Thursday, October 16, 2025

Strength Training In Your Late 50s and Early 60s

Title: Strength Training In Your Late 50s and Early 60s

Article Snip: "...Incorporating strength training into your week has remarkable benefits. So, the question is not whether you should incorporate it, but how to incorporate it safely into your physical activity plan. Here is a question from a retiree who is looking for advice on how to get started:..."

Reference: www.military.com
Fitness






Sunday, October 12, 2025

Health Watch | Flu season has arrived – and so have updated flu vaccines

Title: Flu season has arrived – and so have updated flu vaccines

Article Snip: "...In the U.S., all flu vaccines for the 2025-2026 season will be trivalent – which means they are formulated to protect against the three main groups of influenza virus strains. These are an A (H1N1) virus, an A (H3N2) virus and a B/Victoria virus. ..."

Reference: theconversation.com
Health Watch, Flu vaccines for the 2025-2026 season,






Social Security’s COLA announcement is back on, as some furloughed workers return to produce September inflation report

Title: Social Security’s COLA announcement is back on, as some furloughed workers return to produce September inflation report

Article Snip: "...The CPI report, which was slated to be published on Oct. 15, will now be released Oct. 24, according to statement by the BLS. COLA will be released that day, as well, according to a Social Security Administration spokesperson. ..."

Reference: www.marketwatch.com
BLS Inflation DATA, September 2025 Delayed inflation report, Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries Government Shutdown Delays CPI Release,






Winners and losers from 2026 Medicare Advantage star ratings

Title: Winners and losers from 2026 Medicare Advantage star ratings

Article Snip: "...CMS quietly released highly anticipated star ratings data Thursday night. Humana and Aetna saw enrollment in highly rated plans fall, while Elevance’s and Centene’s stars improved. ..."

Reference: www.healthcaredive.com
2026 Medicare Advantage star ratings






Ahh. A story of true love (Not!) | It's All About The Money

Title: A divorced couple considers retying the knot to maximize Social Security payments

Article Snip: "...An ex-spouse gets the same amount regardless of whether you remarry them — up to 50% of your Social Security benefit at your full retirement age, unless their own benefit is greater. But there’s one crucial difference to keep in mind. ..."

Reference: www.latimes.com






Saturday, October 11, 2025

TrumpRX.gov Beginning Jan. 2026 | An official website of the United States government

Title: TrumpRX.gov | An official website of the United States government

Article Snip: "Coming Jan. 2026, Find your medication at the Lowest Price with TrumpRX.gov...TrumpRx doesn't sell medications. Instead, it connects patients directly with the best prices, increasing transparency and cutting out costly third-party markups. ...President Trump is delivering on promises that "experts" said were impossible by taking bold action to lower prescription drug costs for American families—without sacrificing innovation.

Americans have unfairly shouldered the cost of drug development for decades, only to see those same medications sold abroad for a fraction of the price paid in the U.S.

This broken system hasn't just been unfair—it's driven up costs and hurt the most vulnerable among us.

President Trump is changing that with TrumpRx. READ THE EXECUTIVE ORDER BY TRUMP
"



Reference:
Astrazeneca Drug Discounts Achieved by President Trump, trumprx.gov, Jan. 2026,Trump Actions,Lower Drug Prices Under Trump, Health Care Under Trump,






Friday, October 10, 2025

101 Social Security & Medicare Pitfalls...and How to Avoid Them

Title: 101 Social Security & Medicare Pitfalls...and How to Avoid Them

101 Social Security & Medicare Pitfalls
Article Snip: "...The 2025-2026 Edition: Updated with crucial law changes affecting Social Security & Medicare in 2025 and 2026

Is a single, overlooked deadline or a simple misunderstanding about the rules costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in retirement?

Navigating Social Security and Medicare can feel like walking through a minefield. The rules are complex, the advice from friends is often outdated, and one wrong step can lead to lifelong penalties, permanently reduced benefits, and unexpected healthcare costs that deplete your hard-earned savings.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. 101 Social Security & Medicare Pitfalls is the clear, practical, and up-to-date roadmap every American needs to secure the retirement they deserve. This guide demystifies the system and empowers you to sidestep the common traps that catch even the most diligent planners.

Thoroughly updated for 2025 to include major law changes! This edition contains essential, must-have information on the monumental changes that make other guides obsolete:

The Social Security Fairness Act: Understand what the full repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) means for public servants and claim the full, unreduced benefits you've rightfully earned.
The Inflation Reduction Act: Learn how to navigate the new, simpler Medicare Part D structure with its $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket drug costs, replacing the confusing "donut hole" and saving you money.

Inside this essential guide, you will discover how to avoid costly mistakes, including:

Pitfall #6: Missing your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period and facing permanent, lifelong late penalties.
Pitfall #22: Claiming Social Security benefits too early and permanently slashing your monthly income.
Pitfall #69: Mistakenly believing Medicare covers long-term care—a misconception that can devastate your savings.
Pitfall #15: Getting hit with an unexpected tax bill on your Social Security benefits.
Pitfall #47: Missing your one-time window for Medigap guaranteed issue rights and being denied coverage later.
Pitfall #25: Failing to coordinate spousal benefits for maximum household income and survivor protection.
..and 95 more costly pitfalls...
"


Reference: Amazon
101 Social Security & Medicare Pitfalls...and How to Avoid Them,Amazon,Reading,Medicare,






Your Medicare Part D Plan: How to Save by Switching

Title: Your Medicare Part D Plan: How to Save by Switching

Article Snip: "...The drug coverage provided by Medicare Part D is a key part of a retiree’s health insurance, and there are many options to choose from for those who have standalone Part D plans. Since these plans can change from year to year – sometimes dramatically – switching plans may offer big savings. ...During Medicare’s fall open enrollment period (October 15 through December 7 every year), enrollees can review their coverage and, if needed, switch plans. ...you can stay with original Medicare and choose your own standalone Part D plan. The Medicare Plan Finder tool at medicare.gov makes this process easier. ..."

Reference: bc.edu
Medicare Part D,Open Season, Medicare Plan Finder tool,






Claiming the Standard Deduction? Here Are Five Tax Breaks for Retirement in 2025

Title: Claiming the Standard Deduction? Here Are Five Tax Breaks for Retirement in 2025

Article Snip: "...If you’re retired and filing taxes, these tax credits and deductions could provide thousands in relief (if you qualify). ..."

Reference: www.kiplinger.com
Extra standard deduction for retirees who are over 65, Bonus deduction for retired older adults, Car loan interest deduction, Property tax credits on your state income return (if you have one),






Wednesday, October 8, 2025

The Spendthrift Trap: Here's One Way to Protect Your Legacy From an Irresponsible Heir

Title: The Spendthrift Trap: Here's One Way to Protect Your Legacy From an Irresponsible Heir

Article Snip: "..."Is there some way to prevent a financially irresponsible child from squandering his inheritance and winding up on the street or from others trying to take those funds to satisfy debts?"..."

Reference: www.kiplinger.com
estate planning, Spendthrift Trust, Asset Protection Trust, Domestic Asset Protection Trust (DAPT),






Monday, October 6, 2025

Health insurers make a major move older Americans won’t like

Title: Health insurers make a major move older Americans won’t like

Article Snip: "In the U.S., most people get their health insurance via their employer, but if you’re self-employed or retired, you’re in a different pool. ...Medicare, the government-run health insurance plan for seniors and Medicaid, coverage for low-income people and people with disabilities.

Many Americans — 33 million people, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) — now use Medicare Advantage, essentially Medicare benefits offered through private insurance companies that contract with CMS. ...
"

Reference: www.thestreet.com






Friday, October 3, 2025

Big Wins for Present and Future Retirees, As Stock Markets Break Records With Huge Increases

Title: Wall Street ticks to more records

Article Snip: "...The S&P 500 added 0.1% to its all-time high set the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 79 points, or 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.4%. Both also hit records. ..."

Reference: finance.yahoo.com






Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Meet the rich retired boomers who are now ultra-frugal because they are scared of going broke—even after saving for decades

Title: Meet the rich retired boomers who are now ultra-frugal because they are scared of going broke—even after saving for decades

Article Snip: "...wealthy boomers who have retired with at least six figures in savings are feeling the pinch. ...study from Prudential Financial. The Fortune 500 investment, money management, and retirement planning firm surveyed around 20,000 people over the age of 50 and found retirees are living well below their means.

Married 65-year-olds with at least $100,000 in financial assets withdrew an average of 2.1% of their savings annually—that is, nearly half the usual spending rate of retirees
"

Reference: fortune.com
Destruction of Retirees,Baby Boomers Struggling in Retirement,Conservative Boomers Continue to Make the Sacrifices That Have Permitted a Survivable Retirement, Work Ethic - Sacrifice - Economic Commonsense of Baby Boomers, How do you survive retirement?,






Sunday, September 28, 2025

Health Watch | How to future-proof your knees

Title: How to future-proof your knees

Article Snip: "...You might start to notice it as early as your thirties: the dull knee aches when the weather changes, the morning stiffness when you get out of bed. You might think twice about crouching down. They're all unwelcome signs that your knees are not quite the well-oiled joints they once were.

This will be especially true if you have a physical job...
"

Reference: www.bbc.com
Health Watch, Future-proof your knees, Knee Health,






Social Security's Latest 2026 COLA Estimate Is 2.7%, but That Don't Worry, the Government Will Get Most of It Before You See it

Title: Social Security's Latest 2026 COLA Estimate Is 2.7%, but That Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

Article Snip: "...Social Security COLAs are based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) during the months of July, August, and September specifically. This year, September's CPI-W is expected to get announced on Oct. 15, after which the SSA can share an official 2026 COLA. ...But for those who are on Medicare and Social Security at the same time, Part B premiums"

Reference: www.fool.com
Will Medicare Steal Your 2026 COLA,The Plight of the Silent Majority (Retirees on Social Security),






Saturday, September 27, 2025

The 10 Best Travel Hacks Every Active Retiree Should Know

Title: The 10 Best Travel Hacks Every Active Retiree Should Know

Article Snip: "...with careful and creative planning, you can still enjoy exciting adventures on a budget. Here are the 10 best budget-friendly travel hacks tailored for active older people looking to make the most of their journeys. ..."

Reference: www.kiplinger.com
10 Best Travel Hacks for Retirees






Thursday, September 25, 2025

Here's the Net Worth of the Average Retiree (How Do You Compare?)

Title: Here's the Net Worth of the Average Retiree (How Do You Compare?)

Article Snip: "...When calculating your net worth, remember that it includes more than just the cash in your bank account.

Your home, pensions, investments, car, and other real estate play a major role in making up your net worth, including intangible objects like trademarks or patents. ...
"

Reference: www.aol.com
Net Worth of the Average Retiree






Tuesday, September 23, 2025

I'm 63 With an Aging House That Needs Repairs, but I Might Move to a Retirement Community In a Few Years. Is It Worth Making Those Fixes?

Title: I'm 63 With an Aging House That Needs Repairs, but I Might Move to a Retirement Community In a Few Years. Is It Worth Making Those Fixes?

Article Snip: "...In a study by The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence and the MIT AgeLab, 59% of homeowners aged 50 and older reported that home maintenance has become more challenging for them over time. And that percentage rose to 69% for those ages 70 and older.

Moving to a retirement community could help alleviate the burden of home maintenance. You may find that...
"

Reference: www.kiplinger.com






Destruction of Retirees | Your Medicare Costs Are Set to Soar: What to Expect Over the Next Decade

Title: Your Medicare Costs Are Set to Soar: What to Expect Over the Next Decade

Article Snip: "Medicare beneficiaries will face higher premiums, deductibles and surcharges starting in 2026...The 2025 Medicare Trustees Report projects a steady increase in Medicare Part B premiums and IRMAA surcharges over the next nine years. The projections are based on expected rises in healthcare costs, particularly for outpatient hospital services and physician-administered drugs. It's crucial for retirees and those approaching retirement to understand these projections for proper financial planning. ..."

Reference: www.kiplinger.com
Medicare Costs Soar,Destruction of Retirees,Destruction of Seniors,2026 Medicare,






Saturday, September 20, 2025

Health Watch | Study: Aspirin cuts colorectal cancer recurrence in half

Title: Study: Aspirin cuts colorectal cancer recurrence in half

Article Snip: "...The study included more than 3,500 patients with colon and rectal cancer from dozens of hospitals in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. Patients whose tumors showed a specific genetic mutation in the PIK3CA signaling pathway. The mutation, according to Medical Xpress, was found in approximately 40% of patients. Those patients were randomly chosen to receive either 160 mg of aspirin daily or a placebo for three years after surgery. ...For patients with the genetic mutation in PIK3, the risk of recurrence was reduced by 55% in those who received aspirin compared with the placebo group."

Reference: www.newsnationnow.com
Health Watch, Aspirin cuts colorectal cancer recurrence (Study),Colorectal Cancer,