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If you’ve never seen a reverse mortgage commercial featuring the familiar face of a celebrity, you’re probably in the minority. Reverse Mortgage lenders have long elected to work with famous faces to help them get the word out about reverse mortgage products. It’s a common practice. Baby boomer celebrities represent brands across all product and…

For better or worse (or a little bit of both), the economic climate has irrevocably shifted in the last 15 years, and it’s not likely to stop anytime soon. The average employee tenure for a position is 4.6 years, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics’s January 2014 report, instead of working for the same…

“The principle of living debt-free is not about being good money-citizens for the sake of it. It’s not about getting a gold star. It’s about getting clarity with our money so that we can fund more of what we want, not less. I like to say, ‘It’s about creativity, not credit cards.’” This is a…

After struggling to help her mother–the wife of a World War II veteran–receive benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA), Debbie Burak founded VeteranAid.org to ensure that other families of veterans wouldn’t have to go through the same ordeal. The site is devoted to informing veterans and their families about the little-known Aid and Attendance Pension…

With the world and our culture being more uncertain than ever before, it is exponentially more important to begin thinking about life after retirement, as well as the lives of our loved ones after we’re gone. And while it may be impossible to predict what the economy may be like down the line, all the…

Whether to keep working or retire is one of the most difficult decisions you’ll make in life. It changes everything, and starts a whole new phase. While there’s no crystal ball, one thing is for sure: Being cautious with this choice can only serve you well. CNBC’s Kelly Holland explains in the article, “Ready to…

Sometimes simpler is better. While we may appreciate complexity in our sports cars, our flavor palates, even our stock portfolios, understanding those portfolios should not be complicated. This is the main premise that inspired Jon Petersen to start the blog Novel Investor, where he investigate the nuanced, intricate world of finances and reports on his…

Retirement needn’t mean the end – it can also mean the beginning of something new. Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity to try out things you never had a chance to while working in your first career while helping out the needy in the process. Sometimes, it can even lead to a second career. Openmind Projects…

The tools for financial independence are at your fingertips, as long as you know where to find them. In this interview, Mark H. of SimplePlanning.net talks about financial planners and calculators and how they can help individuals plan for retirement, college, and just about anything else. But savings isn’t all these planners and calculators help…

A reverse mortgage is a loan taken against the equity that you have in your home. If eligible, older Americans can use a reverse mortgage to help them offset mounting costs or simply provide an additional revenue stream in retirement. What is a reverse mortgage? The financial tool enables qualifying homeowners aged 62 or older…

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. Mark Twain You don’t want to regret not seeing the world.  Retirement…

If you’re like many Americans, you probably have concerns about your retirement plan. But research shows that those who work with a financial planner are often better prepared for retirement and have more confidence in their savings plans. There are many different types of financial advisors. However, taking those first steps toward meeting with a…

Many people approaching retirement are left to decide if they should sell their home or stay put. This decision is an important one as housing often makes up about 30% of retirement expenses. For some people, selling the house is a necessary way to help fund their lifestyle in retirement. For others, keeping the home…

Sixty-four percent of retirees are likely to move at least once — looking for the best places to retire. The top motivating factors might surprise you, as revealed in a new retirement study by Merrill Lynch conducted in partnership with Age Wave. Where are the best places to retire?  What are retirees looking to find…

When it comes to preparing for retirement, most Americans are all about saving, saving, saving. But in financial planning — as in sports — playing defense is just as important as playing offense.  And annuities can provide a good defense. Still, more than half of Americans (55%) do not believe that protecting their assets is…

The U.S. is in the midst of a growing retirement crisis, and it’s only getting worse as an increasing number of Americans are less prepared to live on their savings than ever. According to “The Reality of the Retirement Crisis,” a report released this year by the Center for American Progress (CAP), more than 50…

Joshua Rodriguez, partner at CNA Finance, says the most common question he gets about retirement is, “When is the best time to start investing?” “The best answer I can give to that is the first day you get an allowance from your parents; so, if you haven’t started already…you’re a bit late!” he says. On…

If the thought of retirement has you furrowing your brows in anguish, you’re not alone. The possibilities of high medical bills, running out of savings and not being to afford daily expenses are Americans’ top three concerns around retirement, a recent Bankrate.com survey reveals. Other factors like the viability of Social Security weigh heavily on…

The best way to retire the way you want to is to educate yourself. Jaime Raskulinecz of Next Generation Trust Services says individuals should take advantage of retirement professionals who are trained to help people from all backgrounds retire the way they want to. Here, Raskulinecz shares some tips about self-directed retirement for those interested…

Sometimes it’s hard to even think about retirement when you have yet to find a job that really embodies what it means to work for a great company. Kim Peters of Great Place to Work has made a living out of identifying places of employment that go above and beyond what many expect from traditional…

Deborah McLean of Maine Senior Guide understands that retirement planning can be difficult. With the Maine Senior Guide, retirees have the option of examining multiple options pertaining to retirement benefits, healthcare, senior communities, and a host of other issues relating to one’s retirement years. In this interview, McLean discusses the benefits of the Maine Senior…

If you are debating whether or not to take a lump sum pension offer in place of lifetime benefits, it’s important to understand key information in order to make an informed decision. According to a new Government Accountability Office report, many of the informational materials provided by sponsors offering lump sums do not present enough…

If you own a home, it is important to keep your home equity in mind when making decisions about your property and planning for retirement. If you use home equity effectively, it can help you pay for some of your retirement expenses. The first step to using home equity wisely is understanding what is home…

Retirement should mean living comfortably on the savings you’ve spent a lifetime to build. But aging and unexpected health issues can derail your retirement aspirations and bleed savings accounts dry if you’re not prepared financially to face what life might throw at you. Will You Need Long Term Care? Even if you’re physically in good…