How can I best plan for a tax efficient retirement?For many retirees, even those who have meticulously planned their retirement income, the amount of taxes they are expected to pay may come as an unwelcome surprise. It's understandable. This is a new form of income that they may not be familiar with. "Sometimes they think that because they are retirees, they don't have to pay income taxes. Then they are [...]

we explored retirees’ freedom to choose where to live and what kind of home to occupy, along with the many options they enjoy. As retirees get older, or any time their need for household support and medical care increases, the availability of care becomes a dominant factor in the housing equation. Many people move twice in retirement, first to fit their lifestyle and later to receive needed support and care. [...]

Choosing when to file for Social Security benefits is an important decision, particularly if you expect to depend on your monthly checks for a substantial portion of your retirement income. The age at which you begin claiming benefits has a direct impact on the amount you receive each month. By claiming as early as possible at age 62, you'll receive smaller checks. But if you wait until age 70 to file for [...]

When you've spent decades preparing for retirement, it may feel as if it can't come soon enough. But it's crucial to ensure you're actually ready to retire before you dive in, or else your senior years may not be as enjoyable as you'd hoped. There's no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to choosing the right age to retire. However, there are a few signs that you're ready to start this [...]

Forbes compared more than 750 locales in America, measuring everything from housing costs and taxes to healthcare and air quality. These are the top 25 cities for retirees. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Timur and Pamela Lacey had flown from their Los Angeles-area home to Austin and Atlanta and were planning trips to Dallas, Savannah, Ga., Charleston, S.C., and the Florida Gulf Coast—all in search of a more affordable locale to [...]

There are a lot of misunderstanding about the Social Security rules. Some of these rules are coming into play more than usual during the Covid-19 pandemic, so it’s important to know the rules. A misunderstanding can lead to poor decisions and lower lifetime benefits. When someone is both working and receiving Social Security benefits, there is an earnings test that limits the benefits paid before full retirement age (FRA). Before [...]