Here at the AgingOptions blog, we enjoy reading the common-sense opinions of syndicated financial columnist and podcast host Chuck Jaffe. In a Seattle Times column we first read last fall, Jaffe writes about the haphazard way in which many people select a financial planner, often choosing someone based on little more than casual acquaintance or a friendly voice on … Read more

Among the lessons learned during the COVID pandemic – too often learned the hard way – is the imperative to prepare ourselves for the unexpected. Two years ago, few people could have predicted the upheaval triggered by lockdowns, illness, and, tragically, premature death.  Writing for the Kiplinger financial website, financial planner Ron Brown urges that we use the pandemic … Read more

It may come as a surprise, but there are still a few weeks to go before Medicare Advantage open enrollment finally ends. While open enrollment for regular Medicare happens in the fall, people on Medicare Advantage plans have a second window of time before March 31 to make changes to their coverage. We’ve talked about … Read more

Here at AgingOptions, we totally understand the tendency we all have to procrastinate when faced with something that seems to hard, too time consuming, or too emotionally demanding. It happens to all of us at one time or another. But when it comes to tasks with serious implications – like writing a will – procrastinating … Read more

In the classic film The Wizard of Oz, we all remember Glinda’s iconic question, right? “Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?” But in the story, a good witch and a bad witch were easy to tell apart. In the character’s own words, “Only bad witches are ugly.” But real life isn’t quite so … Read more

Humans have a bad habit of thinking we’re invincible, that nothing can touch us. It’s one reason why we tend to put off doing those important things we know we really should do. But here at AgingOptions, we try to make sure we gently remind everyone that having a plan in place for as many … Read more

For the past several months, there’s one word that seems to have dominated the U.S. financial headlines: inflation. Over the past decade, the specter of inflation had almost seemed to have disappeared, with the annual rate generally fluctuating in the 1.5 to 2.5 percent range. But those controlled rates seem like a thing of the … Read more

We live in an era where technology appears to be taking over. Whether it’s trying to pay for groceries in the self-check line, trying to pay the bill at your local coffee shop, or ordering at a restaurant using a table-top device, things that used to be simple seem to be getting more complicated – … Read more

It’s all too common to hear older adults say, “What’s the point of starting to exercise now? I’d rather not change my routines or start something new.” But new research from a decades-long study coming out of Italy suggests that it’s not too late to start exercising and see real benefits to your physical health, … Read more