The new appeal of high-yield bond funds With short-term interest rates at historic lows, many investors are turning to "high-yield" bond funds to generate more income from their investment portfolios. They could make sense for you, too.
The new must-do task of financial planning: identity protection Long gone are the days when taking steps to protect your identity was optional, or something you did only if you had reason to believe your identity had been compromised. Today, identity protection is an essential part of your financial plan.
How older drivers can cut vehicle costs For most of us, driving is a necessity, and so is doing it as cost-effectively as possible - especially for those 50 and older who live on fixed incomes. Saving money on automobile-related expenses like gas and insurance can help free up cash for other important things. Fortunately, many tactics can help you minimize veh...
Tips for seniors on managing health care costs Finding the Medicare coverage that best fits their needs and their pocket books is challenging for many seniors. Health care plans make changes to their coverage. People's health conditions change. Not keeping on top of these changes can mean problems. Suddenly seniors may find they don't have needed coverage, their doct...
Facing surgery? How you can help ensure the best outcome When you're facing surgery, it's normal to feel anxious. Many people find it daunting to completely surrender their well-being to others. Fortunately, you can do a lot to prepare yourself for surgery and anesthesia, and take steps to help your physicians, including your anesthesiologist, achieve the best possible outcome...
Making the most of your money when it comes to estate planning Setting up an estate plan is a good investment for the future. But you can also be a careful steward of your financial assets now, with careful and organized planning as you go through the estate planning process.
Life insurance: a safety net for your family Fallout from the long economic downturn has made it more important than ever for families to insulate themselves against financial shock. And yet, ownership of individual life insurance stands at a 50-year low, according to the industry group LIMRA. That represents a big risk to financial security in a lot of American ho...
One size doesn't fit all life insurance needs Life is full of phases and milestones, and each one could change your life insurance needs. Whether you're starting a new job or retiring, single or just married, deployed by the military or leaving the service, buying a home or having a baby, each transition in your unique circumstances merits a financial re-examination.
Manage diabetes and its expense Managing diabetes often comes at a great financial cost. Just ask the nearly 26 million people living with the disease, many of whom pay out of pocket for treatment and self care. Whether you pay out of pocket or through your insurance co-pay system, you're not alone if you feel you're paying too much to gain control of ...
Boomers benefit from hearing aids as they stay in the workforce longer Let's face it: The Great Recession put a kink in many Americans' retirement plans. Combine that financial blow with the general uncertainty regarding Medicare and the future cost of private health insurance. So what does this mean for individuals? It means people need to do what they can to age productively. It means the...
