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Here’s a riddle for you: Some people are reluctant to start me, unless I’m automatic. I’m frequently exhausted when I don’t roll over. I’m sometimes left behind. Retirees devour me. What am I? Answer: A retirement savings plan. New jobs often come with a lot of excitement and steep learning curves. Consider this example scenario: Charlotte, a freshly-hired employee is a little bit overwhelmed. She’s meeting new co-workers, setting expectations, figuring out the coffee [...]

Most Americans know Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister and the leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States until he was assassinated in 1968. Test your knowledge with this quiz about Dr. King. 1. Before attending college and graduate school, how many grades did Martin Luther King, Jr. skip?1 a. None b. One (fifth grade) c. Two (ninth and eleventh grades) d. Three (fifth, ninth, and eleventh grades) 2. [...]

Fifteen years ago, a Health Services Research report described the challenges ahead for the United States as the Baby Boom generation aged into retirement. Four issues were paramount: 1) improving payment and insurance systems for long-term care, 2) ensuring people remain healthy and active as they age, 3) organizing community services so care is readily available, and 4) changing cultural perceptions of aging so everyone remains “integrated into the fabric of community life.”1 Have these challenges [...]

The last bear market in bonds began in the middle of the last century and lasted for about 31 years. Some investors who bought bonds in 1950 locked in relatively low rates of return for a very long time. On January 1, 1950, 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds yielded 2.3 percent.1 As interest rates moved higher, the market value of those bonds diminished. The good news was people could hold bonds to maturity and expect to [...]

New years bring new adventures, and 2018 is no different. To paraphrase Ed Sullivan: 2018 could be a really big year. Here are a few of the events we can look forward to: • Men’s World Cup in Russia. CBS’s power rankings put Brazil at the top, followed by Germany, France, Spain, and Portugal. Unfortunately, the U.S. Men’s team didn’t qualify.1 The Women’s World Cup is in 2019. The U.S. Women’s team are currently ranked [...]

“The holidays are often seen as a time of joy: ruddy cheeks, festive parties, and twinkling laughter, all wrapped in a warm, tinsel-framed glow. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It may be the ‘season to be jolly,’ but not everyone finds joy in the holidays,” writes Annie Parsons for On Being.1 If the holidays become overwhelming, try one of these strategies for restoring your equilibrium:2 • Share with others. Interacting with other people [...]

There is a simple and unsettling reality in the United States. Most Americans are not financially prepared for retirement. Some are completely unprepared. The Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI)’s 2017 Retirement Confidence Survey found almost half (47 percent) of workers have less than $25,000 in personal savings and investments, and about one-quarter has less than $1,000.1 Many are better prepared. Slightly more than half of survey participants were actively saving for retirement. However, not many had [...]

Thanksgiving is the mother of all family dinners. It’s a celebration of our great nation and the many blessings that occur when people unite together in the spirit of communication. As you’re gathered around the table this year, here’s some turkey data trivia to share: - History: In a letter to his daughter Sarah Bache, Ben Franklin wrote he preferred the turkey to the eagle as a symbol. “For in Truth the Turkey is in [...]

All too often, we assume the men and women who fought for our country can take care of themselves. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. There are some important ways ordinary Americans can help those who are returning from battle. One issue that needs to be addressed is hunger. In 2015, the journal Public Health Nutrition reported more than one-in-four veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan had suffered food insecurity during the previous 12 months.1 That [...]