6 Ways the SECURE Act May Impact Your Retirement

The new Setting Every Community Up For Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, just signed by President Trump, is the broadest piece of retirement legislation passed in 13 years. Ultimately, the law focuses on retirement planning in three key areas: 1) mo… Continue reading

Election 2020: How Pete Buttigieg’s Plan Could Help Family Caregivers

Pete Buttigieg has a plan to help those in need of long-term care. A really ambitious plan. The South Bend, Ind., mayor and 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful recently released his Dignity and Security in Retirement proposal, part of his campaign’s e… Continue reading

Expect a Little Better Service From Social Security Soon

If you’ve ever experienced a long wait to get help from the Social Security Administration, the agency has some good news for you: the pace is about to pick up a bit. Repeated cuts to the agency’s administrative budget over the past decade by Congress … Continue reading

Expect a Little Better Service From Social Security Soon

If you’ve ever experienced a long wait to get help from the Social Security Administration, the agency has some good news for you: the pace is about to pick up a bit. Repeated cuts to the agency’s administrative budget over the past decade by Congress … Continue reading

Shopping for the New Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits

Beginning this year and continuing into 2020, Medicare Advantage plans (ones from private insurers typically for people 65 and older) have increased flexibility to provide coverage for what the government calls supplemental benefits. These are services… Continue reading

OPINION: How the U.S. Could Afford Medicare for All

(This article originally appeared on The Conversation site.) Health care is Americans’ No. 1 priority, based on recent polls, so it’s no wonder it’s been a hot topic in the Democratic primary. Every candidate is offering a plan, ranging from Vice Presi… Continue reading

401(k) Early Withdrawals Will Be Easier: Be Careful!

Taking money out of your employer’s 401(k) plan while you’re still on its payroll is about to get easier. The federal government’s new rules about “economic hardship” withdrawals from retirement savings plans like 401(k)s go into effect in January 2020… Continue reading

Shopping for Medicare? What to Know About the New Plan Finder

(The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services updated its Medicare Plan Finder on October 9, 2019, to address one of the flaws that the Next Avenue story on October 8 had pointed out. The story now reflects that.) The Fall Open Enrollment Period for … Continue reading

Gov. Gavin Newsom: Creating a Master Plan for Aging in California

When he ran for governor of California in 2018, Democrat Gavin Newsom pledged that if he won, he’d create a Master Plan for Aging for the state and its residents. One reason: the Golden State’s 65+ population is projected to grow almost 90% by 2030, to… Continue reading

What to Read About Climate Change

(Climate change is a top election issue for Next Avenue readers. So, we’ve enlisted the expertise of Craig Miller, a science journalist who has been reporting on the subject since 2008. Here is his first article. Since this is a new topic area for us, … Continue reading