Financial organization is a cornerstone of a healthy financial life. At the most basic level, financial organization saves time and money because it aids in paying bills on time, being able to find needed documents during tax season, providing proof of payment, disputing credit card billing errors and avoiding the stress of dealing with piles… Read more »
We hope that holidays will be joyous occasions—a blend of spiritual joy and lively times with family and friends. No one intends to be Ebenezer Scrooge. “Bah Humbug!” However, the holiday season can create many stressors. In addition to your daily responsibilities, there is gift purchasing, parties, baking, decorating, and the list goes on until… Read more »
Health care planning is a sensitive subject, but given rising expenses, no retirement plan is complete without some kind of provision for health care needs. Here are some guidelines and resources for estimating your needs and expenses. Health care costs are rapidly emerging as a major expense item both before and during retirement. With lifetime… Read more »
You can make the difficult transition into retirement easier by exploring your expectations and desires. With some careful prioritizing, you can design a working plan for retirement that may surpass all your expectations. When most people think of retirement, they imagine leaving a job they’re tired of, getting out of the rat race, and leaving… Read more »
Palm Desert’s J.W. Marriott is now home to the Biggest Loser Resort’s newest venture which opens its doors to guests this September. Palm Desert joins Niagara, NY, Amelia Island, FL, and Chicago, IL, as an option for those looking to transform their life, lose weight and get on the path to good health. “We… Read more »
It’s no secret that the City of La Quinta has been embracing its Healthy Eating Active Living status for a number of years, particularly when it won the Coachella Valley Health Collaborative’s Healthy City Advocate Award not only once, but three times. However, the real secret is that La Quinta has had a focus on… Read more »
Chasing performance. Investors often move out of sectors that are not performing well, investing that money in high-performing investments. But the market is cyclical; and often those high performers are poised to underperform, while the sectors just sold are ready to outperform. Rather than trying to guess which sector is going to outperform, broadly diversify… Read more »
“The question is not how to survive, but how to thrive with passion, compassion, humor and style.” — Maya Angelou Are you just surviving at work – caught up in the day-to-day doldrums of your job? Life is too short to tolerate any sense of dread on Sunday evening as you think about going to… Read more »
Most baby boomers will face seven key events in their last stage of life that will color their finances and investments. Prepare for these events by thinking about them now. Unlike earlier, happier events such as getting married, having children, and moving up the career ladder, some of these events may be dreaded. For this… Read more »
Oftentimes seniors are faced with the reality of living on a fixed income from a pension, retirement income, and/or social security when they retire. A statement often heard when speaking with seniors preparing for, or currently in retirement is, “I am having trouble making ends meet. My monthly income hardly covers expenses, and I don’t… Read more »
We all know the process. Estimate how much is needed in retirement (which can range anywhere from 70% to over 100% of preretirement income), determine available income sources, and then calculate how much to save annually to reach those goals. As you go through this largely mathematical exercise, however, don’t forget the most important part…You… Read more »
Most will agree, open enrollment for Covered California went a lot smoother this year compared to last year. Though there were a few hiccups, you still have time to correct them before you are locked in. If you enrolled in the wrong plan, or you have changed your mind, you have until February 15 to… Read more »
As we enter the New Year, there is no better time to assess your current retirement plan and to set realistic goals for your long-term future. It is never too early or too late to start. Following are a few guidelines to set you in the right direction: Know where you stand. First, thoroughly analyze… Read more »
In November, 38 local organizations received charitable contributions from the 2014 Humana Challenge totaling $800,000, a 25% growth from the previous year. Desert Classic Charities, the local nonprofit entity that organizes the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, presented to nonprofits in three categories: structured programs for children (including Boys & Girls Clubs,… Read more »
Ever wondered how cashews grow? A single nut appears from a colorful pod (called an “apple”) growing on trees in tropical regions like Brazil, Vietnam and India. While the popular nut is in growing demand, the apples are standardly left on the ground or thrown away. As reported by the New York Times, a new… Read more »
Hundreds of thousands of us enrolled in Covered California last year, and even more will enroll this year. For Medicare, thousands of Californians turn 65 every week and choose an Advantage plan, or a Medicare Supplement. With all of these new enrollees selecting new plans in Medicare and Covered CA, it means much more… Read more »
If you are a senior who either wants to possibly change your Medicare Advantage Health Plan or your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan… OR… you want to consider buying one or the other for the first time, now is the time to check out the facts about these plans. Enrollment is open until December 7 after… Read more »
Many people confuse tax planning with tax preparation and only think about the subject when preparing their annual tax return. However, there is little you can do to actually lower your tax bill when preparing your return. If your goal is to reduce income taxes, you need to be aware of tax planning opportunities throughout… Read more »
According to a survey on retirement readiness by the Employee Benefits Research Institute, only 14% of Americans are confident that they will be able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle after retirement. And among those, about 60% have less than $25,000 in savings, so depending on their age, they will most likely not be able to… Read more »
It’s hard to believe, but the open enrollment period for health insurance is almost here. For seniors, that means October 15 through December 7 is the time to review your Medicare Advantage plan and your Part D prescription drug plan. But, for those under 65, open enrollment will be November 15 – February 15. This… Read more »