This post was last updated on February 24, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

If you’re required to take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), then knowing your options is important. Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) are a useful tool to keep in mind.

Healthcare is not getting cheaper. Are you prepared to cover your healthcare expenses throughout your retirement?

Healthcare is cited as the number one cost retirees face. Even if you have a pension, it can be tricky to ensure all your needs are covered. You’ll want to consider all your options, including Medicare, health insurance offered with your pension, Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA), COBRA, and the Marketplace.

When discussing retirement planning, it’s crucial to prepare for the most significant expenses you’ll be facing. While you can control some of these, one cost that will only get higher is healthcare. Unfortunately, as you get older, your body will require more maintenance and upkeep, which can lead to more hospital visits, medications, and other treatments.  

To ensure that you’re ready for rising healthcare costs, we want to outline the best way to plan for them during retirement. Whether you’re going to retire in a few years or a few decades, it’s never too soon (or too late) to prepare. Here’s what you need to know. 

This post was last updated on March 30, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

There are many rising costs senior citizens have to contend with, but you might be able to stop your property taxes from rising any further. We took a look at programs affecting the Kansas counties surrounding Kansas City to see how you can save on property taxes.

Kansas City is full of activities for virtually anyone – especially retirees. There’s so much to do, you might even have a hard time fitting everything into your schedule!

From professional sports teams to outdoor activities to fine arts, there’s truly something for everyone. Kansas City also has a rich history worth exploring as well. We’re a little biased, but Kansas City is a great place to retire!

We all love our retirement accounts. Saving for the future gives us something to look forward to and reminds us how our hard work will pay off down the road. 

A 401(k) is one of the most popular and common types of retirement plans we have access to today.. By diverting money from our paycheck into our 401(k), the goal is to save enough so that by the time we retire, we can live comfortably without a change in lifestyle.

The One Big Beautiful Bill affects retirees in many ways. But how will it change Medicare? Although it’s too early to tell, there will be some immediate changes and several potential long-term impacts you need to be aware of.

We provided a broader overview in our article, "How the One Big Beautiful Bill Affects Retirees." Now we’re going to discuss how this new law impacts Medicare and what you can do to prepare.

This post was last updated on March 30, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Rising costs and running out of money are a huge worry for many retirees. However, moving forward, you may be eligible for a new “tax freeze” on your Missouri personal property bill. Every little bit helps!

For the recently widowed, there are many painful questions that have to be answered. Unfortunately, many of those questions are about money. When you should be focusing on family and saying goodbye, you instead have to deal with questions about loss of income and the decisions that need to be made. 

For widows and widowers approaching retirement, many of the money-related questions have to deal with Social Security. Because a spouse has spent his or her entire life working and paying into the system, it doesn’t seem right for it all to go to waste. Shouldn’t the widow be entitled to the Social Security benefits of the deceased?

President Trump signed into law the ‘Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement’ Act (SECURE Act) on December 20, 2019. It became effective on January 1, 2020. The SECURE Act is considered a part of the government’s spending bill and will affect retirement savers inevitably. 

The legislation puts into place several provisions that are designed to strengthen retirement security across the country. It also includes several common-sense reforms that are considered long overdue. These reforms are designed to make retirement more accessible and easier for many Americans.

When you start thinking about how Medicare will cover your health care needs, you should consider making one major decision. That decision will be whether you choose to enroll in federally run Original Medicare or go for a private insurance alternative.

Most people overall are satisfied with their plan of Original Medicare, besides the unpredictable out-of-pocket costs, as well as not having dental and vision care coverage. However, Private Medicare plans provide solutions to these issues and many other benefits.

Earning a pension is a feat all to itself. Maintaining the security of your pension becomes even more important once you enter retirement. Luckily, there are programs like the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) looking out for your pension as well.

Although the name can be misleading, the PBGC is ran by the federal government to ensure retirement security for pensioners. There are laws governing what benefits you might receive if your covered pension fails. This could be another consideration for whether you should take a lump sum instead of a pension.

Saving for retirement is a big deal. The average American will spend nearly a million dollars between the time they retire and their death. Social Security payments won’t cover those expenses, so having savings and investments is essential. 

One of the most common retirement plans is the 401(k). It’s a benefit that some jobs offer. You and your employer generally get some sort of tax advantage, which makes it a popular choice.

This post was last updated on February 25, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

It seems like Roth conversions are all the rage, but are they really the right thing for you? There are many potential benefits, but there are some trade-offs to consider as well. The decision to use a Roth conversion incorporates a much longer timeline than many other tax-saving strategies.

This post was last updated on March 30, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 significantly changed our tax landscape. Most changes were temporary and set to expire or “sunset” at the end of 2025. However, this didn’t exactly happen.

There are so many different strategies for retirement. It can be overwhelming. Direct indexing is not for everyone, but for the right situation, it can be a real benefit.

Unfortunately, the more you make, the more taxes you pay. It might become one of your biggest concerns in retirement. However, not everything has to be complicated.

This post was last updated on May 27, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Retiring in the United States can feel quite expensive. Whether you’re looking for adventure, a break from modern American political discourse, or just looking for a cheaper lifestyle, living overseas might fit the bill.

Choosing the right time to draw Social Security can feel overwhelming. It’s tempting to draw as soon as possible, yet also nerve-racking to permanently reduce your benefits if you file early. What if you wait to draw at a later age?

Deciding when to file for Social Security is a personal decision. It’s always best to start with your goals and other retirement income sources, then build a cohesive plan.

This post was last updated on May 26, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

The 401(k) retirement plan remains one of the best savings options for Americans. Both employees and employers contribute to an account which invests in mutual funds, index funds, or target-date funds, consisting of stocks, bonds, or both. Over time, the account can grow and provide you with a stream of income to last throughout retirement.

Getting accurate and timely information is critical to your success every tax season. Unfortunately, not all of the details about your financial life show up in your tax documents. Your accountant will need your input to understand the context of your tax documents.

You don't want to miss out on any potential tax savings or make a mistake on your taxes. This is why communicating and collaborating with your financial planner and accountant is so important. Timely and accurate information can prevent problems and possibly keep more money in your pocket.