Money, Wealth & Power—A Daily Look at the Financial World
Recent federal data shows that some retirement rules Americans grew up hearing about from their parents are now out of date. New trust fund projections from the Social Security Administration, higher contribution limits from the IRS, and updated poverty figures from the Census Bureau suggest that several assumptions that shaped retirement planning for decades no…
A growing number of mid-sized American cities are dangling financial incentives to lure new residents, and retirees stand to benefit the most. From direct cash payments to state-level tax advantages, these programs aim to reverse population decline while offering newcomers real savings on housing, taxes, and everyday costs. The catch: most of these perks come…
Retirement researchers such as Christine Benz and income strategists at BlackRock are converging on a similar message for 2026: the right mix of assets matters more than ever for retirees who need steady cash flow without taking on excessive risk. Their guidance, along with insights from financial planners who are reshaping portfolios for the next…
Retirees across the United States lose thousands of dollars each year to preventable tax errors that compound over time, eroding savings that took decades to build. From mandatory withholding on botched rollovers to surprise Medicare premium surcharges triggered by a single year of elevated income, the federal tax code punishes missteps with penalties that hit…
As investors hit the halfway mark to retirement, typically in their 40s and 50s, the stakes rise sharply for every dollar put to work. Financial firms such as Check Rowe Price and Navy Federal Credit Union describe this period as a transition from pure growth to a balance between growth and protection, when portfolio choices…
Millions of Gen X workers, born between 1965 and 1980, face a shrinking window to prepare for retirement as Social Security trust funds move closer to depletion. The 2025 Trustees Report projects the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance fund will be exhausted by 2033, with combined trust funds lasting only until 2034, one year sooner than…
The legal architecture governing retirement accounts in the United States contains a structural vulnerability that most savers never consider: in a severe market crash, the securities held inside 401(k) plans and IRAs may not be as firmly “yours” as account statements suggest, and in a broker-dealer failure, those assets can be frozen or pooled under…
Homeowners facing an $18,000 repair bill and unwilling to take on new debt confront a difficult choice among three retirement accounts, each with distinct tax consequences. The question of whether to pull from a Roth IRA, a traditional IRA, or a 401(k) depends on withdrawal rules that most people misunderstand, and the wrong move can…
Retirees such as competitive globetrotters described as “Competitive globetrotters seeking early retirement” are proving that work does not have to stop when Social Security starts, it can simply move overseas. Recent guidance on side gigs in retirement highlights that travel friendly work like Trave related roles, teaching and seasonal hospitality can keep income flowing while…
Retirees holding less than $2,000,000 in traditional IRA and 401(k) savings face a growing chorus of advice to convert those accounts to Roth IRAs. The pitch is simple: pay taxes now, enjoy tax-free withdrawals later, and dodge required minimum distributions. But for most people in this savings range, the immediate tax hit and a chain…