Retirement Planning Steps for a New Year

I no longer make New Year resolutions. I think a lot of people – me included – use the approach of January 1 to delay doing things that should be done now. However, there are retirement planning tasks that can be done periodically and January 1 is a good time to schedule some of them. Read more

Municipal Bonds and Funds: A Questionable Future

There are plenty of predictions of a negative future for the values of municipal bonds and muni bond funds. Baby boomers who invest in muni bonds for retirement should pay close attention. Read more

Merry Christmas 2010

Everyone arrived at the lake yesterday: Two baby boomers, our three sons, one significant other, and five dogs. The house is decorated and firewood has been gathered. It is cold and a white Christmas is expected across most of Kentucky. Games today, cheese and chocolate fondue tonight, followed by Mass, glasses of “Patterson’s Secret Christmas Punch” and viewing of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

We are very fortunate to be together. I hope that all of you are in a good place this holiday season.

Merry Christmas.

Bank that Payroll Tax Savings

I am generally a low-tax proponent, but recent tax cutting by Congress is getting me a little worried about Social Security. The employee’s portion of the payroll tax has been cut from 6.1% to 4.1%. What can that mean for future retirees? Read more

Will Your Retirement Mean Working Life Phase Two?

If you are a middle class boomer, will your retirement life simply be phase two of your working life? That is a scary question. For a lot of middle class Americans, Wells Fargo has the answer. The data from this year’s Retirement Fitness survey is not pretty. Read more

Free Christmas Gift Shipping Day

It’s crunch time for last minute Christmas shoppers, including me. Tomorrow is the perfect remedy for us – free shipping! Read more

Baby boomer empty-nesters boost spending, not saving

I was surprised – shocked actually – by what I read in a recent Chicago Tribune article about the spending vs. savings trends of baby boomers when they become empty nesters.   Read more

Connecting with Long-Time Friends

This baby boomer had an excellent week, mostly because I was fortunate enough to be contacted by three dear friends from Ithaca High School Class of 1969 whom I have known since the 9th grade. First, a week ago Friday I received a call from Jeff, just to catch up. Jeff and I talk periodically during the year and usually get together at least once. That didn’t happen this year for reasons I will not bore you with but it will happen soon if I can arrange it. Read more

Social Security Retirement Benefit Do-Over is Mostly Gone

Much has been written in recent years about a benefit claim do-over loophole in the rules governing Social Security retirement benefits. Using this loophole, a wealthy retiree could claim and receive benefits at age 62, invest them for several years, withdraw the original application for benefits, then reapply for a larger benefit based on the current age. Read more

The Worst States for Retirement

I enjoy reading lists that rank things of interest to me. You can find many lists that rank locations based on different criteria, including the somewhat nebulous criteria of “retirement.” Read more

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