Throughout your career, you’ve taken a vow to protect and serve your community. And as you near retirement, you want to know you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the benefits you’ve worked hard to earn. In fact, 88 percent of public sector employees find their retirement benefits extremely important, compared to only 65 percent of private-sector employees.1  But in an effort to find success in retirement, there are a [...]

Take a moment and make a list of all the expenses you'll have in retirement. It's not easy, is it? There are a lot of them, and they're not always easy to predict. Most people remember the basics, like food, housing, and transportation. But far too many people are forgetting about the three expenses listed below. Most retirees will still have to pay taxes, unless they've stashed all their savings [...]

Many people look forward to their retirement for years. However, once it begins, they may find all the newfound free time overwhelming. If you’re planning on retiring soon, having a plan for how you’ll spend your time is important for your health and happiness. Here are five ideas for staying mentally and physically active, as well as engaged in your community: 1. Start a walking meet-up: Host a morning walking [...]

Riverhead’s identical twin police officers are retiring this week after more than three decades of police work together. Lt. David Lessard and Sgt. Thomas Lessard will walk out of Riverhead Police Department Headquarters for the last time as sworn officers Friday afternoon. The brothers chose to retire on the same day, though Dave started on the job in January 1988, a year before Tom. “My brother actually signed me up [...]

Our economy is driven by demand. Demand is driven by people, and people make markets. This is a core belief in how we build, manage, and monitor our portfolios. So, as we look forward to September and the rest of this year, we’re exploring some essential mindsets that can be beneficial to keep in mind, recent market events, and how to react to them. Demanding Dividends There's a big difference [...]

If you are a wartime Veteran who meets certain income, net worth, age or disability requirements, or you are a surviving spouse, then you may be eligible for VA’s pension benefits. But did you know that VA’s Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits, or enhanced pension, can boost your pension payments? If you need help with daily activities, or if you are housebound, you may qualify for an increased monthly pension.