Annuities can be a controversial topic among retirement planners, with some suggesting everyone should have an annuity while others insisting that no one should. As is typically the case, the truth lies somewhere in the middle: in some situations, an annuity can be an ideal solution for guaranteed income in retirement. That’s why we were … Read more

One of the sobering realities for many people in their 40s and 50s is that they’re watching Mom and Dad get older. Seeing our parents age brings with it a host of emotions and raises a flurry of unsettling questions. Will my parents face an imminent health crisis? Are they financially prepared for the future? … Read more

The push by federal and state governments to get in-home COVID tests into the hands of most Americans has been all over the news lately. The effort is unprecedented, as tens of millions of people can expect their test kits to start arriving any day (unless they already have). But there’s one group conspicuously left … Read more

Retirement is typically pictured as a sort of idyllic existence. After decades of the daily grind, you finally put down the briefcase or the tool belt and pick up the golf clubs, tennis racket, and sun screen for years of carefree bliss. Well…that might be the situation for some. But if you’re a regular reader … Read more

When people use the word “retirement,” they often speak of it as if it were a singular event, one phase toward the end of a long and productive life. But these days, as Americans are living decades longer than they did a century ago, retirement can last for thirty years or more – and, as this … Read more

Philosopher Descartes may not have known exactly how true his words were when he wrote, “I think, therefore I am.” But new findings from Oregon State University’s College of Public Health and Human Services have shown a strong link between the belief that you are aging and the manifestation of real effects of aging in your body. … Read more

Complete this sentence: “The key to living a longer, healthier life is                            .” You might have said, “staying physically active,” or “getting plenty of rest,” or “maintaining a healthy weight.” Those are all good answers, but as we read this fascinating article from the Washington Post, written by reporter Matt Fuchs and originally published last summer, we learned … Read more

Here at the AgingOptions blog we appreciate articles that provide a fresh twist on familiar information. Sometimes it’s that unique perspective that finally breaks through our common human tendency to procrastinate or become complacent about important advice we know we should be following. That was our reaction to this Kiplinger article by contributor Josh Monroe listing what he calls … Read more

The news last fall took a lot of people by surprise: the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, announced that the premium for Medicare Part B would jump in 2022 from $148.50 to $170.10 – a hike of over 14 percent. This boost, according to this late-November CMS press release, was being attributed to several … Read more

The United States of America is the wealthiest and most prosperous nation that has ever existed, based on just about any definition of prosperity we can devise. For a large country like ours, most citizens are reasonably secure and well-off, or so we like to believe. If that’s true, then the words of Joe Hipsky, … Read more