Bidenomics Strikes Another Inflation Blow to Retirees and the Middle Class

Title: US Inflation Rises in February in Sign Price Pressures Remain Elevated

Article Snip: "Consumer prices in the United States picked up last month, a sign that inflation remains a persistent challenge...Prices rose 0.4% from January to February, higher than the previous month's figure of 0.3%, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Compared with a year earlier, consumer prices rose 3.2% last month, faster than January's 3.1% annual pace.

Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called "core" prices also climbed 0.4% from January to February... "

Reference: www.voanews.com
Bidenomics,Inflation,Feb. 2024 CPI, CPI,Persistent Inflation Under Biden,

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11 States That Will Tax Social Security Benefits in 2024

Title: 11 States That Will Tax Social Security Benefits in 2024

Article Snip: "...These are the 11 states that tax Social Security benefits in 2023 and are expected to do the same in 2024: Colorado..."

Reference: yahoo.co

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I’m a Retirement Expert: These 7 States Are Better for Retirement Than Florida

Title: I’m a Retirement Expert: These 7 States Are Better for Retirement Than Florida

Article Snip: "..the state’s ongoing insurance crisis is spiraling toward catastrophe and the hurricanes that have long plagued Florida’s summers and falls are becoming more frequent and severe. All of that, plus the state’s emergence as an epicenter of America’s political and culture wars, is making some people rethink the Sunshine State as the go-to retirement destination. But which states offer a better alternative?...“Alabama is one of the most tax-friendly states for retirees,” said Shelley. “The state has no taxes on Social Security benefits, pension income or withdrawals from retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs. This makes it an attractive destination for retirees looking to stretch their retirement income. In addition to its tax-friendly policies, Alabama also boasts a low cost of living"

Reference: finance.yahoo.com
Best States to Retire,

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How some boomers are overcoming loneliness and finding new friendships in retirement: 'It's been a lifesaver'

Title: How some boomers are overcoming loneliness and finding new friendships in retirement: 'It's been a lifesaver'

Article Snip: "...She attempted to mitigate her feelings of isolation by reading and doing various projects at home, but Maki told me that between not having close contact with family members and living alone in a new city, she reached a point where "enough is enough." Her outlook shifted in March of last year when she..."

Reference: www.businessinsider.com

More Reading: The One Thing That Can Hurt Your Health In Retirement: How You Can Easily Address It

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Is your Federal Thrift Savings Plan Using 'Harmful' Woke ESG

Title: Sen. Lee introduces bill to protect taxpayer dollars from woke ESG funds

Article Snip: "...“Last year, the Thrift Savings Plan began allowing federal employees to invest their taxpayer-funded salaries into ESG plans. The U.S. Government has no business propping up woke scams like ESG. ..."

Reference: www.lee.senate.gov
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, No ESG at TSP Act,

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Social Security Beneficiaries Are NOT Getting a Fourth Stimulus Check

Title: No, but websites and social media are spreading misinformation about supposed ‘stimulus checks for seniors'

Article Snip: "...claims that new ones are on the way are due in part to the growth of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in creating content, says McKenzie Sadeghi, AI and foreign influence editor for NewsGuard, a company that monitors misinformation in online media.

Imminent stimulus checks are a staple of “content farms,” she says — supposed news sites that regurgitate dubious information and often rely on AI-generated articles with little or no human oversight. ..."

Reference: www.aarp.org
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Misinformation, Beware of AI,

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Keeping a Mortgage After 65: A ‘No Brainer’ or a Big Risk?

Title: Keeping a Mortgage After 65: A ‘No Brainer’ or a Big Risk?

Article Snip: "Conventional wisdom dictates that retiring with debt — especially a debt as large and significant as a mortgage — is financially dicey at best and potentially ruinous at worst.

That’s not how Brian Lindmeier sees it. ..."

Reference: www.nytimes.com

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Essential Estate Planning for American Expats: – Resident in Singapore Paperback

Title: Essential Estate Planning for American Expats: – Resident in Singapore Paperback

Article Snip: "There are millions of U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents (commonly known as "Green Card" holders) residing outside of the U.S. It is notoriously difficult for US exposed international entrepreneurs and American Expats to easily access credible help in Estate Planning. Our Singapore-based practice has seen an upswing in the number of Asia based clients who have issues related to US Estate Taxes. This book is therefore a key resource. Not only do we explore key elements of the estate planning process but we also touch on the international tax implications. While writing this book in summer 2020, Jui Seck lost his mother. Weeks later, I lost my father - Hayden T Joseph CPA. My dad, who is responsible for me becoming an international tax professional, passed away at our family home in Miami after a long illness. So, for both Jui Seck and myself, this book is not only born of professional observations but also, our very personal experiences. What makes this book different is that we are not trying to sell you any prepackaged products. We simply wish to emphasize just how important estate planning is, and to equip you with the tools needed to protect your legacy. No book can be a substitute for sound legal advice. As an international entrepreneur or expat, it is essential to find the right team to help guide you through this process. I deliberately use the word "team" because it is impossible to find a single person that knows everything when it comes to international estate ..."

Reference: Amazon
Essential Estate Planning for American Expats: – Resident in Singapore Paperback

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Super Bowl LVIII has lowest attendance for any non-pandemic edition of the game

Title: Super Bowl LVIII has lowest attendance for any non-pandemic edition of the game

Article Snip: "...Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal, Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas has resulted in the lowest announced attendance for any non-pandemic Super Bowl. Officially, 61,629 are here for the game. ..."

Reference: www.nbcsports.com

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If You’re Retired, Do You Still Need Life Insurance?

Title: If You’re Retired, Do You Still Need Life Insurance?

Article Snip: "...It depends, but in general people tend to be underinsured early in life and overinsured later in life. Before making any decisions, get a needs analysis. ..."

Reference: www.kiplinger.com
Do You Still Need Life Insurance in retirement?

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Nalcrest - A Florida Retirement Community for Letter Carriers

Nalcrest - A Florida Retirement Community for Letter Carriers

From the article: "...One of the most unique retirement communities in all of Florida is located about an hour outside of Orlando in Polk County. The community’s name is Nalcrest, and the unique thing is that with very few exceptions, all of its residents are retired US Postal workers. ..."

Article Reference: www.floridaforboomers.com
Nalcrest, Florida, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Retirement Community for Letter Carriers,

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Here is the average income for retirees in the US — how do you compare?

Title: Here is the average income for retirees in the US — how do you compare?

Article Snip: "...Americans hoping to retire soon aren’t likely to feel that the timing’s ideal. Even those with decades worth of savings are taking huge hits, no thanks to the triple whammy of inflation, high interest rates and a volatile stock market. ...Social Security retirement benefits averaged... "

Reference: moneywise.com
Average income for retirees (Feb. 2024),

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2024 Elections | Biden WILLFULLY retained classified information, including top secret documents and shared them

Key things we learned from the special counsel's report into Biden's handling of classified documents

Snippet of Article: "...on his staff, saying he took responsibility for “not having seen exactly” what they were doing. “I take responsibility for not having seen exactly what my staff was doing,” Biden said, when asked by a reporter ...The special counsel report found that Biden willfully retained classified information, including top secret documents, and knew he was in possession of some documents as far back as 2017, and shared some of that information with the ghostwriter of his 2017 memoir. ..."

Source: www.cnn.com

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Secure Act 2.0 | This bill creates even more changes to the way you need to plan for retirement.

Title: Secure Act 2.0 | This bill creates even more changes to the way you need to plan for retirement.

Article Snip: "Whenever there are sweeping laws like this, there is usually a period of time during which law makers have to clarify the legislation. ...The first big change comes to RMDs. The original Secure Act...Changes to Roth accounts... Spousal Inheritance Options... TSP Factors"

Reference: www.fedweek.com

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Traveling Abroad? | Credit card, etc. usage and the currency exchange

Title: Money in Italy: Banks, ATMs, cards & currency exchange

Article Snip: "...Always choose to be charged in EUR, the local currency

One thing you should be aware of if you use a credit or debit card abroad, is something called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). How it works is that when you pay, you might be asked if you want to be charged in your home currency. While that sounds nice and easier to understand, it means that the exchange rate applied is chosen by the retailer's bank. As a general rule, this won't be as good as the rate your own bank would give you (after all, it's in your bank’s interest to keep you happy).

Instead, always opt to pay in the local currency to make sure you get the best deal. ..."

Reference: wise.com

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Hopefully You Are Not Missing This Rare Opportunity for 5.25%+ Certificate of Deposit Rates (CD) Instead of Meager Bank/CU Savings Rate

We are NOT offering investment advice. We offer you the 'referenced' facts for you to make your own decisions.

Title: Hopefully You Are Not Missing This Rare Opportunity for 5.25%+ Certificate of Deposit Rates (CD) Instead of Meager Bank/CU Savings Rate

"The Fed has maintained a higher interest rate for a period in an effort to reduce inflation. That means banks and credit unions should be offering you a good rate on CD's ...a rate that is likely to drop several times in 2024 as the Fed is pressured to do so. If you want to capture this rate or better, now looks like the time. We have noticed many offerings that are appealing as opposed to the average savings account rate of less than .50% return. One example offered by a reader states that he or she has captured a 5.25% CD (simple interest, not compounded) for seven months with a $5,000 minimum. This is a considerable difference in the savings rate. Don't let your money sit idle and leave money on the table that you do not have to lock up for years. "

Reference: Federal Retirement News
Certificate of Deposit Rates (CD),Investing,CD's vs. Savings,

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Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program FAQs

Title: Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program FAQs

Article Snip: "The Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) which will provide health insurance to eligible Postal Service employees, Postal Service annuitants, and their eligible family members starting in 2025. The PSHB Program coverage will replace Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) Program coverage for these groups. "

Reference: www.opm.gov
Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB),Medicare,

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This California retiree collects — and returns — old postcards

Title: This California retiree collects — and returns — old postcards

Article Snip: "Lowell Joerg says he ‘likes to send history’ through the mail...The 95-year-old Stockton, CA, retiree mails his finds to the places they depict — a longtime hobby he calls his “redistribution of happiness” project. ..."

Reference: news.usps.com

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OPM Application for Court-Ordered Benefits for Former Spouse (PDF)

Title: OPM Application for Court-Ordered Benefits for Former Spouse

Article Snip: "...Use this application if you are the former spouse of a Federal employee/annuitant covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), you wish to apply for a court-ordered retirement benefit, and you have obtained a court-order acceptable for processing. You can also find this form on our website at www.opm.gov/retirement-services/my-annuity-and-benefits/life-events?#url=Court-Order. Supporting documentation must be submitted with this application. This includes ..."

Reference: www.opm.gov
Forms, Application for Court-Ordered Benefits for Former Spouse (PDF), RI 84-1, SF 3119

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Surprise! If You're a Medicare Enrollee, You May Have to Pay for These Expenses on Your Own.

Title: Surprise! If You're a Medicare Enrollee, You May Have to Pay for These Expenses on Your Own.

Article Snip: "...Medicare provides health coverage to millions of seniors today. But even with that coverage, retirees commonly have to reach into their wallets to cover expenses that Medicare won't pay for. Here are a few items that fall into that category. ..."

Reference: www.fool.com
Medicare, Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage,

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