According to Merrill, four of the most common risks to your retirement strategy are:1 A significant market drop shortly before or early in your retirement Inflation reducing your spending power over time Unexpected medical and/or long-term care expenses Outliving your assets If you are nearing retirement, it might be time to review your current financial…

As we enter a new year, it’s time to start thinking about smart tax moves to help minimize what you’ll owe Uncle Sam on April 15, 2020. Given the fact that the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into effect only last year, taxpayers are still learning the ins, outs and potential undiscovered advantages…

If you’ve been lucky enough to receive employer-subsidized health insurance throughout your career, retirement may be a bit of an eye-opener. Many retirees expect Medicare to cover all their health care expenses, but it doesn’t. You’ll pay a premium for comparable coverage, plus you may have to contribute to deductibles and copays throughout the year.…

The financial hardships of the Great Recession forced many people to start thinking outside the box. The “sharing economy” gained popularity in the late 2000s because it provided more affordable means to travel, maintain homes and access piecemeal work for small businesses. This was the beginning of Airbnb, Uber and other community-based platforms that enable…

It’s not just fine wines that get better with age. We also are always improving — growing more confident over time, having met challenges and overcome them. Our decision-making gets easier. We develop coping mechanisms to handle stress. And we grow wiser. Our knowledge and experience accumulate as a strong foundation we continue to build…

Here’s an idea for restless young adults and adventurous retirees alike: Get paid to live in Italy. The region of Molise, east of Rome, has more than 100 underpopulated villages that are fading away due to migration to larger cities. These communities — some are walled, medieval towns set among olive groves and green pastures…

Married or single, women are finding that taking an active role in their financial futures is critical. About 80% of married women outlive their husbands, and nearly half of all widows say they wish they’d been more involved in managing their finances when their spouse was alive.1 Whether you have a career or rely on…

As we head toward the end of the year, consider maxing out your contributions on tax-advantaged accounts to help manage your 2019 return. While some accounts, such as an IRA or Health Savings Account (HSA), allow you to continue making contributions up until April 15, 2020, most payroll-deduction plans such as a 401(k) will stop…

According to the United Nations, across the globe, people older than 65 now outnumber children under five for the first time in history. In 1960, the average woman gave birth to five children in her lifetime; by 2017, that ratio had dropped to 2.4 children per woman. Meanwhile, our life expectancy has increased around the…

According to the United Nations, across the globe, people older than 65 now outnumber children under five for the first time in history. In 1960, the average woman gave birth to five children in her lifetime; by 2017, that ratio had dropped to 2.4 children per woman. Meanwhile, our life expectancy has increased around the…