Article Snip: "For many retirees, selling their home is one of the biggest financial windfalls they’ll see outside of work — especially if they’ve owned it for decades...IRMAA is calculated based on your household Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). It generally includes capital gains, meaning the net profit from the sale of a home can push your income over the threshold, according to the AARP. ...surcharge becomes a consideration if you sell your home at any point after turning 63."
Reference: www.aol.comSaturday, January 31, 2026
Friday, January 30, 2026
“It Can’t Perform Miracles”- OPM Director Pulls Back Curtain on Retirement System
Title: “It Can’t Perform Miracles”- OPM Director Pulls Back Curtain on Retirement System
Article Snip: "...for the first time, applications made via the Online Retirement Application (ORA) are surpassing those made via paper. The director said there are currently 107,000 applications sitting in ORA. ...notes that OPM is completing ORA applications in less than 40 days from when they are received, twice as fast as paper claims. "
Reference: www.fedmanager.comFlashback Finance: The Cost of Retiring the Year You Were Born
Title: Flashback Finance: The Cost of Retiring the Year You Were Born
Article Snip: "...Just like groceries, gas and home prices, the cost of retiring is subject to inflation. Here is a look at what it cost to retire in the year you were born. ...For boomers and Gen X, the challenge is unique: you are the "bridge generation," tasked with funding a 30-year retirement using modern tools while navigating a cost of living that has soared since your first paycheck."
Reference: www.kiplinger.comMonday, January 26, 2026
People Are Sharing The Money-Saving "Cheat Codes" They Wish They'd Figured Out Sooner, And I'm Taking Notes
Article Snip: "... 5. "Switch insurance every year. I usually save $300, where if I stayed, I would be paying $300 more. ...14. "I finally retired last year, but when I was working, every time I got a raise, I pretended" ...20. "Contribute to your sa..."
Reference: www.buzzfeed.comWarren Buffett's Latest Advice on Debt, Parenting, Picking a Job
Title: Warren Buffett's Latest Advice on Debt, Parenting, Picking a Job
Article Snip: "...The famed investor, 95, also offered timeless advice about parenting, moving on from mistakes, choosing a job, and living a full life during the two-hour CNBC special titled: "Warren Buffett: A Life and Legacy."
Many people "love spending beyond their income" by racking up credit-card debt, but that's a path to ruin, ..."
Friday, January 23, 2026
Requirements to maximize the $6,000 tax credit for Social Security retirees
Title: Requirements to maximize the $6,000 tax credit for Social Security retirees
Article Snip: "...The new federal deduction for older taxpayers represents one of the most targeted tax relief measures for retirees in recent years. Unlike broad stimulus checks or across-the-board rate cuts, this benefit is narrowly designed to reduce taxable income for people aged 65 and older between 2025 and 2028. Its timing is not accidental. It arrives in an environment defined by persistent inflation, higher living costs for seniors, and growing pressure on fixed retirement incomes.
The deduction functions as a tax shield rather than a refundable credit. That distinction matters. By lowering adjusted taxable income, it reduces federal income tax liability dollar for dollar at the retiree’s marginal rate. Economically, this encourages consumption..."
Can the flu shot actually give you influenza?
Title: Can the flu shot actually give you influenza?
Article Snip: "...Some surveys have shown that nearly 30% of people believe getting a flu shot can actually cause influenza.
This belief is likely due to..."
Sunday, January 18, 2026
I was told to stop squatting because of bad knees—here’s how I still get an effective leg workout
Title: I was told to stop squatting because of bad knees—here’s how I still get an effective leg workout
Article Snip: "...Rather than stop training my legs altogether, I found ways to work around my pain..."
Reference: www.fitandwell.comSeniors 65+ | What is the IRS 1040-SR? 2025 U.S. Income Tax Return Form for Seniors
Title: Seniors 65+ | What is the IRS 1040-SR? 2025 U.S. Income Tax Return Form for Seniors
Article Snip: "...Form 1040-SR is available as a large print optional alternative to using Form 1040 for taxpayers who are age 65 or older. Form 1040-SR uses the same schedules and instructions as Form 1040 does. ..."
Reference: IRS.govView the DRAFT of Publication 554 Tax Guide for Seniors For use in preparing 2025 Returns
Title: View the DRAFT of Publication 554 Tax Guide for Seniors For use in preparing 2025 Returns
Article Snip: "...This is an early release draft of an IRS tax form, instructions, or publication, which the IRS is providing for your information. Do not file draft forms. We incorporate all significant changes to forms posted with this coversheet. However, unexpected issues occasionally arise, or legislation is passed—in this case, we will post a new draft of the form to alert users that changes were made to the previously posted draft..."
Reference: www.irs.govIRS.gov | E-file: Do your taxes for free
Title: IRS.gov | E-file: Do your taxes for free
Article Snip: "...Choose an IRS Free File Option: Guided tax software
For $89,000 adjusted gross income (AGI) or less
Let the software do the work
You choose from IRS partner tax software companies
Simple questions to guide you
Accurate math calculations guaranteed
Some free state tax preparation and filing..."
Saturday, January 17, 2026
New Food Pyramid
Title: RFK Jr.'s New Healthy Food Pyramid
At a press conference Wednesday, the administration unveiled a new food pyramid with red meat, cheese, vegetables and fruits pictured at the top.
Kennedy described the guidelines as the most significant reset on nutrition policy in history..." Reference: www.npr.org
Bye-Bye, Snowbirds: Wealthy Americans Are Relocating Permanently for Retirement
Article Snip: "...Why head south for the winter and pay for two properties when you can have a better lifestyle year-round in a less expensive state? Permanent relocation is a much savvier retirement strategy, as this financial adviser explains. ..Texas and Florida, have become wealth magnets, while states including California and New York are losing billions from outbound migration.."
Reference: www.kiplinger.comThursday, January 15, 2026
Amazon | J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 2026: For Preparing Your 2025 Tax Return
Title: J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 2026: For Preparing Your 2025 Tax Return
The most up-to-date entry in America’s #1 all-time best-selling personal tax guide
J.K. Lasser’sYour Income Tax 2026: For Preparing Your 2025 Tax Return delivers practical and hands-on guidance for everyday people preparing to file their taxes for the 2025 calendar year. You’ll find timely and up-to-date info about the latest changes to the US tax code, as well as worksheets and forms you can use to make filing your taxes easier. You’ll get the most current insight on how to maximize your credits and deductions, keeping more money in your pocket.
In the latest edition of this celebrated and best-selling series, you’ll find:
Special features that walk you through the most recent Tax Court decisions and IRS rulings that determine how your deductions and credits will work
Simple tips and tricks on how to properly file your taxes, as well as tax planning strategies that save you and your family money Full updates on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and how it could impact your tax
A revised and expanded section on cryptocurrency.
Trusted by hundreds of thousands of Americans for over 80 years, J.K. Lasser’s Your Income Tax 2026 is the perfect resource for everyone looking for the latest and most up-to-date personal tax information to make filing their next tax return a breeze. Reference: Amazon
When Can I Expect My Annual 1099-R Tax Statement From OPM?
Title: When Can I Expect My Annual 1099-R Tax Statement From OPM?
Article Snip: "...If your 1099-R delivery preference is set to Postal mail, we will mail your 1099-R in the last week of January, using the address we have on file for you as of the second week of December. If you have not received your 1099-R by the first week of February, we may not have your current address. Sign in to Retirement Services Online or call us at 1-888-767-6738 to update your mailing address. Your 1099-R will be available online on Retirement Services Online by January 31. ..."
Reference: www.opm.gov5 Hidden Disadvantages of Medicare Advantage Plans
Title: 5 Hidden Disadvantages of Medicare Advantage Plans
Article Snip: "...Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, also known as Medicare Part C, have gained popularity due to their advertised low premiums and extra benefits, such as dental and vision coverage. Private insurance companies administer these plans as an alternative to Original Medicare, often bundling services into one plan. While these plans may seem attractive, they have significant drawbacks..."
Reference: www.medicare.orgUnderstanding Medicare Part D and Prescription Drug Coverage
Title: Understanding Medicare Part D and Prescription Drug Coverage
Article Snip: "...The Medicare prescription drug benefit (Medicare Part D) is offered through private insurance companies and covers most outpatient prescription drugs. It is available as a stand-alone plan to be added to Original Medicare coverage or included in the benefits of most Medicare Advantage plans. Those enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan without drug coverage (this includes some private fee-for-service plans and Medical Savings Account plans) can also enroll in stand-alone Part D plans. ..."
Reference: www.medicarerights.orgMedicare Advantage Can No Longer Cover These Items in 2026
Title: Medicare Advantage Can No Longer Cover These Items in 2026
Article Snip: "...What is Medicare Advantage no longer allowed to cover?
The specific listed services Medicare Advantage is no longer allowed to cover under the new CMS rule include: Alcohol, Tobacco products, ..."
How to Use Your Health Savings Account in Retirement
Title: How to Use Your Health Savings Account in Retirement
Article Snip: "...A Health Savings Account (HSA) is often viewed as a tool for current medical expenses, but its "triple-tax advantage" makes it one of the most powerful and flexible retirement savings vehicles available. By strategically saving and investing your HSA funds during your working years, you can unlock the full potential of these accounts to cover health care costs and even supplement your income in retirement.
After age 65, the account can even serve as a supplemental income source. At that point, the 20% penalty for non-qualified medical withdrawals disappears, leaving the funds subject only to standard income tax ..."
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Medicare mistakes seniors wish they’d known sooner
Title: Medicare mistakes seniors wish they’d known sooner
Article Snip: "... the most serious costs tied to those choices often surface years later. By the time health declines and medical needs increase, options may already be narrowed or gone.
Medicare decisions made quickly or without guidance can carry permanent consequences. Late-enrollment penalties, coverage restrictions, and lost flexibility are frequently irreversible, making Medicare a core retirement planning decision, not a box to be checked.
The remedy, advisers say, is prevention through planning. ...Medicare.gov offers this example: If you wait two full years, or 24 months, to enroll in Part B and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you owe a 20% penalty, reflecting two missed 12-month periods.
For 2026, that would work out as follows:
• Standard Part B premium: $202.90
• Late enrollment penalty (20%): $40.58"

