Category: Thursday Thoughts

The percentage of Americans over 85 is growing steadily, and with it a new conundrum: Where will the elderly live? For a growing number of folks who are still healthy, the answer is “right at home.” According to the federal Consumer Expenditure Survey, from 1987 to 2003 the percentage of persons over age 85 living […]

Not many years ago, the typical retirement age, 65, was viewed as the onset of old age. Today, gerontologists define matters differently: If you’re between the ages of 65 and 74, you are one of the “young-old.” To be considered “old”, you need to be in the 75-to-84 age bracket.  After that, you’re known, demographically, […]

“I sincerely ask that all beneficiaries are sensible and do not argue.” This wish, expressed by Australian coal-mining billionaire Ken Talbot in his will, has gone unfulfilled. Talbot’s will was drafted in 2002, when his fortune was estimated at $130 million. At his death in an airplane accident in the Congo in 2010, his wealth […]

Even if you are several years away from retirement, it’s not too early to start gathering facts, weighing choices and mapping out your tax and investment strategy. Here are several suggestions that should help you organize your planning. Be aware of the Social Security and Medicare benefits that you will receive. You can receive a […]

An estate plan—and the will, that can be one of its key components—should be dynamic, not static. As changes occur in your life, they need to be reflected in your estate plan. Are you the same person that you were when you made out your last will? Literally, yes; figuratively, probably not—unless you’ve reviewed your […]

Finding a reliable source for investment advice always has been a challenge. It’s especially difficult in today’s investment environment. There’s no shortage of places to turn to for advice. The shelves at bookstores are filled with works from “experts” offering their perspectives as to how, where and when to invest. The Internet and the financial […]

Ensuring financial security for yourself and your family comes at a price. We’re not talking about dollars, but what might be commodities just as precious: your time and concentration. When was the last time that you undertook a review of all aspects of your financial life? Like many people, you’ve probably reviewed your portfolio and […]

There are enough books and other forms of guidance about retirement that one would expect to find all the advice necessary to secure a comfortable retirement. But not all of the advice and strategies necessarily will meet your needs. What’s more, there may be “facts” about retirement and retirement planning that have been conventional wisdom […]

You might get investment advice from any of the following sources: a financial planner a financial consultant a financial advisor an investment advisor an investment representative a stock broker a wealth manager an insurance agent a relative a bank trust officer Which of these sources will owe a fiduciary duty to his or her clients? […]