Inflation is soaring and the stock market is falling, putting a wrench in many people’s retirement plans. That’s particularly true of those gearing up to retire this year. Instead of planning their...
How to prepare for those rare occasions when a large sum falls into your lap For most of your life, money comes in at a slow and somewhat steady pace. Maybe you get a paycheck every two weeks or a Social Security payment once a month. Now and then you might get a bump...
Answers to your most pressing questions about the rising cost of living — past, present and future Prices crept up, then surged higher in the first half of this year. In June, the consumer price index rose to become 9.1 percent higher than it had been a year earlier —...
Your needs are unique if you are divorced, widowed or never married Ah, the single life. You can do as you like. There’s no need to deal with a spouse who has opposing views, a different vision of retirement. A spouse who spends too little or too much, or has...
Older adults are concerned about the impact of inflation on Social Security retirement benefits. Americans have real concerns about being able to make ends meet with Social Security retirement income, even as many admit they have not done much financial planning for...
You’ll be retired by this time next year. Here’s what to do now You’ve scrimped and saved and planned for decades, through good times and bad. Now your goal is to retire in this uncertain environment, perhaps in the next year — even though the last six months have...
What’s the price of happiness in your state? Can money buy happiness? According to a recent Purdue study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, income can correlate with emotional well-being and life satisfaction. “Globally, we find that satiation...
Sometimes the writing is on the wall Retirement may seem untenable with inflation soaring and gas prices skyrocketing, but for some older adults, hanging on to their job can cause more harm than good. Sure, you still have money coming in, but at what price to your...
A long and happy retirement takes more than just money. Here are seven things happy retirees do – besides dutifully saving the money they’ll need to quit the 9-to-5 grind. Retirement planning is all about numbers. It centers around one question: Do my financial assets...
Coronavirus scams keep coming as fraudsters follow the headlines The COVID-19 pandemic continues to fuel a parallel outbreak of coronavirus scams, many targeting older Americans. As of mid-June, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had logged nearly 754,000 consumer...
With no spouse and no children, she’s looking elsewhere for backup The Problem Elizabeth Spiegler, 68, a retired office manager in New York City, was thinking ahead. She wrote me wondering who could handle her financial affairs if someday she can’t....
Talking about who will control your assets is tricky; doing it slowly may help My husband and I have never told our adult children, now in their mid-30s, how much money we make, how much we have tucked away and how much we spend in a year. But after talking with more...
A long and fulfilling retirement takes more than just money. Here are seven things happy retirees do – besides dutifully saving the money they’ll need to finally quit the 9-to-5 grind. Retirement planning is all about numbers. It centers around one question: Do my...
The reality of quitting work can be far different from the fantasy. Here’s what you need to know Even if you love your job, there are times when you’d rather be alphabetizing the spice shelf than riding a packed train alongside hundreds of sniffling fellow...
