November 16, 2015

Your weekly link to grown-up news and information from newspaper and

magazine publications, news organizations and web resources nationwide.

IN THIS ISSUE

Health

Medicare

Money

Taxes

Social Security

Legal Issues

Scams

Driving

Caregiving

Travel

End of Life

HEALTH:

Americans' Blood Pressure Control Improving, But What Else Can Be Done? Lowering systolic blood pressure to 120 significantly reduces risk for cardiac events and death. CNNHealth, Nov. 12.

5 Uncommon Health Tests to Ask Your Doctor About: In addition to a mammogram and colonscopy, these lesser-known tests can be vitally important. Grandparents.com, Nov. 9.

Belly Fat May Be More Dangerous for the Heart Than Obesity: No one would mistake a beer gut for a sign of health. But a new study finds that carrying extra pounds around the middle can be very dangerous. USA Today, Nov. 9.

What You Need to Know About COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition that makes it difficult for millions of Americans to breathe. Next Avenue, Nov. 9.

Lower Cholesterol With Diet Instead of Drugs: Even when taking a cholesterol-lowering drug, healthy eating and exercise are needed to maximize benefits, experts

say. The New York Times, Nov. 9.

When Something Goes Wrong At The Hospital, Who Pays? There's no hard-and-fast rule for how hospitals handle cost of care when patients have bad outcomes and fault is disputed. Kaiser Health News, Nov. 11.

MEDICARE:
How Much You'll Pay for Medicare in 2016: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced their cost adjustments for next year. Here's what beneficiaries can expect. The Huffington Post, Nov. 12.

MONEY:

Paying Off your Mortgage: Good Idea or Not? Being debt-free in

retirement has its advantages. But getting there might be more costly than you think, particularly if you're not already maximizing your contributions to your retirement accounts. USA Today, Nov. 14.

Four Smart Strategies to Help you Save for Retirement: Baby boomers and Gen Xers have something in common: Few of us have saved enough money for retirement. But there's a limit to how much money we can devote to retirement savings - or is there? USA Today, Nov. 14.

8 Ways to Go Wrong With an Inherited IRA: An inherited individual retirement account lies at the tricky 3-way

intersection of estate planning, financial planning and tax planning. With do-overs granted exclusively by IRS fiat, 1 wrong decision can lead to expensive consequences. Bankrate.com, Nov. 11.

How to Use a Reverse Mortgage to Protect your Retirement Income: Such loans, where you borrow from the equity in your home, can help you preserve your nest egg, leave a legacy, or both. MarketWatch, Nov. 11.

5 Year-End Retirement Planning Tips: Make these last-minute moves to qualify for important retirement savings tax breaks. US News and World Report, Nov. 9.

3 Questions You Must Ask Before Buying An Annuity: Annuities, particularly certain types, can play a legitimate role in creating retirement income. But investors considering an annuity need to take care to assure they're buying an investment that benefits them as much as the person selling it. Real Deal Retirement, Nov. 9.

Required IRA and 401(k) Withdrawal Rules for

Retirees: The old saying "you can't take it with you" is definitely true when it comes to Uncle Sam and your tax-deferred retirement accounts. The Huffington Post, Nov. 9.

5 Tips to Help Navigate an Often Treacherous RMD Landscape: Many retirees are under the impression that the calculations for determining their mandatory required minimum distributions, commonly known as RMDs, are simple and easy to do. This is not always the case. MarketWatch, Nov. 9.

The 60/40 Stock-and-Bond Portfolio Mix is Dead in 2016: Years ago, managing your investment portfolio was pretty simple: Invest in 60% stocks and 40% bonds, and rebalance your assets once a year. But financial advisers are increasingly moving away from this traditional model of asset allocation. USA Today, Nov. 9.

Don't Compare Your Savings to That of Your Peers: New research suggests that knowing co-workers' 401(k) balances won't motivate you to save more. MarketWatch, Nov. 9.

TAXES:

7 Hidden Tax Breaks for Retirees: Managing your taxes in retirement can be quite an undertaking. And when it comes to your taxes, there are many tax write-offs you should consider. The Motley Fool, Nov. 15.

5 Tax Strategies to Boost your Retirement Savings: A tax-conscious investor will find the most tax-efficient investments to allocate his or her money in, lowering money spent on paying taxes and successfully saving for retirement. MarketWatch, Nov. 10.

SOCIAL SECURITY:
5 Things to Know About the New Social Security Claiming Rules: The budget bill signed last week by President Obama included perhaps the most significant change in Social Security benefits since 1983. Money, Nov. 10.

LEGAL ISSUES:
5 Things People Forget to Include in Their Will: Many people overlook writing a will until they become parents, launch a business or buy a first home. And even when they do finally craft this important document, it is easy to overlook some important details. GOBankingRates.com, Nov. 12.

SCAMS:

Beware: Zombie Debt Collection Scams are on the Rise: Zombie or phantom debt collection scams are on the rise with fake collectors going after debts that don't exist: They've either been made up, paid off, discharged or forgiven. But victims are paying up out of fear. CNNMoney, Nov. 11.

9 Ways to Protect Yourself From Elder Financial Abuse: The financial exploitation of seniors by those closest to them is on the rise. Credit.com, Nov. 11.

DRIVING:
It's Never Too Soon To Plan Your 'Driving Retirement': A recent report by researchers at Columbia University found that older adults who give up driving are nearly twice as likely to suffer depression as those who stay behind the wheel. NPR, Nov. 9.

CAREGIVING:
Taking Care of Your Aging Parents? It's Going to Cost You: Anticipating and preparing for the costs involved can help protect your finances. US News and World Report, Nov. 13. What to Do When Being the Caregiver Is Not an Option: Not everyone has the resources and stamina to take on the role, and it's OK. Next Avenue, Nov. 9.

TRAVEL:
5 Top Cruising Tips for Seniors: From selecting an itinerary to staying healthy at sea, here are five things every retiree should know. US News and World Report, Nov. 10.

END OF LIFE:
Head Off Squabbles Among Your Heirs: Conflicts over inheritance have become a growing problem. Don't assume your family is immune. Kiplinger's Retirement Report, Nov. 2015.

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