This piece comes from Scott Allen who is now five years into enjoying his retirement and pursuing more active work and service opportunities. My retirement did not go according to plan.“Involuntarily separated from the organization” was the official, legal term for my then, current, employment situation. “Smoked, like a Hormel canned ham” was how my…
News, Information and Guidance
You might be surprised by how many people are interested in learning about reverse mortgages. There are borrowers from every state, from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and the ages of borrowers range anywhere from 62 to 95 and older and everything in between. One thing everyone struggles with is when is the best…
You might be nervous about your future but research suggests that you should run — not walk — toward retirement. Get ready to retire because the best times of your life await you. Most People Find that Retirement is the Happiest Period of Life Research from Age Wave and Merrill Lynch found that, of all…
Most of us could benefit from cutting retirement costs. Now is the time to really know what you are spending and assess your budget. When living on a fixed income in retirement, it is very important to make sure that your income does not exceed expenses. Living more frugally can be done no matter your…
From improving cashflow to curing loneliness or installing a whirlpool bathtub, there are unlimited ways that people can use a reverse mortgage to improve their lives in retirement. A reverse mortgage allows individuals age 62 and older to convert a portion of their home equity into tax-free loan proceeds. This money can be used for…
If you want to stay in your home and either increase your financial flexibility or improve your everyday cash flow, then you should consider a reverse mortgage. If you decide that the loan is interesting, then you probably want to know how to get the best reverse mortgage. Follow these 7 steps to the best…
The best retirement investments depend entirely on you and your goals. Don’t dive into anything or let anyone tell you how to invest unless they understand how much money you have and what your goals are for that money. When will you need or want it? What will you spend it on? You have so…
Here is some good news: you don’t necessarily need $1 million dollars for a successful retirement. So, what you do need? We did a little digging and here are 8 important skills that will enable you to achieve financial security, health and the best retirement possible. Find out if you have the skills… to pay…
In following up with consumers who have visited NewRetirement’s Reverse Mortgage Calculator, it seems that an alarming number of people have a mistaken impression about who owns the home after a Reverse Mortgage has been set up. A Reverse Mortgage can enable you to access extra cash and feel the freedom of owning your home…
Did you know that you can use a reverse mortgage for purchase of a new home? It’s true. It is very popular for seniors to use reverse mortgages to transform equity in their homes into cash without burdening themselves with monthly payments or risking foreclosure. However, it is less known that in 2008, the US…
On this page you’ll find lots of information about reverse mortgages, a link to our reverse mortgage calculator, and examples of reverse mortgage calculations. Use this guide to reverse mortgage calculations to help understand: How Much Money Can I Get from a Reverse Mortgage? Understanding Reverse Mortgage Calculations Why Isn’t My Reverse Mortgage Loan Amount…
Most of us are pretty stressed by the need to give our savings a big boost as we approach retirement. Guess what? There is actually a relatively little known retirement savings strategy that can really help: Catch up contributions. Catch up contributions are the IRS’s way of making it easier for savers age 50 and…
Read on to find out “How do you qualify for a reverse mortgage?” Qualifying for a Reverse Mortgage is relatively straightforward. The requirements are clearly specified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Reverse Mortgages are an increasingly popular loan type for older adults. The loan enables the borrower to eliminate monthly mortgage…
Your house is your: Home. Heart. Hopes. Dreams. Legacy. Wealth. Future. So, the decision to get a reverse mortgage is not something to take lightly. They can sound almost too good to be true but getting a reverse mortgage is a huge financial decision. So, how do you know if a reverse mortgage is right…
One of the most frequent questions from pension recipients is: “Our employer gives us a choice of either a pension or a lump sum when we retire. Which is better?” You will have to get out a pencil and hand calculator to find the better choice, and it’s dependent on a lot of factors. Here…
Retirement is one of the biggest things you will ever do. And, how to retire well is the big question. If you want to know how to retire, here are 19 important things you should do just before and after you retire for a happy and secure future: 1. Create, Maintain and Evolve Your Retirement…
Many people are concerned about the costs associated with a Reverse Mortgage, as well as the impact interest rates have on both how much can be borrowed now and the future balance owed. However, if you want or need equity from your home, are not willing to relocate to a smaller home, don’t want to…
Tom Selleck By Alan Light [CC BY 2.0] Wikimedia Commons If you watch TV at all, you have probably seen a commercial featuring Tom Selleck talking about reverse mortgages. No matter what he is saying, there is something about his voice and direct gaze that really does pull you in. In one spot, he is…
John Bogle died on Wednesday. He was the founder of the Vanguard Mutual Fund group. However, his real legacy is not in how he built a $4.9 trillion investment company but rather how he led a new way of thinking about retirement investing. Want to be a successful investor?Just buy the haystack (and thank John…
There are a lot of hurdles to overcome when figuring out how to retire early — before 65. However, early retirement health care is one of the most challenging. Medical care is going to be expensive no matter when you retire, but the picture is more serious for those who retire early, by choice or…
The maximum reverse mortgage lending limit is increasing for 2019, allowing retirees with substantial home equity to get more money than was available in previous years. Reverse mortgage lending limits to remain high. A reverse mortgage enables homeowners age 62 and older to access their home equity in the form of a loan. Unlike a…
The only people you NEED to tell about your decision to get a reverse mortgage are those who are living in your home with you. However, there are many benefits to sharing your decision with other family members — especially potential heirs. Here are 5 reasons why you might want to talk to your loved…
We at NewRetirement are happy to announce delivery of some of the most requested retirement planning features: a printable report and downloadable data. PlannerPlus subscribers can now use PlannerPlus Reporter to: Download your retirement plan data into a spreadsheet for your own custom analysis Print a personalized report to peruse on your own or with…
For many people, a Reverse Home Mortgage is a good way to increase their financial well-being in retirement – positively affecting quality of life. And while there are numerous benefits to the product, there are some drawbacks — reverse mortgage disadvantages. Reverse Mortgages are providing improved financial security, a better lifestyle and real financial relief…
Saving money is hard enough. No one wants more bills to pay, especially when you’re on a fixed or limited income.But insurance is something of a necessary evil. And certain insurance plans can help you live out your golden years as worry-free as possible — a worthy investment in your well-deserved break from workaday reality….
Can a reverse mortgage line of credit provide financial security? A reverse mortgage line of credit is exactly what it says it is… It is a line of credit on a reverse mortgage. Mmmm… that doesn’t really clear it up at all, does it? Reverse mortgages can be difficult to understand. We’ll break it down…
Data from the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) suggests that Baby Boomers are pretty busted and busted up about their retirement prospects. Boomers have made some big retirement planning mistakes — even beyond giving away their record collections. (You didn’t really do that, did you?) The results of the IRI survey reveal that many Boomers have…
One of the best ways to celebrate retirement is with a retirement party. Retirement is a huge milestone and a great reason to celebrate. Throw a party for yourself, get a friend to do it for you. Celebrate a friend or family member with the best party planning ever! The Big Takeaways… When planning someone’s…
Reverse mortgages have been commonly viewed as a last resort that should be avoided like the plague. This false “loan of last resort” reputation reduces reverse mortgage use among many retirees who stand to benefit from tapping into their home equity. However, several recent developments have transformed these products into viable financial planning tools. New…
For some homeowners over 62 years old, a reverse mortgage can be a great option for improving retirement finances and quality of life. There are, however, quite a few misunderstandings when it comes to these complex financial products. In this article we will debunk a couple myths so you can more clearly decide if a…
We boomers were never average. As the “me” generation, our uniqueness is a badge of honor. However, approximately 10,000 of us transition to retirement everyday. And, while we each have specific goals, ideas and financial circumstances, there are some things that apply to us all. Here is some exceptional retirement advice advice for the average guy,…
Social Security and working: believe it or not, the two are more or less completely compatible with each other. You can absolutely get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time. However, there are a few things that you do need to know. There Might Be Penalties: Work Penalties Will Be Determined by…
In some ways, managing money in retirement gets a little easier than before. You only have the money you have, so your options are somewhat simpler and more limited. On the other hand, the rules of money management shift in retirement so it may seem more complicated to you. No matter whether you find it…
Investing in ourselves doesn’t need to involve money. In fact, many of the best retirement investments do not involve greenbacks at all. Instead, they are investments that use our time to the fullest, allow us to spend precious moments with the people we love, enable us to focus on those things that make us happy….
Regardless of where you are in life, it’s always nice to make some extra money. And that is especially true in retirement. But, how to make money in retirement when your supposed to be simply enjoying the easy life? The retirement gigs listed below won’t be quite enough to cover retirement expenses, but they won’t…
According to AAG, the first reverse mortgage was issued in 1961 to a widow in Portland, Maine. A banker, Nelson Haynes of Deering Savings & Loan designed the loan to help the widowed wife of his beloved former high school football coach. The idea behind these loans has always been to help seniors in need. However,…
We keep trying to improve the NewRetirement retirement planning calculaltor so that you can feel good about your future. The latest improvement is a feature that lets you: Find out if you have any future “excess” income built into your retirement plan Specify if the “excess” income should be spent or saved This update could…
We’ve spent our whole lives working, spending the money we earn and hopefully saving a little too. When we retire, everything we have ever experienced about managing our own finances gets turned upside down. We no longer earn as much or any money from work. We have to figure out how to make do with and…
No matter your age — how to plan for retirement is likely a topic that you have pondered and done at least little something about. You may have saved some money, thought about the best locale for golf (or whatever hobby you will have), figured out when to start Social Security, talked with a financial…
Below are the best retirement stories from 2017 — the articles on NewRetirement that our readers liked most from the last year. The 8 Skills You Need for a Fantastically Happy Best Retirement It is not millions you need to be happy in retirement, you need skills. Huh? What skills? Explore the 8 traits that…
Many folks think that getting a reverse mortgage means they are selling their home to a lender for a reduced value and that the lender gets the benefit of the future appreciation of the home. This could not be farther from the truth. Reverse mortgages are not scams. They are loans — a business agreement…
Whether you have saved enough money to feel secure about retirement or not… There is still plenty to be thankful for this holiday season (and ever more). Feel grateful. It gets easier as you age and it improves your health. In fact, as you get older, your ability to feel grateful actually increases. Research indicates…
Can Your Wishes Come True? New Reverse Mortgage Purchase Guidelines Make it Easier to Buy a New Home
Reverse mortgage purchase guidelines were recently eased, making it much easier to use this loan type to buy a newly constructed home. A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, more commonly known as a reverse mortgage for purchase or an HECM for Purchase (or even H4P) is a specific type of reverse mortgage loan that lets you…
A fairly large percentage of retirees experience a drop in well-being after retirement. According to researchers, between 10-24% of retirees feel stressed in the years following their departure from work. Starting or joining a retirement book club — read books about retirement and share your thoughts — may be just the answer. Actually, any club…
Today, Republican leaders in the House of Representatives unveiled a new tax plan. They also recently introduced a budget proposal. Neither of these bills are a foregone conclusion. However, both the tax plan and budget have items that could significantly impact your retirement. Here are 8 budget and tax proposals you might want to keep…
Tax deferred? Tax free? Tax advantaged? It might sometimes feel a bit taxing to think about the tax implications of a Roth conversion. However, it is probably worth your brain power because a Roth conversion can be tremendously beneficial in the right circumstances. What is a Roth Account? A Roth account is a type of…
Social Security 2018: The Social Security Administration announced this week the biggest Cost of Benefit Living Adjustment (COLA) increase of the last five years. However, many retirees say that it is just not enough. The Social Security 2018 increase is big, but definitely NOT that big. Recipients will receive a whopping… big… massive… 2% increase. …
An astonishing number of retirees reverse retirement — quit their lives of leisure and go back to work either part or full time. Is retirement really not all that it is cracked up to be? Going backwards is rarely a good idea, but reversing back into a compelling job can actually have far reaching benefits. …
Reverse mortgages are a type of home equity loan for homeowners 62 years and older. If you have been thinking about getting a reverse mortgage, here are 9 new reasons to take a fresh look at the program. 1. You Are Protected in a Natural Disaster Floods. Fires. Earthquakes. It has been a rough few…
Most of us count down the days, months and even years in anticipation of starting Social Security. In fact, besides qualifying for Medicare, perhaps the retirement event we most look forward to is the day we can start receiving these benefits — after sleeping in of course. Carly Simon’s lyrics come to mind: Anticipation Anticipay…
