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They're back! Your kids, that is. Returning to the nest. Are you ready with a financial plan?
Many college graduates are returning home for the first time in several years. Once upon a time, these graduates quickly moved on to their own digs, but today that trend is changing. Because of an uncertain economy, many young adults have decided to spend a few years at home until they have a stronger financial foundation. Others are seeking a way to minimize living expenses while they pay off hefty student loans, attend graduate school, or save for a down payment on a home.
The prospect of living with an adult child may fill some parents with delight, others with dread. In either case, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) advises that it’s important to be aware of the financial challenges that parents will face in this situation. Families that address these issues early have a better chance of preserving harmony. The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants offers these suggestions. Click here |
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Losing your job? Time to think about re-packaging yourself...
With today's economy affecting everyone, you may be thinking your age might be putting you to the head of the "firing line". If you are seeing the writing on the wall, or have already been cut and wonder where to turn...
How to find credit to start small business
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More Americans “Live to Work” Than “Work to Live”
CIGNA Survey Shows Most Link Work and Well-Being; Value Disability Insurance That Protects Income
Would you quit your job if you won the lottery? With the U.S. economy ailing and companies laying off millions of Americans who are anxiously searching for employment, a new CIGNA survey shows that for the majority of Americans, work means a lot more to them than a paycheck to cover the bills.
Work is an essential part of most people’s sense of self-worth and emotional well-being. In fact, one in five Americans say they love their jobs and would continue to work even if they won the lottery. And nearly all Americans say they find value in disability insurance that would protect their income if they couldn’t work if they were ill or injured. read more... |
7 Tips for Shopping on Line...
As more and more older adults are going on-line for shopping, they are seeing that the stress of wading through crowded stores is eliminated but a different stress may replace the physical... The mental stress is sometimes elevated when items are out of stock, websites don't work asnd you worry if your credit information will fall into the wrong hands. Following is a review of what's hot and how to approach the internet shopping experience...read more
How to save money tips:
Gas: Want to find the best gas prices in your town? There are resources on the net to help you find them. Try these websites: GasBuddy.com, MSN Gas Prices, Mapquest, GasPriceWatch.com . Just put in your zip code and you instantly get a list of local gas stations and their price per gallon, plus a map finder.
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Groceries: Whenever you wish you had that coupon, you can't find it, right? Check out these coupon sites: TheCouponClippers.com |
How to save money on your 2008 taxes...
Many opportunities to reduce your tax bill will expire once 2009 begins. With that deadline in mind, here are some tax breaks you should not miss. Tips include: maximize your retirement savings, make your charitable donations, take your losses and ideas for how to get organized. Click here for full article
2008 RANKINGS FOR BEST HEALTH CARE PLANS RELEASED
U.S. News Media Group and The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) today released the fourth annual edition of America’s Best Health Plans on USNews.com. Launched at the start of open-enrollment season, when millions of Americans prepare to select their healthcare coverage, the 2008 Best Health Plans guide provides comprehensive rankings and important consumer information for nearly 700 commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid health plans.
The full rankings of America’s Best Health Plans are online today at www.usnews.com/healthplans, and the top 50 commercial, top 25 Medicare, top 25 Medicaid, and “Honor Roll” health plans will be featured in the November 17-24 issue of U.S. News, available on newsstands on Monday, November 10.
The 2008 America’s Best Health Plans rankings are based on more than 100 aspects of prevention, treatment, and consumer experience, such as how quickly members receive needed care or how well a plan controls blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes. The Best Health Plans guide also identifies 126 plans that chose to report no data.
“America’s Best Health Plans places health plans nationwide on a level playing field and provides crucial information when consumers need it most,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “These rankings recognize the best health plans and identify those that are committed to improving their quality of care through measurement and reporting.”
“Health consumers today are overwhelmed with data and not all of it is clear, let alone trustworthy,” said Avery Comarow, U.S. News editor of America’s Best Health Plans. “The health plan rankings are part of the U.S. News mission to bring consumers data that is reliable, understandable, and timely.”
The complete 2008 Best Health Plans rankings are available at www.usnews.com/healthplans. Highlights of this year’s rankings are featured below:
Top 10 Commercial Plans |
| 1. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (Maine, Mass.) |
| 2. Tufts Associated Health Maintenance Organization (Mass., N.H., R.I.) |
| 3. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England (N.H.) |
| 4. Grand Valley Health Plan (Mich.) |
| 5. Geisinger Health Plan (Pa.) |
| 6. Health New England (Conn., Mass.) |
| 7. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield - Connecticut |
| 8. Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin |
| 9. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts |
| 10. CIGNA HealthCare of New Hampshire |
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Top 5 Medicare Plans |
| 1. Preferred Care (N.Y.) |
| 2. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Southern California |
| 3. Geisinger Health Plan (Pa.) |
| 4. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts |
| 5. Security Health Plan of Wisconsin |
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Top 5 Medicaid Plans |
| 1. Fallon Community Health Plan (Mass.) |
| 2. Neighborhood Health Plan (Mass.) |
| 3. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (N.Y.) |
| 4. Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island |
| 5. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Hawaii |
SOURCE: BUSINESS WIRE
TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS IN THIS DIFFICULT ECONOMY
With turmoil on Wall Street causing many to wonder how they can continue to support their favorite charities, Schwab Charitable released today a series of tips to help donors stretch their charitable budgets — even in tough economic times. At Healthy Aging® we have learned through many letters from people across the country that social wellness is just as important to positive aging as physical fitness. The tips below come at an important time for those who recognize the value of giving back to society as a way not only to help but to make themselves feel more positive about life -- but who may be worried about the economic climate. Click here for tips
Can I afford to retire?
Many authorities in the financial planning field say that you need 80% of your pre-retirement income to maintain your lifestyle after retirement. That figure may or may not be good for you; if you're one of the people who walks to work works in his or her home, for instance, you won't save a penny on commuting. There are those who will still want the latest clothes whether or not they still have to impress business colleagues or not. And, of course, a lot of us want to travel more after retirement than we did before. Click HERE to view a budget worksheet that will help you to find out how much you really need to have a comfortable life.
We will help you do a simple and realistic analysis of your post-retirement income. As simple as it is, it will take some time, dedication, and phone calls on your part to complete. If that seems like a lot to ask, it is. But some time and planning now could make a big difference to you later.
Your first task is to call the Social Security Administration and ask their assistance in figuring out how much you will get by way of retirement benefit from the government. Next, talk to the Human Resources department where you work to get an estimate of the pension benefit to which you will be entitled.
The next step is to project 80% of your current salary -- the amount you will use as your benchmark for post-retirement income needs -- into the future. Click HERE for the table, chart, and directions for calculating this amount. You will then be able to calculate whether or not you can afford to retire.
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