How Laguna Beach, California, is helping residents age in place

Laguna Beach, California Luciano Lejtman | Moment | Getty Images When most people think of Laguna Beach, California, they think of its scenic coves and beaches. But the small coastal city — with a population of around 22,600 — is also pioneering a new model for elder care. About 77% of adults ages 50 and … Read more

Here’s what happens to your Social Security benefits when you die

Tanya Constantine | Getty Images Once you start Social Security retirement benefits, you are generally guaranteed to receive monthly checks for life. But that will stop once you die — with some exceptions for your loved ones. A one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 may be available, provided your survivors meet certain requirements. For example, … Read more

SSI beneficiaries to receive a cost-of-living adjustment in 2024

Mark Edward Atkinson | Tetra Images | Getty Images What to watch for with ‘two check’ months SSI recipients must comply with strict rules. Individuals have a $2,000 limit on resources they may own such as property, stocks, bonds or bank accounts. For couples, the limit is $3,000. These thresholds have not changed since 1989. … Read more

Here are moves investors can make when the market is soaring, advisors say

Rear view of woman sitting on top of mountain against cloudy sky during sunrise. Simonkr | E+ | Getty Images It was a very good year for the stock market. The benchmark S&P 500 ended the year with a 24.2% gain, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than a 13% this year and and the Nasdaq … Read more

This strategy can help you meet your financial New Year’s resolutions

Young woman counting money. Jose Luis Pelaez Inc As the calendar turns to a new year, many Americans are vowing to change their money habits. To that point, 48% of investors recently surveyed by Allianz Life Insurance Company say they are more likely to make and keep a financial resolution in 2024 to either save … Read more

Women face a retirement savings shortfall. Three ways to close the gap

What begins as a gender wage gap inevitably becomes a significant shortfall by retirement. In the U.S., women who work full time are typically paid about 80 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts. That gap has persisted despite women’s increasing levels of education and representation in senior leadership positions. Women are also still more … Read more

Early retirement is changing — here’s what to consider, according to the experts

Ascentxmedia | Istock | Getty Images Retiring early is a dream for many, but can often appear impossible unless you’ve made millions throughout your career. “Twenty years ago rates of early retirement were fairly similar across different wealth levels,” Heidi Karjalainen, a research economist for retirement, saving and aging at the Institute for Fiscal Studies … Read more

Why 401(k), IRA balances fell for some millennial, Gen X investors

Valentinrussanov | E+ | Getty Images Retirement balances for midcareer workers declined between 2019 and 2022, despite gains on financial assets such as stocks during that period, according to new research. However, the loss isn’t necessarily as bad as it may initially seem, financial experts said. Median combined 401(k) plans and individual retirement account balances … Read more

Most affordable places to retire in 2024

If affordability is a top priority on your retirement destination wish list, you may want to consider Ohio as a potential locale. Youngstown, Ohio, ranks as the most affordable place to retire in the U.S., according to U.S. News and World Report’s November study. The outlet analyzed the 150 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. … Read more