Retirement Watch Weekly
Bob’s Journal for 10/31
Choose Your Medicare Open Enrollment Guide Carefully It’s Medicare Open Enrollment Period. As I’ve advised several times, Open Enrollment this year is unusually important because of significant changes in Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. Medicare is complicated, and most people have numerous options. So, it’s important to seek help in evaluating the […]
Bob’s Journal
October 24, 2024 Some Notable Events That Grabbed My Attention This Week Gold Miner Stocks Join the Gold Rally Gold set a series of record price highs in 2024, and my recommended portfolios have been along for the ride. But, as I pointed out in the Aug. 29 Bob’s Journal, stocks of gold mining companies […]
Bob’s Journal for 10/17
Social Security Inflation Adjustments for 2025 Are Set The Social Security Administration (SSA) last week released the cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for 2025, based on the Consumer Price Index through September. In January 2025, benefits payable to Social Security beneficiaries will increase 2.5%. The SSA estimates this will increase the average benefit by $50 per month. […]
Close A Major Estate Planning Gap: Questions Your Spouse and Adult Children Must Be Able to Answer
In my new Retirement Watch Spotlight Series, I’ll share my newest breakthrough strategies for protecting your assets and growing your portfolio, including how to prepare for the next market downturn. Click here now to learn more. […]
Bob’s Journal for 10/10
Medicare Advantage Plan Cutbacks for 2025 Become Clearer; Latest Policy Change Deals Another Blow Medicare Open Enrollment begins Oct. 15 and will fully reveal how much plans and their pricing will change for 2025. Preliminary data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) give us an early indication of how significant the changes will […]
Bob’s Journal for 10/3
The Big Moves in China Many investors have been fixated on China for the last week or so, and with good reason. Significant stimulus moves by the government had direct and substantial effects on the markets. China’s Shanghai CSI 300 Index went from a 52-week low to a 52-week high in less than two weeks. […]
Lower Growth Suddenly Worries the Fed
The Federal Reserve, now worried about slow economic growth, shifted its focus from inflation to the labor market. The unique feature of the current economic cycle is growth wasn’t fueled by private sector borrowing. Instead, government borrowing and spending powered the economy. That’s why the rapid increase in interest rates beginning in 2022 didn’t trigger […]
An Answer to Today’s Long-Term Care Crisis
The cost of long-term care insurance (LTCI) is moving relentlessly higher. But the good news is the cost has declined for some LTCI policies with attractive features. LTCI has been on a wild ride for almost 20 years. After the financial crisis, many issuers of traditional LTCI left the market. Others stopped issuing new policies […]
