Losing a spouse is emotionally and financially difficult. I read an article this week on FinancialBuzz.com discussing ways to navigate different benefit types from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and use strategic timing to try to optimize what you receive. If it’s helpful, here are the points to consider. Image by Nattanan Kanchanaprat from Pixabay […]
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Don’t Be an April Fool — Back Up Your Data! March 31st is World Backup Day! World Backup Day falls on March 31st, the day before April Fools’ Day, for good reason: don’t be fooled into thinking it can’t happen to you. Imagine waking up tomorrow and every photo from the last 20 years —
Traveling when we’re older happens frequently! I was surprised by a quiet regulatory update from the Social Security Administration and wanted to share it today. As of December 2025, the SSA paid benefits to approximately 75 million people, of whom about 11 million were under age 65 and receiving disability benefits, and nearly 5 million
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You’re not alone, things catch me off guard, too! This week, I faced something I hadn’t given much thought to for years. My incredibly reliable car, which I maintain regularly, displayed the engine light and VSC light. Hmmm, yikes, I haven’t planned on a new car purchase, now what? The good news is that ignition
It’s that time of year again, except for Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii; Daylight Saving Time (DST) is in effect for 48 states in the USA (aka, we spring ahead one hour!) Daylight Saving Time originated in 1918 as a WWI-era measure to conserve fuel and energy by maximizing evening sunlight, officially established
Inherited IRAs have been in the news of late. Whether you are planning to leave your IRA to someone or you receive someone’s IRA, planning includes understanding the legislative rules that will apply. The Secure Act of 2019 mandated that certain heirs must withdraw all money from an inherited IRA within 10 years of the original account
Keeping up with your digital life is crazy enough. What happens to your digital life after you’re gone is something to prepare for while you’re still living. Some social media accounts now provide the ability to name a “legacy contact” for their platform. PC Magazine provided information on their site, which I’m sharing today. Password
February is American Heart Month. First proclaimed in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, American Heart Month began as a national call to take charge of your heart health—a mission that continues today. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. But you can do a
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What happens to the $$ in your checking and/or savings account when you die? Many people assume their will determines this—but they’re often wrong. Access to cash in life, during illness, and after you’re gone is why I’m writing about beneficiaries for your bank account today. This question comes up often in my work with
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Tax season is officially open in the US. It’s time to gather your tax documents to prepare for your filing! If you don’t have the right paperwork, you could miss out on thousands of dollars in new savings or trigger an audit. Between the massive changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and
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