The Covid-19 pandemic is triggering a retirement rethink for many Americans. A survey by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) found that about half of Americans are now more concerned about their retirement security in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and are considering the possibility of working longer. At the same time, the pandemic has triggered a desire to retire earlier among other survey respondents. After all, Covid-19 has [...]

As her parents grew older, Carol Marak saw how they relied on their three children for care and knew that wouldn’t be an option for her. Without a partner or children, she would have to build a different future for herself. Marak, 69, of Dallas, decided she had to learn as much as possible about how to age without close relatives to lean on. As one prong of that effort, [...]

Do you plan to "retire in place" and stay in your current area, or are you interested in retiring in a different state? In either case, you may want to consult an annual study by WalletHub if retirement is imminent. The study ranked all 50 states using 41 statistical metrics that were weighted and grouped into three major categories important to retirees: affordability, quality of life, and healthcare. You may [...]

Social Security benefits are probably going to be important to your financial security in retirement. But you need a realistic assessment of what they will -- and won't -- do for you. Unfortunately, many Americans either overestimate the financial help Social Security will provide or are too gloomy about the program's prospects. To better understand what you can actually expect, here are five key facts about Social Security you should [...]

How much income will you need in retirement? Here’s an eight-step plan for figuring that out. 1. Start with your current income. As an example, let’s assume you make $100,000 annually. 2. Assume some inflation. No one knows what inflation rates will be between now and your retirement. What we do know is that postage stamps cost 55 cents today. Twenty years ago they cost 34 cents. Thirty-three years ago [...]

A brisk walk around the block several times a week could do wonders to preserve a healthier mind - as well as body - as you age, a new study suggests. In a year-long study conducted by University of Texas, Southwestern, researchers found that middle aged and older Americans scored higher on cognitive tests and were less likely to report memory loss after getting into the habit of walking often.