Early retirement is something most of us dream about. But it is usually just that — a dream. However, have you considered a sabbatical? A sabbatical can be a meaningful and highly satisfying way to to get an early, albeit temporary, retirement. Sabbatical or Burnout? Sabbatical Meaning What Exactly? Sabbaticals, mini retirements and gap years…
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Kathleen CoxwellAs a founder of NewRetirement, Kathleen is passionate about delivering empowering tools and articles to people who are concerned about retirement. She works with teams of writers and designers to deliver easy to understand information that help you make the right decisions about your financial future.
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Recent posts by Kathleen
On your marks, get set…. RETIRE! If you are in your 50s or 60s, you are probably about 10 years from retirement (give or take) — maybe you are even 5 years from retirement. Regardless of the exact timing, you are about to step into the starting blocks and race for the retirement finish line….
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you might have less in your retirement account than you think you have! At least the worth to you might be less than you imagine. Really! Your 401k or IRA account balance is not telling the whole story of your wealth — especially if your income…
The sole sponsor for the Rolling Stones’ US Tour 2019 is the Alliance for Lifetime Income, an advocacy organization whose purpose is to help Americans address the risk of outliving their retirement income. No drugs, sex, cars or even fashion — annuities. Why Annuities? It may seem a surprising choice of sponsor for The Stones…
The House of Representatives’ Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act and a similar bill in the Senate, the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act (RESA) are bills backed by both Republicans and Democrats (gasp!) that aspire to improve retirement and retirement planning for Americans. The Secure Act was approved by the House of…
Sorry. You probably are not a dummy about everything. But, research suggests that almost 80 percent of all Americans have a very low financial IQ (What’s yours? Take the quiz now.) So, the chances are high that you are a personal finance and investment dummy! And, good for you for doing something about it. (Maybe…
Your attitude toward anything in life is all based on perspective. If you are worried about retirement, maybe you just need to change your approach.Albert Einstein is credited with this saying that shows how a flipped perspective can change how you think: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability…
If you are in your 50s or 60s, you are probably hoping to find the fountain of youth. However, when you plan your golden years it is best to retire like an adult. Retiring like an adult gives you the financial freedom to pursue the life you want — even if that means doing things…
If volunteering after retirement sounds appealing to you, you are not alone. More than ever, workers over 50 are looking toward careers in the nonprofit world, seeking a second chance at purposeful work. In fact, more than 25 million Americans ages 50 to 70 are eager to share their skills, passions and expertise in encore…
Working as long as possible is a recommended retirement strategy for almost everyone. There are so many benefits to working as long as possible and they are not only financial. Working keeps you young, happy and healthy. Near retirement and looking for a job? It may be time to teach the old dog some new…
Many people want to retire before they are eligible for Medicare at age 65. However, figuring out health insurance — and how to afford that coverage — is very difficult. It can be very expensive, depending on your circumstances! And, let’s face facts, health factors are more prevalent and unpredictable at this age. You need…
If you are worried about running out of money in retirement, you are not alone. Running out of money is the main concern of most people in or approaching retirement. And, there is VERY good reason to be concerned — VERY concerned. Most of us do not have enough money for retirement. Let’s explore this…
Graduation and retirement are arguably the two biggest life transitions anyone will ever experience. With both rites of passage, everything about your daily experience changes in the short term and your goals for the future become more far sighted and poignant. Therefore, we wondered if perhaps retirees had anything to learn from the wisdom of…
A frequent question among those nearing and in retirement is: Do I need life insurance for retirement? The answer, like most financial planning related questions, is that it depends. When you are working, the purpose of life insurance is usually to replace your income or pay off large debts in order to help provide for…
Retirement reinvention!?! Maybe you want nothing to change once you retire, or maybe you’re anxious for that next new phase and what it could bring. Retirement isn’t one idea, and it’s definitely not static. It’s just the next stage. And with Americans living much longer than ever before, it can last more than 20 years….
Early retirement is a dream for many Americans, but one that few are sure they’ll be able to reach. About half of Americans retire early — between the ages of 61 and 65. That’s a full five to six years before full retirement age as defined by the Social Security Administration. Eighteen percent of Americans…
Medicare is a hugely popular program, providing health coverage to the vast majority of Americans over 65. Here are a few tricks for taking care of your health and making the most of Medicare… 1. Understand Your Medicare Options Once you turn 65, you need to make choices about your Medicare coverage. Will you choose:…
How to apply for Social Security is very straightforward. In fact, applying is perhaps too easy for such a very important decision. The more important and complicated question is: When to apply? But, let’s get started with the easy part… 6 Steps to Apply for Social Security Just follow these six steps… Step 1: Make…
Passive income streams are income sources that you benefit from without too much effort — the money just flows in. Create passive income streams and just enjoy retirement… Passive income streams are therefore ideal for retirement. In retirement we are trying to maximize the time we spend on leisure activities while minimizing work or burdensome…
Living on Social Security alone is not only possible, many retirees already accomplish that very feat every year. And, while the lifestyle associated with a Social Security income isn’t exactly luxurious, it doesn’t have to equal peanut butter sandwiches for the rest of your life, either. How you make living on Social Security alone work…
Early retirement — retiring at 62 or before — seems like a wonderful dream to a lot of people. You’ve been in the workforce for decades. You have focused on work with the goal of enjoying the rest of your life on your own terms. But is it too early to get out of the…
Impact investing! The name sounds exciting. Who wouldn’t want to make an impact with an investment? But, what is it exactly? And, is it right for you and your retirement? Impact investing, related to socially responsible or ethical investing, conscious capitalism, and sustainable investing, is defined by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) as investments…
Some might believe that the hokey pokey really is what it is all about. Yoga and mindfulness mavens chant “om” as a long and happy life mantra. Others sing super cali fragilistic expealidocious and, “if said loud enough,” will at least sound precocious. However, the residents of the Japanese island of Okinawa have other words…
What is it that you fear most about retirement? Do you worry about running out of money? Are you concerned that you might need long term care and won’t be able to afford the costs and that you will become a burden on your family? If you answered yes to either or both of those…
Self directed retirement accounts — whether it is an IRA or a 401k — are tax advantaged savings vehicles that offer you the ability to invest in a wide range of opportunities. When you have an IRA or 401k, your investment options are limited to whatever is available from your plan’s sponsor. And, those opportunities…
