Medicare and Health Insurance
Health Insurance for 55 and Older: What It Costs and How to Afford It
Covering health insurance from 55 to 65 can be expensive. Here’s what your options are and how to plan for the cost.
Articles by Kathleen Coxwell
Retirement Jobs
Working in Retirement: How a Job Affects Social Security, Medicare, and Taxes
Working in retirement can boost your income and your plan. See how a job affects Social Security, Medicare, and taxes, and how to find work you want.
Earning
Do Social Security Benefits Change When You Stop Working?
Social Security uses your top 35 earning years. Stop early and your projected benefit gets cut. Here’s what the math shows.
Retirement Planning
2026 Catch-Up Contribution Limits: 401(k) and IRA
After 50, you can contribute up to $32,500 to a 401(k) and $8,600 to an IRA in 2026. Here’s how catch-up limits work at every age.
Budgeting & Spending
Living on Social Security Alone: 11 Strategies for Making It Work
The average Social Security benefit for retired workers is $2,071 a month. Millions of retirees live on that. Here’s where to start.
Retirement Savings and Investments
What Rate of Return Should You Use for Retirement Planning? Here’s the Range.
Use 6–8% while you’re saving for retirement, 5–6% while you’re withdrawing. The right rate depends on your asset mix and timeline.
Planning
Hiro Finance Is Shutting Down: Here Are the Best Alternatives for Users Looking for a Smarter Financial Planning Tool
Hiro Finance is gone. Compare the best alternatives, including a powerful AI tool built for smarter financial planning.
Retirement Planning
Best Books on Retirement 2026: 27 Picks for Planning and Purpose
Books on retirement planning, purpose, and healthy aging that Boldin readers keep recommending, plus top picks for gifts.
Retirement Planning
5 High-Impact Retirement Planning Strategies Most People Never Use
Most people skip retirement planning strategies with the highest payoff. Here are 5 of them, including one that’s essentially free money.
Annuities
Suze Orman on Annuities: Pros, Cons, Rates, and Pitfalls
What does Suze Orman say about annuities? They can offer guaranteed lifetime income, but fees, taxes, and surrender charges are real trade-offs.
Retirement Planning
Social Security Optimization Strategies: 15 Tips to Maximize Your Benefits
Delaying Social Security to 70 can add $100,000+ in lifetime benefits. These are the planning strategies that make the biggest difference.
Social Security
Is Social Security Taxable? Federal Rules, State Taxes, and Earnings Limits
Up to 85% of your Social Security can face federal income tax, and 8 states tax it too. See the thresholds, the new senior deduction, and 2027 earnings limits.
Retirement Planning
Retire at 62: What It Takes to Make It Work
At 62, Social Security is up to 30% smaller and Medicare is 3 years away. Here’s how to plan for both and know if your portfolio is ready.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Emotional Intelligence and Money: Are You an Emotionally Intelligent Investor?
Money is not all about numbers and analysis. Emotions can help and hurt your financial security. Learn how to be an emotionally intelligent investor.
Your Career
The Smart Case for Retiring Earlier Than You Think
Arthur C. Brooks argues that staying in your career too long is a real risk, and that most successful people retire later than they should.
Retirement Planning
Retirement Tax Planning: How to Keep More of Your Money
Retirees often pay more in taxes than they expect. Here’s how to plan withdrawal sequencing, Roth conversions, and RMDs for a lower bill.
Retirement Planning
Free Life Expectancy Calculator + the 10 Most Accurate Tools
Use this free life expectancy calculator to see your odds of reaching 80, 90, or 100, alone or as a couple. Then compare the 10 most accurate tools.
Medicare and Health Insurance
Health Insurance Age 62 to 65: Average Cost Before Medicare
Average health insurance cost from 62 to 65 often tops $1,000 a month without a subsidy. See real cost ranges and how to plan for it.
Happy Retirement
The Odyssey Plan: Design 3 Futures Before You Retire
The Odyssey Plan helps you explore bigger possibilities, test tradeoffs, and choose with real confidence.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Roth 401k Limits for 2026: Contribution and Catch-Up Rules
The 2026 Roth 401k limit is $24,500, plus catch-up for age 50 and up. See the new rules, including who has to use Roth for catch-up starting this year.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Find a Lost 401(k) for Free: National Registry, DOL Database & More
31.9 million forgotten 401(k)s hold an estimated $2.1 trillion. Search the National Registry, DOL database, PBGC, and more for free.
Lifestyle
How to Live Without Money: Lessons From People Who Did It
People like Jo Nemeth and Mark Boyle lived without money entirely. Here’s what they learned about community, self-reliance, and security.
Retirement Savings and Investments
10 Questions to Ask Yourself During Market Volatility
When markets feel uncertain, asking the right questions matters. These 10 questions can help you review your financial plan and make smarter decisions during vo…
Retirement Savings and Investments
The One Chart to Review Every Time the Markets Get Unsteady
Review the long term trajectory of the S&P 500, see how long historic recoveries have taken, and learn how to protect your financial security.
