Discover the Best Insights for Every Stage of Retirement

2025 Social Security COLA Estimate Drops Again

The final Social Security COLA estimate for 2025 has dropped slightly from the previous estimate....

Medicare Advantage Customers Face Shrinking Pool of Insurers

Medicare Advantage plan insurers are reducing their enrollments as profit margins shrink....

How to Protect Your 401(k) in a Down Market

If your 401(k) balance nosedives in a down market, use these four strategies to safeguard your funds....

9 Mental Shifts Required for a Successful FIRE Journey

When I retired at 42 in 2021, I discovered the concept of Financial Independence Retire Early, also known as FIRE. Even though I had already reached financial freedom, understanding the mindset behind...

Avoid Costly Repairs: 20 Kitchen Sink No-Nos You Must Know

Many homeowners don’t realize how much damage common kitchen waste can cause to their plumbing. A small clog might seem harmless at first, but it can quickly turn into a serious problem. As a la...

Cuts to Social Security Benefits Could Top $21,000 for High-Income Couples

Benefits will be slashed 21% starting in 2033 if Social Security is not fixed, according to a new report. This is how much you could lose in annual benefits....

COVID Disrupted Schools’ Role as Funnel for Federal Aid

The Supplemental Security Income program supports more than 1 million disabled children nationwide. Poor and low-income families receive monthly cash payments of up to $943 to help with their care. In...

The Yield Curve is Un-Inverting and Why It Matters

The yield curve is a graph that plots the yields of bonds that have the same credit quality but across ... Read more...

My gigantic belly in retirement!

So. I am 61. I’m not even full-time retired, I’m part-time since February! Yes, I’m moving around much less. But a good friend told me that I’m fat and I need to lose weight. I...

Beware Of Financial Imposters On WhatsApp, Other Social Media

There’s been a dramatic twist in online imposter scams....

Bumped Into An Illegal Immigrant And It Could Have Been Costly

Like millions of others, I watched with intrigue the first—and potentially only—Donald Trump and Kamala Harris presidential debate. One of the most important topics discussed was illegal i...

Good And Bad News For Those Whose Part D Drug Costs Skyrocketed Recently

It’s that time of year when many of those who have Part D prescription drug coverage experience sticker shock....

Need encouragement - one way or another

So we're beginning our descent towards retirement. Hit our number(s) and are satisfied (as anyone can be) with our projected financial future (thank you New Retirement/Boldin). I'm ostensibly holding ...

Get the New "Medicare & You" Handbook for 2025

Here's how to get a free version of the "Medicare & You" handbook and learn about upcoming Medicare changes....

Saving to Be a 401(k) Millionaire? Plan for Taxes Now

Your tax bite in retirement could be excruciating. Here's why super savers need to get serious about protecting themselves....

Considering a 721 Exchange? Adopt a Buyer Beware Mindset

Having a tax-smart exit strategy for your real estate investment is a great idea, but if a 721 exchange is part of your plan, here's what you need to consider....

Your First Look At 2025 Tax Rates: Projected Brackets, Standard Deductions And More

Inflation-adjusted amounts in the tax code are expected to increase by 2.8% from the 2024 numbers—about half the increase that taxpayers saw in 2024....

In The Struggle For Public-Sector Workers, Pensions Help

As government employers continue to struggle to recruit and retain employees, data make it clear that pensions help foster public service careers....

Beyond Financial Independence: Money Irrelevancy

Have you heard the analogy that money is like oxygen? When you have enough, you don't think about it at all. That's when money is irrelevant. The post Beyond Financial Independence: Money Irrelevancy ...

Veterans: Relieve Stress & Inform Your Family About Your VA Benefits

More than 6 million Americans receive earned benefits for military service - including disability compensation, education benefits, caregiver assistance, burial benefits and more. It is critical for s...

Navigating the Digital Divide: Assessing the Web Accessibility of ABLE Program Websites for Persons With Disabilities

Abstract This study investigates the accessibility of websites for the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program for people with disabilities, which is critical for ensuring individual...

Medicare Data Breach Impacts Almost 1 Million Subscribers

Following the Medicare data breach, you can continue to use your existing Medicare card; beneficiaries with compromised Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers will be sent a new card with a new number....

Some Social Security Recipients Won't Get a Payment in September (and That's OK)

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10 Ways Millionaires (Legally) Keep Their Taxes Down in Retirement

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Lean Private Practice: A Sustainable Model in a Changing Healthcare Landscape

The private practices that'll thrive in the future are ones that think differently and innovate. The idea of lean private practice is key. The post Lean Private Practice: A Sustainable Model in a Chan...

August 2024 FIRE Update

Hey everyone! Summer is over. Our son is back in school and the weather is turning cooler. It’s nice and quiet at home again. Ahhh… August was a tough month ... Read more The post August ...

Five December 31 Tax Deadlines for Retirees

The end of the year will be here before you know it, so it might be a good idea to start thinking soon about what you need to do for taxes before it arrives....

What my dad is teaching me about retirement

I'm in my mid-50s. My dad is in his early 80s. My mom passed away several years ago and my brother last year, so it's just me and my dad now. What have I learned? There's early retirement and later re...

Long distance move, late in the game

Hello everyone! My husband and I are in our early 60s (him) and late 50s (me). He is looking at retiring from his company in about 5 years. We have lived in the same area in the south for the entire 3...

navigating first year of retirement

I retired in my late 50s as the university I was working for here in the UK had massive financial problems. They offered buyouts, so I took one...the alternative was taking a pay cut and having many m...

Handling vacation property in retirement

I am newly retired (June 1 2024), so am still figuring it out. I am the 3rd generation owner of a 'camp' in Maine, by inheritance. It is only useable about 3-4 months a year, roughly mid-May to mid-Se...

How Retirement Withdrawals May Affect Your Tax Bracket

Learn how retirement withdrawals impact your tax bracket and explore strategies to minimize tax hits on your income during retirement....

2024 Year End Estate Planning: Are You Ready?

You may need to take action before 2024 year-end to protect your estate plan: avoid reciprocal trust & step transaction doctrines, file for the Corporate Transparency Act...

Temporary Rent Assistance Promotes Job Stability

Critics of temporary rental assistance argue that it gives people the financial leeway to work less. But that was not the case for low-income workers in Chicago. The workers, who received up to $1,000...

How Applying the Kelly Criterion Can Benefit Your Financial Investments

If you’ve ever wondered how to find the right balance between risk and reward in sports betting or financial investments, the Kelly Criterion might just be the answer. Developed by John L. Kelly...

Reader Case: Canadian making USD

FIRECracker got me in a reader case mood, so I thought I’d get in on the fun too! Here we go! Can I start off with THANK YOU for providing your investment workshop for free. It’s so refres...

Retirement is 'Comfortable' for Three in Four Americans, Survey Finds

In a snapshot survey of views on retirement in the U.S., three in four retirees say they have enough money to live comfortably. Will you be able to say the same?...

Time Is Precious: Rekindling Relationships Is Now a #1 Priority

Around 14 years ago, one of my closest friends told me he had been diagnosed with colon cancer. I was shocked by the news but he didn’t seem any different and I knew he’d be just fine. Aft...

Getting Paid to Not Understand It

I'm tired of the financial scammers. A few months ago John Oliver did a great show on how these scammers operate what is known as pig butchering. A typical pig butchering scam works as follows. First,...