Category: Checklists
October 17, 2025 - Are you in your 40s and 50s and feeling stressed about retirement? Join the club - millions of others are feeling the same.
Many people in their 40s or 50s wake up to the realization that retirement isn’t as far away as it once seemed. With rising living costs, uncertain markets, and increasing responsibilities like kids or aging parents, it’s no wonder so many people feel retirement anxiety.
The good news? You are young enough that you have plenty of time to retire confidently - if you take action right now. Here are some of the steps you can take to reduce that anxiety.
Why So Many 40-50 Somethings Feel Retirement Anxiety
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Published on October 16, 2025
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Category: Medicare
Oct. 13, 2025 - f you’re on Medicare (or will be soon), 2026 brings a number of changes you’ll want to watch — especially as you head into the annual Open Enrollment season that starts Oct. 15. Below is a quick rundown of the highlights and what you should keep in mind. Premiums and deductibles are generally going up next year. But the good news is that negotiated drug prices on 10 very expensive drugs go into effect in 2026.
Key Changes in 2026
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Published on October 13, 2025
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Category: Financial and taxes in retirement
October 12, 2025 -- You probably know some well-off people who live well below their means .- we sure do. At the extreme end these folks won't buy anything if it's not on sale. They opt for the cheapest entree at a restaurant. And forget about business class tickets, even if it means sitting upright in the middle seat on a 16 hour flight to Australia. Although they have the retirement savings and other assets to buy anything they want without fear, have their home paid for, no debts, and children with successful careers, they just can't stop acting like they have to live on a miser's budget.
Running out of money is the biggest worry people usually have in retirement. Someone might have worked hard, but didn't earn or save enough, or ran into family or financial trouble. The anxiety that someday they will have to survive just on their Social Security is real for them. But there are a surprising number of folks who are blessed to be in the opposite situation - despite their substantial assets they live well under their means. There are many reasons why they deny themselves the pleasure that their hard earned savings could bring. This article will explore some ideas on how to get over those fears and inertia.
Ideas to Help Get Over the Hump
Most baby boomers grew up with parents who lived through the depression of the 1930's. That legacy often installed frugality as a key virtue. Don't spend what you don't have, shut off those lights, only buy what's on sale, etc. For many, even those who have the money, it can be very hard to part with that deep rooted training.
For those fortunate enough to have sufficient resources to not have to worry about running out of money, here are some ideas to get over their fear of spending enough hump. After all, what is the point of scrimping just to admire the size of a bank account.
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Published on October 11, 2025
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Category: Bucket Lists
October 7, 2025 — Although about 10% of Americans actually have some Irish heritage, it seems like almost all of us claim it – particularly when St. Patrick’s day comes around. So what better place to visit in retirement than the beautiful island called Ireland. This will cover some of…
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Published on October 6, 2025
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
Sept.30, 2025 - It seems counterintuitive - so many people really look forward to their retirement. Yet when they finally get there, many not only keep working, but they seem happier than their non-working peers. That is the suggestion from a recent study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies.
The finding applies to men more than women. Working post-retirement age is related to women's satisfaction only if it is in lucrative occupations, and is not related to emotional well-being. It doesn't seem to matter to people with higher or lower incomes. Even part time work seems to create more happiness than no job at all. Volunteer work can have the same positive effect.
Work doesn’t necessarily have to be for pay, and it could be a hobby. The photo below shows the work of a model town created by a Shed in Adair, Ireland. The group of men meet several times a week to socialize on a work of projects.
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Published on September 29, 2025
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Category: Social Security
September 18, 2025 - Anyone who has been following Topretirements for a while knows that we are a big proponent of delaying taking Social Security benefits as long as possible. But maybe is time to change that position.
Up to now the advantages of waiting to claim Social Security retirement benefits to age 70 have been pretty clear (for most people). For every year you wait to claim after age 66 you get an 8% increase in your benefits, up to age 70. Delaying has a second benefit because ir raises your COLA $ increase be every year. And, if your spouse's benefit isn't as high as yours, he or she will get your higher benefit for the rest of their life at your passing. If your finances are tight, all these advantages could be worth a lot. On the other hand, for people and couples who have a very short remaining life expectancy, or who need the money now to survive, it might not be a good idea to wait.
So what has changed?
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Published on September 17, 2025
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Category: Adventurous retirement
September 17, 2025 — The dream retired accountant Kent Broussard had since 1968 was to play in a big time college marching band. Now at age 66, the Sousaphone player has reached that goal, and is loving every second. Kent, a freshman at Louisiana State University, is thrilled to be…
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Published on September 16, 2025
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Category: Life Care or CCRC
This article was originally published in 2021. Updated Sept. 2025 with updates from several people we know, including the couple profiled in the original article.
For most people, the answer to the question when is the right time to move to a Life Care community is, "when I get older". It pretty much doesn't matter how old the person is at the time; some undefined date in the future is always the answer. True, a minority make the decision when they are in their 60s or early 70s, but they are the outliers, often with a good reason for doing so.
Good friends
Topretirements has some good friends who have wrestled with this decision for years. Jane and Jack's current situation illustrated the problem so many people will face. Several years ago he was in his mid 90s and she in her early 80s. She has wanted for some time to move from their town home into a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC, often known as a Life Care Community). He, however, was never quite ready. Fortunately, they put a deposit down at a Connecticut CCRC, delayed making a decision to wait for one of the larger units. After a serious medical incident requiring an extended hospital stay with an uncertain future, so they took an available unit. It was not easy downsizing and moving a jam-packed town home's contents to fit into a much smaller apartment, but with help they did it.
Update Sept. 2025 - Our beloved friend passed at age 98 in July after a steady decline. The couple's move there worked out great - their life got simpler and he got the care he needed. Jane lives on in the CCRC, very glad she moved there. She has many friends and social engagements - in fact it's hard to get a dinner date with her!
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Published on September 10, 2025
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
September 10, 2025 -- Gov. DeSantis seems to be a big fan of MAHA - Make America Healthy Again - or at least its anti-vax conspiracies. Florida recently eliminated vaccine mandates for school children, which will almost certainly bring polio, measles, and other life-threatening, but preventable, deaths to the State's school age children. For adults, the problem is the State's honoring recent changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new policies, which require prescriptions or the existence of certain underlying conditions to get a shot, are causing chaos and concern. People over 65 can still get the jab in many states without the prescription, but not in Florida. The South Florida Sun Sentinel recently covered the unfolding situation in its "Covid Vaccine Decisions Bringing Anger and Confusion" article.
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Published on September 9, 2025
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
Sept. 7, 2025 -- The NY Times asked trainers for their ideas on the best training tests. They came back with four tried-and-tested self-assessments for strength, balance and cardiovascular fitness. One of them is a good screener to see if you are ready for pickleball. Others measure upper body strength, cardio vascular conditioning, and balance - so important to prevent falls. Try them and see how you do! (Note: These tests were not designed with any age group in mind - some versions might be too challenging for some seniors). Here is a link to their "Training Tests" article.
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Published on September 7, 2025
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