The new year presents the perfect opportunity to refresh and recalibrate various aspects of our lives, with estate planning being a crucial area that demands attention. For retirees and those approaching retirement, this becomes even more critical as you work to protect and preserve the wealth you've built over decades of hard work. As we step into 2025, ensuring your estate plan aligns with recent changes in your financial landscape, family dynamics, and legal requirements is more important than ever.

The holiday season transforms our world into a festive wonderland of twinkling lights and celebrations. Still, it also ushers in a wave of sophisticated scams targeting eager shoppers and generous donors. As we rush to find perfect gifts and support worthy causes, fraudsters are working overtime to exploit our holiday spirit. Understanding these threats and knowing how to protect yourself is crucial for maintaining your security—and your joy—throughout the season.

When it comes to investing, one thing is crystal clear—aligning risk with reward is crucial, especially as retirement approaches. But here's the catch: your risk tolerance isn't static. It shifts and evolves as market conditions change and your personal circumstances adapt. If you’ve been riding a market rally lately, it might be time to pause and ask yourself a vital question—does your portfolio still match your comfort level and long-term goals?

Before You Give: Key Considerations

Giving back is incredibly rewarding, but ensuring your donation has a real, positive impact means taking a few preparatory steps. With holiday charity drives and end-of-year giving appeals, now is the perfect time to focus on giving effectively. Start by defining the causes that are meaningful to you. Is it environmental preservation, homelessness, or community programs? Knowing your priorities will help guide your choice of charities and ensure your funds make a difference.

Retirement is a phase of life when you finally get to enjoy the rewards of your years of hard work. However, it can also present new financial challenges, one of which is managing your existing debt, particularly your mortgage. A common question retirees face is whether it’s wise to use retirement account funds to pay off a home loan.

As the 2024 election approaches, retirees and those nearing retirement may feel a bit uncertain about what lies ahead. Historically, elections have brought about changes that can significantly impact the economy, influencing everything from government benefits to healthcare costs and market stability. However, it’s possible to navigate these changes successfully with the right strategies and a proactive mindset.

Navigating Medicare enrollment can be challenging, but avoiding common mistakes can save time and money.

Have you ever gotten an email or text that appears to come from your bank or a company saying there was an issue and they need information from you? These fishy emails often are part of a “phishing” scam that steals money from its victims.

In retirement, many people opt for a change of scenery. Whether it’s a beach condo, a mountain cabin or a bustling city apartment, they embrace change and are on the move. When it comes to housing after retirement, many are turning to renting rather than owning a house. Even if owning a house is affordable, renting is seen as a savvy financial decision for retirees under certain circumstances. The flexibility and freedom from responsibilities and expenses of home ownership that come with renting is a big reason why many retirees are looking for properties for rent, according to insights from AARP and NerdWallet.

In an age where every penny counts, becoming a savvy shopper isn’t just an option — it’s a necessity. The rise of e-commerce has brought a tidal wave of opportunities to save money, but only for those equipped with the right tools.