Your money personality type can impact your retirement security. However, knowing your money personality type can help you avoid pitfalls and use your strengths to your advantage as you approach retirement. What is a Money Personality Type? How Do You Get It? Your money personality type is comprised of your attitudes and habits around money….
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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
You might be surprised by some of the best places to retire in the world. A growing number of American retirees are moving to extremely far flung locations. They find that retiring overseas can be more affordable and more fun than staying in the U.S. When evaluating life in another country, you’ll want to consider…
Do you want to know how to retire early? How about how to retire early at 55? How to retire early at 60? What about how to retire early at 45 or earlier? It IS possible. Don’t believe me? Get advice from three guys who really know: 1. Chris Mamula writes for Can I Retire Yet….
To say that Social Security and Medicare are important to the financial well being of seniors would be an understatement. Sixty two percent of eligible beneficiaries rely on Social Security income for more than half of their income. And, almost everyone who is eligible uses Medicare to help fund their healthcare after 65. So, any…
Can you retire without consulting a financial advisor or some kind of retirement professional? Of course. The question is, do you have good resources for reliable retirement information? More importantly, can you retire AND have a secure future without talking with a retirement professional? The answer to this question might be a little more complicated….
Americans have changed a lot over the last 100 years – we live longer and have more active lives and our society and financial structures have evolved (and, in some cases perhaps, devolved). However, many of our ideas about retirement and retirement planning come from previous generations. These ideas are ill-suited to today’s realities. So,…
Signing up to start Social Security is simple. However, finding the right Social Security strategy for you can be complicated but VERY worthwhile. Here are 15 tips for making the best Social Security decision: Social Security Strategies For Almost Everyone 1. Delay the Start of Benefits for As Long As Possible This Social Security strategy…
Aging well is key to your quality of life in retirement. Here are 8 new health tips for seniors. We think you will find this health news really useful or interesting. Walk Away from Dementia, Literally Many recent studies have found that exercise — even just simply walking — is the best way to avoid…
According to surveys of NewRetirement users, travel after retirement is clearly the most popular and desired pursuit for this phase of life. From day trips by car to round the world journeys, retirees have wanderlust! What are your retirement travel plans? A full 75% of users of NewRetirement’s award winning Retirement Planner mention travel as…
Retirement can be hard. Sure, some people slide right into it with no problem at all. Others are bored at best and depressed at worst. It is not the financial pressure that is usually the problem. Issues usually come from the fact that work often provides the emotional, mental and social stimuli that you need…
The growing population of older Americans, and a lower propensity for retiring early, seems to create a bit of a problem for some employers. Although discrimination against older workers is fully against the law under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Workplace age discrimination affects the best and brightest…
Tis the season… No, it is not quite time to decide whether you’ll say Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Bah Humbug or none of the above. It does, however, involve shopping! The 2020 Medicare Open Enrollment season is upon us and will last from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Now is the time to assess your…
A new study from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research has found that husbands ignore (maybe overlook or under think) their wife’s retirement income needs when making decisions about when to start Social Security benefits. Widows (and widowers) are entitled to switch to Social Security Survivor benefits and receive their spouse’s full benefit amount…
Are you leaving money on the table when you retire? The answer is likely a resounding YES! (Whether you realize it or not.) You want and need every penny you can muster to fund a secure future. So,, it is important to take advantage of every opportunity to increase your assets and make smart use…
Retirement depression — feeling sad or lacking energy and focus after retiring — is surprisingly common. A study published in the Journal of Population Ageing found that those who were retired were about twice as likely to report feeling symptoms of depression than those who were still working. And, research from the London-based Institute of…
Most of us have done some kind of retirement planning activities. In fact, according to a recent study from Vanguard, only 1 out of 10 pre and recent retirees have not done any planning at all. However, not everyone is tackling the same retirement planning tasks and only a few of us are creating a…
You’ve probably heard a lot of advice about how to save more money for retirement. Everyone tells you that you really need to do it. And if you’re like a lot of people, you probably think that it’s a great idea — you are just not exactly sure where to find the cash. Learn how…
Gray divorce — divorce after 50 — can really cramp your retirement lifestyle. When you say ‘I do,’ your personal finances may not be the first thing on your mind. But the truth is, couples who get married and stay married have benefits that single people simply don’t, such as being able to split up…
Dementia. Stroke. Alzheimer’s disease. The prevalence of these health events is a big reason why you need to make planning for long term care an important part of your retirement plans. Will you need to give care? Will you need care? What is Long Term Care? Older Americans continue to be in the dark when it…
Your retirement budget determines how much you will really need to have saved for a secure retirement. It is very important to get this right. While accurately estimating your expenses for the rest of your life is a daunting prospect, the right tools and advice can make it easy. Your retirement budget will evolve… Detailed…
I think we can all agree. We desperately need another word for retirement. Retirement is a word that we use to roughly define a period of life after work. But this word is imprecise at best and — at worst — really flat out wrong about this phase of life. I mean, some of us…
Whether it is a credit card, car loan or the holy grail of all debts — your mortgage, paying off debt and eliminating monthly payments is a really big deal. When you pay off a debt, it is a huge opportunity to rethink your financial situation. Your cashflow will have suddenly improved. What are you…
Believe me, you are not alone if you have nervously asked yourself, your spouse or even a financial advisor: “will my retirement savings last as long as I do?” Concerns about running out of money in retirement are almost universal — no matter how much money you have. After all, there are many unknowable variables…
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…
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…
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…
