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 »
For a variety of personal reasons, some of us continue to work after age 65. And when you do, you might delay taking your Social Security retirement benefits. You might mistakenly believe this means you cannot enroll in Medicare as well. Or, you might decide to keep your group health benefits from your employer, feeling… Read more »
In many families, finances and estate talk are taboo. Other families laugh and make jokes like, “Well, guess who just lost their inheritance!” No matter what kinds of family dynamics exist in your life, talking about what will happen after a person dies can be a painful and scary discussion, but a necessary one. It’s… Read more »
After 40 or 50 years of working, you could find yourself retired for another 20 or 30. To support yourself without a job for 20 or 30 years, you should be planning for retirement during your entire working life. However, your concerns and strategies for retirement will change as you age. In Your 20’s. While… Read more »
Now that you enrolled in a new health insurance plan, it is up to you to get the most out of it – including tax deductions. California led the way in enrolling previously uninsured Americans during the recent ACA open enrollment. It didn’t go smoothly, and it sure wasn’t easy. In the end, over one… Read more »
According to the most recent (2012) Household Financial Planning Survey conducted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, only 31% of financial decision makers have a comprehensive financial plan. If the survey had asked respondents to define comprehensive financial plan, few probably could have; most people define financial plan synonymously with retirement plan. In… Read more »
If you are still without health insurance, or wish to change your current plan, you still have a little time to select and apply for new Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant health insurance. You must apply by March 15, and March 31 is the close of this initial Open Enrollment Period, for an April 1, 2014… Read more »
Is your doctor accepting your health insurance plan? It’s hard to tell, even for your doctor’s office. When you call and ask, you probably tell them you have a PPO from one of the top three insurers. Let’s use Anthem Blue Cross as an example. If you have a doctor who takes Anthem Blue Cross… Read more »
Timing is everything! Many people have crossed my path over the years, and some have done much better than others. Why is that? With all other key factors remaining equal – strategy, funding, education, or marketing – the primary difference was due to timing. For example, it made sense to buy a home in 1996… Read more »
About 8,000 Americans turn 65 every day and almost all of them qualify for Medicare. If you are one of them, here is what you can expect: a lot of junk mail. If you joined AARP, you will be receiving approximately 2-3 items per week from them in the 6 months leading up to your… Read more »
The 3rd annual Clinton Health Matters Conference will return to the Coachella Valley January 13 – 15. As part of the foundation’s Health Matter Initiative (CHMI) and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the conference will unite corporate, non-profit, sports and media leaders to discuss partnerships and action steps to address two key issues: prescription… Read more »
The emotional trauma of dealing with a loved one’s death can be devastating. If you are also the one who has to handle the financial aspects, dealing with all the details can seem overwhelming. Following is a checklist of items to consider: Your most immediate concern will be to notify family and friends of the… Read more »
If you’ve ever completed a financial plan, you know how much work it is to prepare. So, after all that work, you’re done, right? Wrong. The world is constantly changing, the markets are constantly fluctuating, and so is your life. If your plan for the future is going to be of any real use, it… Read more »