Blog Retirement Planning

Medicare Open Enrollment for 2022 Begins October 15

By Susan Van Tress / October 14, 2021 / Comments Off on Medicare Open Enrollment for 2022 Begins October 15

Medicare beneficiaries can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period. Each year, Medicare plan costs and coverage typically change. In addition, your health-care needs may have changed over the past year. The Open Enrollment Period — which begins on October 15 and runs through…

Read More

Taking Advantage of Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans

By Susan Van Tress / March 19, 2021 / Comments Off on Taking Advantage of Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans

Employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s are some of the most powerful retirement savings tools available. If your employer offers such a plan and you’re not participating in it, you should be. Once you’re participating in a plan, try to take full advantage of it.  Understand your employer-sponsored plan  Before you can take advantage…

Read More

Time is Running out for the SIMPLE Retirement Option

By Ben Rickey / September 26, 2017 / Comments Off on Time is Running out for the SIMPLE Retirement Option

Time is Running out for the SIMPLE Retirement Option  Are you considering starting a retirement plan for your small business?  Have under 100 people and want to make it easier to get them enrolled?  Then you only have a couple of days left to establish your SIMPLE Retirement plan.  They must be established by October…

Read More

Train for Your Financial Success

By Michelle / August 17, 2016 / Comments Off on Train for Your Financial Success

The 2016 Summer Olympic Games conclude this week in Brazil. Whether or not the athletes walked away with a medal, just getting to the Olympics takes years of hard work and something that’s been called the “Olympic Mind Set”. This mindset includes embracing healthy living, seeking success, and believing in themselves. It also includes a…

Read More

2016 Changes Coming to Social Security and Medicare

By Ben Rickey / December 18, 2015 / Comments Off on 2016 Changes Coming to Social Security and Medicare

The budget bill signed by President Obama in November included significant changes to the Social Security program. The changes have left many pre-retirees scrambling to make sense of the new rules. Here’s a breakdown of some of the changes coming: The Good News *No COLA. Existing Medicare beneficiaries won’t see an increase in their Medicare Part…

Read More

Bad News for Some Medicare Beneficiaries

By Michelle / November 3, 2015 / Comments Off on Bad News for Some Medicare Beneficiaries

According to the Social Security Administration, Medicare Part B premiums will be going up beginning January 1, 2016 for more than 7 million Americans. The reason for this increase has to do with the decision not to do a cost of living increase for social security in 2016. A provision in the law states that…

Read More

Getting the most from your Social Security Benefits

By Ben Rickey / July 20, 2015 / Comments Off on Getting the most from your Social Security Benefits

It can be one of the most important financial decisions you’ll have to make in your life – when to begin taking Social Security retirement benefits.  The years between 62 and 70 can make a world of difference to your financial future and the future of your spouse and heirs. Often, the decision can be…

Read More

Retirement Planning When You Are Debt Heavy

By Ben Rickey / February 5, 2015 / Comments Off on Retirement Planning When You Are Debt Heavy

Student loan debt isn’t just a problem for Millennials in their 20s and early 30s anymore. According to an article by CNBC, senior citizens are debt heavy as well. An analysis by TransUnion shows student loan debt 10 years ago accounted for about 13 percent of total debt carried by people in their 20s. Today,…

Read More

Retirement Planning Doesn’t Need To Be Scary

By Ben Rickey / December 9, 2014 / Comments Off on Retirement Planning Doesn’t Need To Be Scary

Retirement Planning is one of those things that everyone knows they should do, but many fall short in the taking action. This is usually because they simply don’t know where to start. That’s a reasonable concern, but it’s really just a matter of having a framework of understanding as to what comprehensive retirement planning entails.…

Read More

Why Do Women Trail Men in Retirement Planning?

By Ben Rickey / December 2, 2014 / Comments Off on Why Do Women Trail Men in Retirement Planning?

It’s often said that women naturally put others first, which, admirable as it is, can become a problem in terms of their own financial future.  A new study by the ING Retirement Research Institute shows that women, on average, are much less prepared for retirement than men.  Fewer women have formal investment plans in place…

Read More