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…
|
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.
|
Recent posts by Kathleen
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…
You’ve probably spent at least a little time thinking about what to do in retirement. How will you fill your days? Where will you go? What will you do? With whom will you spend time?In retirement, you likely have more options for how to spend your time than ever before. And, you certainly don’t have…
When it comes to your retirement planning, saving, investing and plotting how to spend your free time are at the top of the list. How much you will have to pay in taxes after retirement may be the last thing on your mind. But not taking the time to look at how retirement taxes will…
Looking for a great place to retire? Or, wondering if the state where you live is too expensive? Property values, cost of living and lifestyle issues are all important considerations when figuring out where to live. However, don’t forget to think about state taxes. Some states are more tax friendly for retirement than others. Explore…
Could a retirement bucket strategy make it easier to manage savings after you retire? If you think that managing retirement investments is difficult when you are working, we have some bad news: it gets much harder when you actually retire. Once retired, your investments need to not only grow but also fund your lifestyle, keep…
An economic indicator is information that can suggest what is going on in the economy — is the economy healthy, growing or headed for trouble? Sounds useful, right? Well… maybe… Let’s explore the pros and cons of following economic indicators. Be Aware: The Upsides of Knowing About and Following Economic Indicators Being aware of what is happening…
Estate taxes can take a big bite out of what you leave for heirs — but unless you will be leaving more than $11 million, it is only a major factor in certain states. Currently, the federal estate tax applies only to estates valued at more than $11 million (twice that for married couples). However,…
If you’re one of the thousands of Americans approaching retirement, one of your top concerns is probably when to retire. But an accompanying question is where to retire. Realtor.com crunched the numbers and identified the fastest growing retirement destinations. The fastest growing retirement destinations might not be the best place to retire or the best…
A Health Savings Account or HSA is a medical savings account that is attached to a high deductible health insurance plan. It can be a savvy way to save money by reducing your overall medical spending. It can also have compelling retirement savings benefits.Money can be deferred into an HSA account on a pre-tax basis…
Is the Queen right? Is it time to Keep Calm…. and Retire On? Well, considering that the Queen is 92 years old and still working, it is probably not her motto. But, maybe it should be yours! Many of us are terrified of jumping into retirement. We read about the retirement crisis and worry about…
As more and more baby boomers head into retirement, there is a growing conversation about how to generate adequate retirement income from retirement assets. Even with some good economic news, many of us are going to come up short. Retirement income doesn’t grow on trees… But you can make it grow! According to the most…
Movies – like all art forms – can be a great way to explore important themes in your life. Here is our list of movies related to retirement and aging. While you should probably do more to prepare for retirement than watching movies — use a retirement calculator or consult a financial advisor for example…
Most of us are going to need some extra support as we age. Cooking, cleaning, running errands and more are called “activities of daily living” and it can be nice to get help with these tasks as you age. Is retiring to a Holiday Inn the answer? Living independently can be extremely difficult as we…
Annuities can be a tricky purchase. You need to compare annuity plans to find the right option for you. But, there are many different products – fixed annuities, variable annuities, tax-deferred annuities, guaranteed annuities, inherited annuities, equity indexed annuities and more. How do you even begin to go about comparing annuities? Estimate how much income…
Let’s get real about investing in real estate for retirement. Investing of any kind can be complicated at any point in your life. However, investing in or near retirement can be especially arduous. At retirement you need your assets to be relatively free of risk while keeping pace with inflation. In many cases, you need your…
If you own a home, it was likely one of the smartest lifelong financial moves you have ever made. In addition to providing a safe haven for living your life, it is also a forced savings account and a hard asset that can appreciate over time. However, did you know that it is also a…
The decision to relocate in retirement is huge — especially since you literally have a world of options. You can retire anywhere and into a wide variety of housing types. Live and travel in an RV. Buy a big beach side home. Relocate abroad to financial or lifestyle reasons. Downsize to a small apartment. Buy…
A manifesto is a declaration of an individual or group’s intentions and motivations. Most big life events involve some kind of manifesto — whether you call it that or not. Contracts, wedding vows, employment agreements are all declarations of your intent. Retirement is actually an ideal time to write a manifesto. Retirement is your time…
