Topic: Finances

NPR's Caregiving Series Touches Many

NPR's Family Matters: The Money Squeeze series, that airs each Tuesday on Morning Edition, is about caregiving and multigenerational families. The latest story, the third in a series of eight, profiles the story of Yolanda Hunter's family in print and audio. For the Hunters, what started out as an act of love has become a difficult and costly decision that has no easy solution and brings up many questions of how caregiving impacts our society. Nearly 10 million people over the age of 50 are caring for their aging parents, and the number of caregivers has more than tripled over the past 15 years. Stayed tuned for the rest of these profiles...

Posted on May 1, 2012

Social Security to Pay for Student Loans?

Topics: Education, Finances

Somehow the idea of paying student loans with your Social Security check doesn't seem right. But, new research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that Americans 60 and older have school debts in the range of $36 billion. So it is not uncommon for Social Security checks to be garnished or for debt collectors to harass borrowers in their 80s. Some of the debt is decades old from their college days; others are paying off more recent courses taken to learn new skills. To learn more, click here.

Posted on Apr 3, 2012

For Retirement, 68 is the New 65!

Topics: Finances, Retirement, Work

Yes... another take on what boomers can do to stay financially solvent! As this author asserts, boomers who are closing in on retirement without enough money saved need to keep working. Delaying retirement leaves a worker with fewer years of retirement to finance, more time to save and earn returns, and higher Social Security benefits if they delay taking them. Read more about practical ways to build your nest egg and check out a recent CNBC roundtable discussion on a video within this article called "New Retirement."

Posted on Mar 7, 2012

Take Advantage of Government Benefits

Topics: Benefits, Finances, Health

The National Council on Aging and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging are kicking off a campaign to encourage older people to take advantage of programs for which they are entitled, but were not aware existed. This includes reduced-cost drugs, food stamps, home care aides, transportation programs, help with heating bills, and subsidies that will lower Medicare premiums. A sample of those who have gone to the BenefitsCheckUp website since 2010 shows that more than 70% were eligible for at least one benefit that they were not receiving.

Posted on Feb 22, 2012

Right-Sizing Your Home

Topics: Finances, Lifestyle, Retirement

The premise of this USA Today article is that you don't want to wait until retirement to decide what your housing situation will be when you reach that transition. The advice being offered is to live a "blended life" that includes rightsizing your finances, work, and lifestyle so that you can ease into your future situation and be in better shape financially. An important question posed is when is the right time to sell your home? Read on to find out what you need to ask yourself and understand about the economy to make that decision wisely.

Posted on Feb 22, 2012

What Scares Women 50+ the Most?

Topics: Aging, Finances, Savings

What keeps women age 50+ up at night? Increasing wrinkles? Gaining weight? No! What the author of this article in the Huffington Post actually found to be plaguing mature women is whether they will have enough money to support themselves in their old age. Women traditionally do not make as much money throughout their lives as men...and often receive less Social Security and smaller pensions. Divorce and the death of a husband can create great anxiety To learn ways to keep the fear at bay and take control of the issue, keep reading.

Posted on May 25, 2011

Smart Ways to Raid Your Nest Egg

Topics: Finances, Retirement

If you are a boomer, it's time to start thinking about how you'll convert decades of savings into a lifetime stream of income and to consider which accounts to tap first. Different sources of income have different tax consequences. Withdrawing funds in the most tax-efficient way will not only minimize your tax bill but could also make your savings last longer. To learn how to approach your nest egg with tax implications in mind, click here.

Posted on Feb 16, 2011

Seven Stupid Retirement Myths

Topics: Finances, Retirement

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute's latest retirement confidence survey, half of American workers haven't tried to figure out how much they need to save for retirement. And the survey shows that nearly one-third aren't currently saving; half of those who have saved have less than $25,000. This MSN Money article goes on to explain what myths may be keeping this large number of people from thinking ahead.

Posted on Sep 17, 2010

Tips for Talking Health and Finances with Parents

Topics: Elder Parents, Finances, Health

Sooner or later, adult children need to talk to their aging parents about their medical, financial and legal affairs. You are probably saying to yourself, "How about later?" While it may not be the easiest conversation, the inescapable truth is that the responsibility for parents' care, ensuring that their wishes are carried out, and the disposition of personal affairs will ultimately be yours. Before you choose to wait just a little longer, here are seven tips for successfully approaching these sensitive private matters

Posted on Jul 21, 2010

Planning Ahead for Your Aging Parents

Topics: Aging, Family, Finances

If anyone thinks dealing with aging parents is easy, they haven't been doing it! It is often one of the most difficult challenges people face during their adult lives--and one for which none of us is prepared. Taking away the car keys from an aging father, asking for power of attorney, moving parents to a senior facility...the road from independence to dependence can be truly bumpy. This article provides some proactive ideas to guide you in "parenting your parents" around financial and other issues.

Posted on May 30, 2010

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