For someone just retired, a thought might be to move closer to children or grandchildren now that the job no longer is a factor. This can be a compelling idea, particularly as one thinks about spending more time with others. Another thought would be that living close to relatives provides a source of care when that is needed. Before pulling the trigger and making that move, it is wise to review living costs both where […]

The hurricane season runs from June through November each year. However, much like deer do not always cross at deer crossing signs, hurricanes do not limit themselves to just these months. There is also a known correlation between the solar cycle of sunspots and the intensity of hurricanes, and the next solar maximum will occur next year. Given we are in the midst of the 2023 hurricane season, this is the time for those living […]

What do the companies Vonage, Epic Games, and Amazon have in common? All have been fined by the Federal Trade Commission for dark patterns that went afoul of FTC rules against websites that misdirect, or otherwise result in charges for which the consumer did not intend to make. Epic Games (the company that makes Fortnite) and Amazon were both taken to task for offering free applications, but which contained in-app purchase capability in ways that […]

When I get a new older adult client, more often than not, their finances are a mess. There are missed payments, accounts that have gone to collections, a large spend of assets, bounced checks and more. These are people who tell me (or family tell me) that they were always on top of their finances, had a good credit rating and never had credit card balances or bounced checks. The difference between an easy resolution […]

Married couples looking to retire, or already in retirement, may be living comfortably on income from both spouses. Planning for the post-retirement years often involves reviewing what the income will be as a couple in retirement. However, what will the financial situation be after one spouse (often the husband) passes away? Sources of Income For The Couple Another source, particularly for younger retirees, is the 401(k) or an IRA created by rolling over 401(k) money. […]

Have you been named to be an Executor (or Executrix) in someone’s Will? If so, do you have any idea of what you’ve signed up for? At a high level, you probably know that it means going through all of the deceased’s worldly possessions and distributing them the way they wanted. But it is more than that. I’ll let a fictional friend, Sandra, describe her experience of being an Executrix for a cousin. Prepare The […]

As we parent our children, we only have so much time to spend with them. And we all want them to turn out well as independent adults once they leave home and set out on their own. It makes sense to spend time with children on the topics that will make them good adults later in life. One of those areas that can make a big difference is teaching about money management. Financial Literacy Improves […]

Now that we are beyond the most difficult days of Covid, we have returned to a level of living that looks more like the days before Covid than the past two years. At that time, I was recommending that people handle money management by having an Emergency Fund, tracking Income and Expenses to see how to live in a way that leaves some money left over at the end of the month, and encouraging Investment […]