Posted on December 30, 2011 by Erin
It’s that time of year again – Time to make those New Year’s Resolutions! This year while you’re thinking about all the ways to improve yourself or your life in 2012, don’t forget to add improving your retirement plan to that list!
What do you plan on achieving this coming year to help strengthen your retirement? Are you going to invest more money into your IRAs of 401(k)s? Are you going to purchase a lifetime annuity to guarantee income later in life? Or are you going to look into Long Term Care Insurance to make sure you are covered in case of unexpected medical costs? There are many small adjustments that you can do to increase the health of your retirement plan. You can use our retirement calculator to see what a small adjustment can do for you and how far your money will stretch. We’ll be here in the New Year to continue to help with all of your retirement planning needs – Have a Happy New Year and see you in 2012!
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Posted on December 29, 2011 by Erin
Now that the holidays are almost over and the temptations of junk food aren’t so close as they have been, it’s time to start eating right again. And in case you need any motivation other than looking and feeling better, this may help you out – seniors who eat foods with higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids and certain vitamins score better on cognitive tests!
The test, which was published in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, showed positive effects in the brain after consuming vitamins B, C, D and E and fish oils. On the other side of the spectrum, the brain showed that it did not like trans-fats. When greasy food containing trans fats were ingested, the brain did not perform as well on tests. So essentially, this study is showing us that we have the power to keep our brains sharp simply by choosing better options in our diets. Sounds like the perfect time to make that New Year’s Resolution!
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Posted on December 27, 2011 by Erin
It’s a great luxury in life to be in close proximity to our closest friends and family. Unfortunately it seems that in this day and age people move around more than in the past and it’s getting harder and harder for people to see their loved ones. This time of year it’s especially important to many people to be able to gather with their friends and family over the holidays. And there’s a new trend that many are adopting to make sure that they can indeed be surrounded by loved ones.
The trend? Software that allows you to see anyone with the same program and a camera that connects to their computer. The most popular of this software is Skype – and Apple’s FaceTime and Google Chat aren’t too far behind. As an article in the New York Times recently pointed out, these types of programs are allowing parents in the military that are stationed overseas to be able to read a bedtime story to their child, they are allowing best friends who live on different coasts to have their morning coffee together and giving elderly grandparents the opportunity to be in the room with their grandchildren on a holiday even though their in different cities.
Have you tried Skype or similar programs before? Do you think it can be a good solution to not being able to spend the holidays with your friends and family?
Skype not good enough? Can you afford to move closer to your loved ones? Use our Retirement Calculator to see how financially realistic it is!
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Posted on December 22, 2011 by Erin
No more excuses! Recently, the Guinness Book of World Records crowned their newest, oldest yoga teacher. This may make you feel bad, but Bernice Bates is an astounding 91 years old. She began teaching yoga 50 years ago and has continued ever since.
According to John Muir Health, one in three adults falls and injures themselves every year. The older you are when you take a slip, the more life threatening the injury can be and the more expensive it can be to take care of. Yoga is a wonderful way for seniors to protect themselves by loosening up their muscles, bettering their balance and helping to maintain bone density. In a 2005 study by the National Institute on Aging, it was found that yoga can help increase hip extension and stride length in seniors. Yoga also benefits the mind just as much as the body. As Bernice said, “It gives you a good outlook. It involves your mind … We build energy in our body, we don’t take it out.” (You can read the full article, here). If you’re physically capable and your doctor gives you the go ahead, try some yoga! It’s a wonderful exercise that can help you physically and mentally.
Are you prepared for the costs associated with unplanned medical expenses such as a fall? Make sure you’re covered by using our retirement calculator.
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Posted on December 19, 2011 by Erin
Recently, researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine discovered something that could change the game when it comes to treating Alzheimer’s.
It was found that mice produce a gene called PKR, just like humans do. PKR is triggered once Alzheimer’s begins, but a new gene that blocks the PKR in mice has shown that it can not only reverse the Alzheimer’s but it can also create a state of “super memory.” Since mice and humans have similar brains, researchers are optimistic that the effects being seen in the mice would be the same in humans. A “brain pill” may be in the future for those suffering from degenerative brain diseases and could help change the lives of many many people around the world.
Learn more about Long Term Care Insurance to protect yourself from unexpected medical costs.
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Posted on December 16, 2011 by Erin
When it comes to health, it seems like what is good for you one day is discovered to be bad for you the next. Recently, arguments against women getting mammograms have been picking up steam as some researchers believed it was not helping to find breast cancer and was instead creating unnecessary anxiety in the women who received them. The recommendation to not get mammograms seemed counter intuitive to many and recently a group of Dutch researchers at the department of public health In Rotterdam’s University Medical Center released a study that many are applauding.
Senior researcher Suzie Otto explained that, “Our study adds further evidence that mammography screening unambiguously reduces breast cancer mortality.” The researchers showed that women who received 3 mammograms before they were diagnosed with breast cancer, reduced their risk of dying from the disease by 49%. There was an 84% reduction in death in women ages 70 to 75. This is good news for women in the U.S. who have been sent mixed messages about this type of cancer screening. Many women have been discouraged from receiving mammograms because of the 2009 federal guidelines that called for less frequent screenings. What the Dutch study shows is that regular mammograms can reduce the risk of advanced breast cancer in women.
Plan for expected and unexpected medical costs. Use our retirement calculator to see how prepared you are.
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Posted on December 14, 2011 by Erin
Some good news in retirement planning! Last week, consulting firm, Towers Watson, found that out of the companies that had halted their 401(k) matching programs, three-fourths of them have now once again begun the practice.
The end of matching programs started back in 2009 when it was more evident that the economy was not getting better and corporations’ bottom lines began to suffer . Though the savings programs were still available to employees, the days of receiving big matches were no more. Now, Towers Watson has found that out of the 231 companies that had admitted to stopping their matching, 205 have brought it back and 8 out of 10 of the companies reinstated the match at the same levels that they had previously offered.
This is great news for those who still contribute to their 401(k)!
How is your retirement saving coming along? Will you have enough to last you throughout your entire retirement? See when and if you’ll run out of money by using our retirement calculator.
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Posted on December 13, 2011 by Erin
In a continuation of end of year retirement fund reminders and wrap ups, it’s a good time to let you know about two important dates that are coming up very quickly. The first is December 31st. This is the last day of the year that you can make a 401(k) contribution that will count for your 2011 tax return. So if you haven’t put in $16,500 (or $22,000 if you’re over 50), you better hurry up! You only have a few weeks.
Next up is of course, tax day, April 17th. We know it’s only December, but this is a date that seems to sneak up on a lot of people every year. After the clock strikes midnight and it turns into 2012, you can still make IRA contributions up until April 17th, but you will need to be specific as to what year it is for. The financial institution that holds your IRA will assume that the contribution is for the year that you made the deposit.
Two very important dates that can help you save more for your retirement!
Do you have to play catch up with your retirement savings? Use our retirement calculator to see where you stand.
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Posted on December 9, 2011 by Erin
This time of year, it’s pretty easy to feel bad about your weight. The holidays bring with it rich foods that are difficult to pass up, more days where you feel that eating these types of foods are justified and the weather is typically not the most conducive to exercising, leaving us all a little more lazy. But feeling bad about yourself is no way to live life! So in the spirit of the holidays, here’s some good news I came across – A little extra weight may actually be a GOOD thing!
In a 2005 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was found that overweight people (25 to 29.9 Body Mass Index) had a lesser chance of dying than those with a BMI that was normal or low. People over age 70 showed that statement to be even stronger. It was also discovered that a little extra weight can help people with osteoporosis by protecting their bones. And let’s not forget that some extra pounds can make you appear younger by plumping up your face! Of course, being too overweight is no joke and is bad for your health. Getting healthy should be an important goal in your life, but during the holidays, it’s sometimes nice to be reminded of how having that extra holiday cookie wouldn’t necessarily be the WORST thing in the world!
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Posted on December 8, 2011 by Erin
This year, workers have continued to contribute to their 401(k) plans, yet the money in those accounts continues to drop. According to Fidelity, the balances have dropped almost 12 percent from June through the end of September. How can it be that more people are investing more money while their work places are matching, yet these people seem to be further away from their retirement savings goals now than they ever were before?
A few different reasons. Remember the credit downgrade from Standard and Poor’s 500 index and the European debt crisis earlier this year? These helped the markets become shakier than they were previously and the stock market reacted by declining. Luckily, because 401(k)’s usually include a mix of bonds along with those volatile stocks, the damage was less than it could have been. Bonds saw good investment gains in the third quarter of this year which helped to offset the deep declines from stocks. Fidelity also reported seeing a small increase in hardship withdrawals from 401(k) which also contributed to the decline in balances.
Is your money still in a 401(k)? Do you intend to keep it where it is or do you have other plans?
Relying heavily on 401(k)’s for your retirement income? See how safe you are from volatile markets by using our retirement calculator.
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