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Try It NOWCategory: Retirement Planning
Sept. 5, 2023 — By now many Topretirements.com Members and visitors are well into their retirement planning, if not already retired. The next generation is coming along now, Gen Xers, folks born between 1965 and 1980. The oldest of the those hit 58 this year, so they are definitely starting…
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Category: Active adult communities
August 24, 2023 -- People in GenX might well be confused about their living options for their retirement. Should they be looking at a retirement, 55+, active adult, active resort, independent living, or assisted living community? At the stage where they are now, which type seems best for their retirement dream?
Not so long ago the choices were a lot more limited. One might stay in their own home until that was too difficult, and then move in with one of their adult children. Nursing homes took care of people who could not take care of themselves. Retirement homes (sometimes referred to as old folks homes) became more popular at some point. One could live there with other seniors and enjoy prepared meals and perhaps some chair based recreational activities.
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Category: Retirement Planning
August 15, 2023 — We have been asked a lot of questions over the 16 years Topretirements has been around. Although our website has changed over time, the inquiries tend to be the same – how do I find things on the site, as well as questions related to the…
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
August 9, 2023 -- It's a question just about everyone thinks about as they reach retirement age, at least to themselves. What is my life expectancy - or, how much longer do I have on this planet as a living being? And, hopefully, will those will be good years, where I can enjoy life and not be a burden to others.
It is not just an idle question. There are plenty of practical considerations in knowing the answer to your life expectancy, or at least knowing the probabilities. For one, when should I take Social Security? If, for example, I know the odds say I will die before age 80 (and the same for my spouse or he/she is a higher earner), then the best bet is to take this benefit at the first opportunity, age 62. Waiting longer will cost me money I will never see.
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Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
July 25, 2023 — We get this question a lot. When people ask, “Where is the best place to retire,” I have a stock answer: “Retirement is a very personal matter. The best place for you might be a terrible retirement destination for me. Before you can make an informed…
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Category: Retirement Planning
June 23. 2023 — Everywhere you turn these days there is talk about AI, Artificial Intelligence. Many fear that it will take over journalism, the arts, and just about everything else, resulting in millions of people could be out of work. It certainly sounds scary. But other experts think it could be represent the most revolutionary tool since the invention of the personal computer. In just one example, doctors are finding they can use it write reports, saving them time to actually connect with their patients.
So, how much do you know about AI? Can ordinary people use it for something productive, or is it just a menace? And for heaven's sake, how do you use it? To help answer those questions, we have prepared this article.
Lucy Burdette was intrigued enough to get a free AI account. On our behalf, she did a little test to see what would happen if we asked it to answer this simple question for Topretirements:
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Category: Financial and taxes in retirement
June 14, 2023 - A study on retirement by the World Economic Forum found considerable unease about retirement issues in various age groups. Health and income issues were prevalent among its Pulse Poll respondents. The report was focused on how individuals, companies, and government will respond to longevity and people living longer lives.Here are some of the key findings in the Understanding Longevity Study
Many people, especially women, are worried about having enough money in retirement. Some 55% of women are willing to admit they don’t understand their financial situation.
Health concerns are a big concern as people age. Many are worried they will have to become caregivers.
Men are more likely to be looking forward more to retirement than women.
The "bank of mom and dad" is flipping - in more cases younger people might have to support their parents - instead of the other way around. (Interesting, another study we came across found that many baby boomers are blithely spending money, while younger folks are having to pinch pennies)
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Category: Downsizing
June 7, 2023 - Now in their 80s and 90s, our friends Jane and Jack knew that they were going to have to downsize from their 3 bedroom townhome. They both had health problems, and the stairs to the upstairs MBR was becoming a problem for Jack's knees. But, they had a LOT of stuff, which pretty much kept them frozen for years.
Jack had hundreds of tee shirts from tennis tournaments he had played in. Thousands of recordings -- in vinyl, CD, and cassette. Hundreds of books. Cases and cases of nice wine. And confidential records from his psychology testing practice. Every wall of the home was crowded with original artwork. Did we mention that Jane was a successful potter, with a basement full of beautiful pottery? It was hard to part with anything. Downsizing was not going to be easy.
Then the health problems got really serious. Both of them fell, and one or the other had a cancer scare and cardiac issue. They simply could not live there anymore. Fortunately, a nearby Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) accepted them.
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Category: Retirement Planning
March 15, 2023 -- It seems like a person shouldn't be allowed to start retirement until they went through a course. There are so many important decisions - when to take Social Security, where to live, what to do all day, how to budget for the long haul, etc. To help with those as well as items that go well beyond those usually recognized issues, I've prepared a list of some of the top observations that I wish someone had shared with me long before my retirement began 16 years ago. Your suggestions are welcomed in the Comments section at the end.
11 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Retired.
Recognize that retirement has many phases. The best approach is to have a long range plan that will work for each period of retirement. That means considering what your first place to retire might be like if you lived there as an old person. Will the healthcare situation be right as your needs change? Are there assisted living or CCRC facilities in the area, so you don’t have to move far away and start over again with friends, doctors, church, etc. Is there public transportation when you can't drive anymore?
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Category: Retirement Planning
March 7, 2023 -- It is the rare person who strikes out on the unbeaten path, and that includes their route to retirement. Usually we prefer to follow a track made by someone else, learning from their experience and thereby avoiding unexpected mistakes and mishaps. It is helpful to know what others are thinking and doing, though. That is where the 30+ retirement surveys conducted since 2012 by Topretirements can help. Here you can see where you agree, and differ with the retirement plans of thousands of other folks in a similar situation.
30+ Surveys - From Where to Retire... to Social Security... Snowbirding....to Spousal Compatibility - and a Lot in Between
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