Tag: Medicare Planning

10 Retirement Websites Every Woman Should Bookmark (Ep. 128)

10 Retirement Websites Every Woman Should Bookmark (Ep. 128)

Social Security, Medicare, old retirement accounts, long-term care, and even your credit report can all raise questions as retirement gets closer. Knowing where to find reliable information can make those decisions feel much more manageable.

In this episode, I share 10 websites I believe every woman should bookmark for retirement planning. I explain where to review Social Security records, understand Medicare, search for forgotten retirement accounts and unclaimed property, research long-term care and caregiving resources, check a financial professional’s background, and review your credit reports. My goal is to help you gather useful information, spot anything that may need attention, and ask better questions before making important retirement decisions.

Key points:

  • How to review your Social Security earnings record, benefit estimates, and other important account information
  • Where to learn about Medicare coverage, enrollment, costs, and free local health insurance counseling resources
  • How to search for forgotten 401(k)s, pensions, bank accounts, checks, insurance proceeds, and other property
  • Where to find caregiving and long-term care resources and understand services that may be available locally
  • How to check financial professionals and credit reports for disclosures, errors, unfamiliar accounts, or concerns
  • And more!

Resources:

Websites:

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What Women Are Telling Us About Retirement: Their Goals and What Keeps Them Up at Night (Ep. 127)

What Women Are Telling Us About Retirement: Their Goals and What Keeps Them Up at Night (Ep. 127)

Retirement can bring a surprising mix of excitement and uncertainty. 

Having enough money matters, but so do the questions about health, purpose, family, taxes, and whether you’re making decisions you’ll feel comfortable living with.

In this episode, I share what women in the Simply Retirement Community told me about their biggest retirement goals and worries. I walk through themes including financial independence, travel, health, Social Security, Medicare, taxes, and investment decisions. I also explain why defining what you want retirement to look like can help you ask better questions, evaluate your choices, and understand how the different pieces of your retirement plan fit together.

Key points:

  • How defining what you want your money to support can make the question of “enough” more personal and useful
  • Why travel, health, mobility, independence, family, purpose, and legacy shape retirement beyond the numbers
  • How Social Security, Medicare, healthcare, taxes, and long-term care create overlapping retirement decisions
  • Why understanding a financial recommendation includes asking what it costs, what you give up, and what could change
  • How education, good questions, and clear explanations can help you make decisions when retirement feels uncertain
  • And more!

Resources:

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What Happens to Your Health Insurance When One Spouse Retires? (Ep. 111)

What Happens to Your Health Insurance When One Spouse Retires? (Ep. 111)

Healthcare decisions can become overwhelming quickly once retirement enters the picture, especially when one spouse is nearing Medicare eligibility, and the other is not.

What happens if you lose employer coverage earlier than expected? How do you compare COBRA, Medicare, and ACA plans without creating confusion later?

In this episode, I walk through the healthcare decisions many couples face before and during retirement. I explain how Medicare enrollment works, why COBRA can create unexpected long-term issues, and how healthcare costs often change once employer coverage ends. 

We also discuss the planning challenges couples face when spouses retire at different times, how ACA tax credits may still apply for some retirees, and why understanding your options early can help reduce stress later.

Key takeaways:

  • Why delaying Medicare while on COBRA can create permanent late enrollment penalties later
  • How employer health insurance costs often rise sharply after moving onto COBRA coverage
  • Why couples retiring at different ages may need two separate healthcare planning strategies
  • How ACA tax credits may still help some retirees lower healthcare expenses before age 65
  • Why healthcare decisions should also be evaluated from the wife’s long-term perspective
  • And more!

Resources:

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