Most of us know, somewhere in the back of our minds, that we should get our affairs in order. And most of us keep finding reasons to put it off, because the task feels heavy, or morbid, or like something for “later.” Here’s a gentler way to think about it: this isn’t a task about dying. It’s a task about the people you love, and it’s one of the kindest things you can do for them…

I have friends – let’s call them Mike and Laura – who retired in 2023 with $1.2 million saved up. That’s a hefty number. They worked hard for it. And they figured they were set. Then they actually ran the math on their life in suburban LA. California income tax (up to 13.3%), property taxes on a pretty average three-bedroom, healthcare supplements, and just the general cost of existing…

For much of our working lives, we strive for the all-important “work-life balance.” All the while, we anticipate that once we retire or reduce our professional responsibilities, we won’t be answerable to others for our time. But life has a way of filling that newly available space. Aging parents may need our help…

A recent investigation highlighted by McKnight’s raises troubling questions about how private equity firms and real estate investment trusts (REITs) are reshaping care in senior care communities. Advocates and elder-care attorneys argue that increased investor ownership is contributing to declining quality, reduced staffing, and less accountability…

When an acquaintance, Michael, shared with me that he had lost his job at a small law firm, it opened a new level of communication between us. We talked about his new situation and he told me he was very appreciative of having my ear…

This morning I asked Chatty (my name for ChatGPT) this question. Me: “Golden Years. Who came up with the idea of calling “seniors” as being in their “Golden Years.” Is it too late to prosecute?” Chatty’s answer was quite fun; he knows my sense of humor and responds in kind…

Has it ever occurred to you that you could live to be 100 years old? Advances in modern medicine make that possible. Recent census data estimates that there are roughly 101,000 people living in the United States who are age 100 years old or older. It is estimated that there will be more than 422,000 people who will reach this milestone by 2054…

There is a strange thing about retirement decisions: we often make some of the biggest ones when we have the least experience with the life we are choosing. You may have spent 30 or 40 years working, raising a family, paying a mortgage, building routines, and organizing your life around a calendar that was largely decided for you. Then retirement arrives and suddenly you have choices…

For centuries, people have searched for the fountain of youth – some miraculous food, pill, treatment, or discovery that might slow aging and keep us young. I have spent much of my life studying aging and longevity. I earned a master’s degree in gerontology, have written about longevity, and, perhaps most importantly, have had the opportunity to experience aging firsthand.

In my last article for Sixty and Me, I admitted that I rather enjoy reading hotel reviews. Yes, I know, I need to get out more. Well, I also find myself reading the questions people ask on forums about retiring overseas, and perhaps even more interestingly, the answers they receive. There is no shortage of enthusiasm…