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Percentage that “age in place”

Keith Pleas | May 24, 2026

"I agree — so how do the CCRCs manage the increasing costs of the people they’ve promised to keep forever as the ratio of those needing little care to the ones needing much more tips toward the latter group?"

- Marilyn Lavin

Behind The Finery

Mark Crothers | Sep 3, 2026

"Thanks for giving me a chuckle."

- S Phillips

A bleak picture for retirement in the future?

R Quinn | Sep 2, 2026

"If this wasn’t in the US my comment doesn’t apply"

- R Quinn

The best state to retire? Take a close look.

R Quinn | Sep 3, 2026

"It sure does especially considering the public paid for the state pensions."

- R Quinn

Make the Attic Great Again

Dan Smith | Sep 1, 2026

"A time capsule from 1993! That would have made a great party theme."

- DAN SMITH

State Farm Dividend

Bogdan Sheremeta | Sep 2, 2026

"I just spoke with my State Farm agent and New Jersey is the only state that is NOT receiving a dividend!"

- Rick Connor

Finding A Balance

Andrew Clements | Sep 2, 2026

"Thanks, Tom. “Everything comes at a price” is a good way of putting it. We can look back and remember all the things we missed, while our kids may remember something quite different, that we were there when it mattered. I suspect we’re often harder on ourselves in hindsight than those we were worried we neglected."

- Andrew Clements

Inflation Hedge

ArticleAdam M. Grossman | Aug 29, 2026

THE OPEN KITCHEN restaurant has been a fixture in Charlotte, North Carolina for 75 years. The restaurant has an old-time feel, with memorabilia, including menus from years gone by, lining its walls. Those old menus provided David Enna, a financial journalist, with a laboratory for examining the effects of inflation. What did Enna find? The oldest menu on display is from 1963. To state the obvious, today’s prices make those from the 1960s look quaint. Back then, spaghetti and meatballs cost just $1.10. Today, it’s $15.50. But, as Enna points out, that was more than 60 years ago, so increases are to be expected. Over the past 60 years, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has averaged 3.8% per year. That isn’t unreasonable, especially since that average includes the 1970s, when inflation sometimes topped 10%. What’s of more concern, though, is what consumers have experienced more recently. Since 2020, prices across the economy have risen 29%. And though those increases have slowed, the Fed is still struggling to ratchet inflation back to its preferred 2% level. This has given investors renewed interest in strategies to defend against inflation. At first glance, this doesn’t seem like it should be such a difficult problem. The U.S. Treasury offers an investment specifically designed for this purpose: Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). These are bonds that are guaranteed by the federal government to increase in value with inflation. And though I hesitate to use the words “bond” and “exciting” in the same sentence, today many investors are finding the return on TIPS compelling. The 30-year TIPS is now paying close to 3% on top of inflation. If inflation averages 2.5%, for example, over the next 30 years, this bond will end up returning a total of 5.5% per year, and with minimal risk. That sounds good in theory, but do these bonds make sense for your portfolio? It’s worth taking a closer look. The first thing to note is that this seemingly attractive 3% yield only applies to 30-year TIPS. Yields on shorter-term bonds are lower. So unless your investment horizon happens to be exactly 30 years, these bonds may be of limited practical value. Putting aside the yield question, though, a more fundamental challenge with individual TIPS—and individual bonds in general—is that they’re a cumbersome way to build a portfolio. Even if you didn’t mind the process of buying bonds one by one, which can be tedious, there’s the fact that it’s hard for most people to be able to forecast their cash flow needs each year into the future. That’s a problem because choosing maturity dates is the foundation on which bond portfolios are built. Ideally, if you can align the maturity dates of the bonds in your portfolio with your future cash needs, then you can hold bonds to maturity, which is when the issuer would promise to pay you back in full. But that redemption value is guaranteed only at maturity. Buy a 20-year bond and sell it after just 10 years, and there are no guarantees. A bondholder could easily lose money selling an individual bond before maturity. Given these challenges, would a TIPS fund be a better choice? To be sure, bond funds are much simpler to purchase and to manage, but they typically offer even less protection from losses than individual bonds. Most recently, shareholders in TIPS funds were disappointed by how they performed in 2022, when inflation spiked to 9%. Investors expected that to be the year when TIPS rewarded investors, but instead, diversified TIPS funds such as the Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (ticker: VAIPX) lost nearly 12%. Why did funds like this fare so poorly when inflation was running so high? The problem is that, at the end of the day, TIPS are still bonds. And though they receive a bump in value when inflation rises, a countervailing force is that they lose value when interest rates rise. In 2022, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates aggressively to fight inflation. The negative impact from those rate increases far outweighed the benefit TIPS received from inflation being higher. That puts investors in a difficult position. If TIPS provide inflation protection in theory, but both individual TIPS and TIPS funds carry limitations, what other options are there? The good news is that not all TIPS funds are the same. Some hold only short-term bonds, and they have historically held up much better than more broadly diversified TIPS funds because short-term bonds are more resilient when interest rates rise. Over the past five years, a fund like Vanguard’s Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (ticker: VTIP) has outperformed a comparable fund (ticker: VGSH) holding standard short-term Treasury bonds every year, as well as this year to-date. It’s important to note, though, that this is relative performance. In 2022, when the entire bond market was under pressure, even short-term TIPS funds like VTIP did still lose money. They just lost less than funds holding conventional bonds. The bottom line: We should never become too wedded to any one strategy. No investment can promise reliable and complete protection against inflation in every market scenario. That said, I do still recommend TIPS and would specifically recommend a short-term fund like VTIP. But I also suggest taking a diversified approach to inflation protection. Here are other steps to consider. If you’re in your 60s and considering when to claim Social Security, that decision offers a powerful lever. Because Social Security benefits increase with inflation and also increase with each year you delay claiming, it’s maybe the most effective way to build additional inflation protection into your plan. What else can you do? Fortunately, you may already own one of the most effective—and underappreciated—inflation-fighting instruments: stocks. While rising prices in recent years have been frustrating for consumers, the result has been that companies have been able to maintain their profit margins. That, in turn, has helped to support their stock prices through this period of inflation. To be sure, some companies have more of an ability to raise prices than others, but overall, stocks are, in my view, a good way to keep pace with inflation. The one thing I wouldn’t do is to buy gold. Despite its reputation, various studies have confirmed that gold really isn’t a reliable inflation hedge. In a paper titled “The Golden Dilemma,” researchers wrote: “Over practical investment horizons, gold is an unreliable inflation hedge,” though they acknowledge that it may be more reliable over longer timeframes—“if the investment horizon is measured in centuries.” Adam M. Grossman is the founder of Mayport, a fixed-fee wealth management firm. Sign up for Adam's Daily Ideas email, follow him on X @AdamMGrossman and check out his earlier articles.

How do you prepare for the long term care cost as retiree?

achnk53 | Jun 21, 2026

"Your close friend’s father’s scenario is one of the reasons I want to be sure to get into a non profit CCRC before we turn eighty. Half of my direct family died with a form of dementia so getting into a facility earlier is a priority. We do not have LTC insurance but the CCRC will not kick my wife out if we run through all of our assets, and it will insure if we need it we will get high quality care when it becomes necessary. As I have written many times before my mother in law lived to 103 as did her aunt so there is a good chance so will my wife."

- DavidHLancaster

This would be a great posting on a web site with the name “HaughtyDollar.”

R Quinn | Aug 28, 2026

"Learning takes many forms and people learn in different ways, sometimes from reading others experiences, sometimes from debate on different points of view. That's why I wrote a section for My Money Journey I would suggest that there is a learning experience available from the comments and criticisms made on this post. I would be pleased if one person was motivated to think about their behavior with CC debt."

- R Quinn

What’s your Domicile?

William Perry | Sep 1, 2026

"I got this newsletter from Andy and it made my head hurt. Chris"

- baldscreen

The Value of Scratch Cooking in Retirement

Mark Crothers | Jul 11, 2025

"Dan, Suzie would nod along in agreement. We're extremely compatible in most areas, but the kitchen isn't one of them. The woman can turn a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee into a full dishwasher load. Wisely, we've agreed that I will do the cooking. It's also best not to bicker within reach of sharp, pointy implements. And Suzie is very happy to let me wait on her hand and foot in the dining arena! I'm also guilty of reracking the dishwasher after Suzie's loaded it 😂"

- Mark Crothers

Percentage that “age in place”

Keith Pleas | May 24, 2026

- Marilyn Lavin

Behind The Finery

Mark Crothers | Sep 3, 2026

"Thanks for giving me a chuckle."

- S Phillips

A bleak picture for retirement in the future?

R Quinn | Sep 2, 2026

"If this wasn’t in the US my comment doesn’t apply"

- R Quinn

The best state to retire? Take a close look.

R Quinn | Sep 3, 2026

"It sure does especially considering the public paid for the state pensions."

- R Quinn

Make the Attic Great Again

Dan Smith | Sep 1, 2026

"A time capsule from 1993! That would have made a great party theme."

- DAN SMITH

State Farm Dividend

Bogdan Sheremeta | Sep 2, 2026

"I just spoke with my State Farm agent and New Jersey is the only state that is NOT receiving a dividend!"

- Rick Connor

Finding A Balance

Andrew Clements | Sep 2, 2026

- Andrew Clements

Inflation Hedge

ArticleAdam M. Grossman | Aug 29, 2026

How do you prepare for the long term care cost as retiree?

achnk53 | Jun 21, 2026

- DavidHLancaster

Manifesto

Sep 2, 2026

NO. 35: OUR ODDS of beating the market averages over a lifetime of investing are so small they’re hardly worth considering. Overconfident investors insist on trying. Rational investors index.

think

Sep 3, 2026

MIRRORING. We often unintentionally mimic others. If, say, our friends are thrifty, we might also spend less. But mirroring isn’t always beneficial: If our neighbors are day traders, there’s a risk we’ll also speculate on hot stocks. Similarly, salespeople often use mirroring to build customer rapport—and we could find ourselves buying products we shouldn’t.

Truths

Sep 1, 2026

NO. 75: IF YOU BUY and hold individual stocks or stock index funds in a regular taxable account, you can defer taxes, just like you can in a retirement account. Any capital-gains tax bill is postponed until you sell. But for this tax deferral to be truly valuable, you need super-low portfolio turnover, holding investments for 10 or preferably 20 years.

humans

Aug 31, 2026

NO. 26: WE TEND to be overconfident—which isn’t a bad thing. Self-confident individuals tend to be happier, have a wider circle of friends and enjoy greater career success. Problem is, if we’re too confident in our financial abilities, there’s a risk we’ll rack up hefty investment costs and make big undiversified bets, both of which could come back to haunt us.

Money Guide

Manifesto

Sep 2, 2026

NO. 35: OUR ODDS of beating the market averages over a lifetime of investing are so small they’re hardly worth considering. Overconfident investors insist on trying. Rational investors index.

Spotlight: Health

Ironman Training Update

Mike Drak | Jun 10, 2025

This past weekend I did the 200k Ride To Conquer Cancer.
On Saturday we rode from Toronto to Hamilton and on Sunday from Hamilton to Niagara Falls.
I knew it was going to be hard because I had only done one 100k training ride so far this year because of the bad weather we were having.
Also I suffer from bad allergies as well as exercise induced asthma and the day before it looked like it was snowing here due to all the white fluff in the air never mind the smoke from the forest fires out west.

Healthcare spending and premiums during a post age-65 retirement- facts and ideas.

R Quinn | Sep 6, 2025

About 5% of the population accounts for nearly half of total health spending, and many of these are older adults with multiple conditions.
Do seniors (65+) pay as much as perceived for health care?
Seniors pay a lot for health care, but it is not that simple. Many, perhaps most, seniors pay no more, even less, out of pocket, than many younger families.
The bulk of spending by seniors is premiums, not the actual cost of care.

Husband will still be working at 65, delay taking Medicare?

Muhlyssa | Feb 9, 2025

In my analysis it will be less expensive for him to stay on employer sponsored coverage than going on Medicare. My understanding is that he could sign up for Part A but if he does he cannot contribute to his HSA.
Anyone have any insight on this, in general?

No, I did not have a heart attack, but I surely got a lot of tests

Richard Hayman | Aug 29, 2025

When my cardiologist called, she used words I rarely hear. I asked her to hold on as I put my cell phone on speaker so my wife could hear. She repeated, “You were right!”
Many weeks before, after my Apple watch suggested I had Afib, I called my cardiologist, who happened to be on vacation. The doctor on call suggested that I go to a trauma-equipped ER hospital.
I arrived unannounced and explained the reason for my visit.

Medicare Signup Goes Awry

Kevin Madden | Jun 13, 2025

Some people’s recent experience with the Social Security and Medicare sign-up process has been smooth. Mine for Medicare? Not so much.
I turned 65 in November 2024 and wanted Medicare Part B to start January 1, 2025. Medicare.gov says that if you apply in the month after your birthday, Part B will start the following month. Perfect! I filed for Medicare on the Social Security site on December 2nd and even included a note that I wanted Part B coverage to start January 1.

A Lifetime of Loss

Edmund Marsh | Dec 26, 2024

WE SUFFER LOSSES throughout our life. During our youth, we might leave old chums behind when our family starts fresh in a new town or when we go away to college. Later, a job loss or a divorce could leave us drained both financially and emotionally. But for most of us, our senior years are when loss hits hardest.
Our body is often the first casualty, especially the face we see in the mirror each morning.

Reverse Hospitality

Edmund Marsh | Oct 12, 2022

IN THE SOUTH, it’s common for a restaurant server or store clerk to refer to me as “sweetie” or “honey.” I’ll often respond by asking, “How did you know my name is Sweetie?” This will usually bring a smile to the face of even a harried worker. Our friendly banter is the worker practicing some of the charm and hospitality that the South is famous for, and me returning the courtesy with “reverse hospitality.” A commercial transaction doesn’t involve just money. Two people are face to face, one looking to serve and the other to be served. There are exceptions, sometimes notable, but most of the time the servers are polite and friendly. They do their best to provide what I want to buy and give me a smile while doing it. I think I have a responsibility to return the favor. Telephone transactions are a little more challenging, but I still try to make it personal with a friendly comment or question like “how’s the weather where you are?” or “do I hear chickens in the backyard?” Am I always patient and diplomatic? No. Sometimes, I’m preoccupied with my own thoughts and needs. I view the person in front of me or on the phone as an obstacle between me and what I want, and I can be brusque. My wife can attest to that. I know, however, that I should give the other person the same courtesy and respect that I want to receive. What does reverse hospitality get me? I can’t say for certain that it puts more money in my pocket. But I also can’t claim that I’m being purely altruistic. If I do plan to ask for a better deal or special service, I’d rather ask it of a new friend. Maybe I can charm…

Social Security Alert?

Edmund Marsh | Jul 12, 2024

My mother received an email today from "Social Security Administration" warning of "Important Changes to Access Your Social Security Account!" It states that "soon you will no longer be able to sign into your online Social Security account using your username and password." It goes on to say in the future, only a Login.gov or ID.me.account, and ends with a big button that says "Sign In to Your Account." I suspect this is bogus. Has anyone else received a similar email?

Avoiding Unhappiness

Edmund Marsh | Jan 20, 2023

"DOES MONEY BUY happiness?" That’s one of the questions in HumbleDollar’s Forum section. I hesitate to say that happiness is a commodity we can buy. But studies—and many people’s personal experiences—suggest a lack of money can bring on unhappiness. A recent paper, “Financial Stress and Depression in Adults” by researchers at the University of Birmingham in England, supports this conclusion. The researchers reviewed 40 studies examining the relationship between depression and financial stress, 32 of which were conducted in high-income countries like the U.S., Japan and the U.K. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that research has found that financial hardship—defined as difficulty affording the basic requirements of daily life—can lead to depression. A lack of money to buy food, make rent or pay for medical services could challenge anyone’s happiness. Such a dire situation can force folks to sell assets or ask for assistance so they can purchase necessities. Lest we think this phenomenon is confined to “the other half,” remember the increasing number of adult children in the U.S. who live with their parents because they can’t afford to live independently. The study also found that absolute income didn’t reliably predict the risk of depression. Rather, it was relative income that was a stronger indicator. Our feelings about our finances are tied to how we measure up against our neighbors, according to the research. We are happier hanging out with people who have the same amount of stuff or the same buying power that we have. Debt is a similarly nuanced measure of the risk of depression. Two of the studies examined indicated that debt can lead to better mental well-being if it eases financial stress or assists us in attaining a coveted status. When we borrow to buy a home or business—and pass a background check…

Holiday Habits

Edmund Marsh | Nov 24, 2024

What creates a family tradition? Why is a certain vacation spot more special than another with the same basic attributes? Why must the family Christmas celebration repeat the annual ritual to seem authentic? Chances are, these events evoke memories of happy times, perhaps shared with loved ones who are long-gone. Traditions often become fixed in our minds as children, when we’re still learning how things ought to be done. We’re entering the season of traditions. In the physical therapy clinic during this time, I routinely ask patients about their own cherished customs. Food is a favorite topic, particularly foods that must make it to the table at the family feast. I especially appreciate responses from patients I know are just a generation or two removed from an immigrant ancestor. I’ll often find someone in the family still preparing grandmother’s signature dish–or wishing they had the recipe. It’s a tangible memory that fills their heart, as well as their stomach. This week, many of us are anticipating some special food as we gather for Thanksgiving dinner. Will we be disappointed? It may depend on who does the cooking. My wife seemed satisfied with her forage among the food offered at her first Thanksgiving with my family–until she had a chance to speak to me alone. “Where are the mashed potatoes?” It seems for her, the meal is incomplete without them. But mashed potatoes were not part of our tradition. Not that we truly had a rigid tradition regarding food. Then, as now, I’ll tuck into whatever is served. I welcome new foods. But given my druthers, a short list of simple fare must also be present. The first is an oven-baked turkey. I won’t turn down your fried or smoked fowl, and I’ll even eat your ham without complaint, but I…

Priceless Pets

Edmund Marsh | Nov 13, 2023

MY FIRST PET WAS a timid pup called Precious, a moniker inspired by the cartoon character of the same name. My four-year-old self felt an affinity for the runt of the litter, so I quickly picked him out. That sweet, little dog had a nature true to his name. I don’t remember his fate but, in those days, pets ranged free in our little town, and I fear he may have met with some mishap. My second pooch arrived when I was age six, while sitting in my barber’s chair submitting to a haircut. A family friend home from college popped her head through the doorway and asked if I wanted a free puppy. Of course, I did. My mother acquiesced, and we brought him home that day. I christened him Butch, because I thought it sounded tough. Maybe I should have tried something gentler. A few months later, Butch nipped a little girl’s heel and was promptly returned to the original owner. In the years since, other dogs have wobbled or walked into my life, dogs whose only price was the promise of a good home. A few were big dogs with big hearts. A couple were little dogs with even bigger hearts. Each asked for scant more than a kind word and occasional scratch behind the ears, but returned all the love they could lavish. None of these dogs claimed any particular ancestry, and none was especially good looking. Even our present family pet, a Labrador retriever named Lottie, would never win “best of show.” All shared one attractive quality, however: They were free. Apparently, free puppies aren’t as popular as they once were, at least not in some circles. One breeder here in Georgia advertises registered Rhodesian ridgeback puppies for $2,500. Another offers Shetland sheepdogs for the…

Planning My Time

Edmund Marsh | Mar 29, 2023

GETTING TO RETIREMENT is lazy work for an indexing aficionado. What could be easier than stuffing money every paycheck into an all-in-one target-date index fund? Even building a two- or three-index-fund portfolio takes minimal effort. Actually retiring, on the other hand, feels like a fulltime job. Who knew that spending money takes more thought than earning, saving and investing it? At age 61, I’m faced with important decisions that I want to get right, including which withdrawal strategy to use, whether to buy an annuity, converting to a Roth or not, and what age to claim Social Security. Just when I thought I had this personal-finance thing figured out, I’m discovering that I’ve only just begun to work on the problem. Then there’s the question of what to do with my time. On that score, at least, I think I may be a step ahead of the game. I discovered at an early age that I’m happiest when I’m busy. In my 20s, work devoured every extra hour I was willing to give. I had no need for other pursuits to quench my thirst for industry. Later, as I moved into my present career, and then on to marriage and a family, I learned to keep my work hours within reasonable bounds. I’m still happiest, however, when the hours not consumed by my job are dedicated to endeavors I consider productive and useful. I derive even more joy when others benefit from my efforts. To that end, I’ve found no shortage of people with needs that I can fill. I expect I’ll find the same is true once I’m retired. For example, as a deacon, I help manage the secular needs of my church. Along with the weekly duties that keep Sunday services running smoothly, I share responsibility for budgeting, planning…

Percentage that “age in place”

Behind The Finery

A bleak picture for retirement in the future?

The best state to retire? Take a close look.

Make the Attic Great Again

State Farm Dividend

Finding A Balance

Inflation Hedge

How do you prepare for the long term care cost as retiree?

This would be a great posting on a web site with the name “HaughtyDollar.”

What’s your Domicile?

The Value of Scratch Cooking in Retirement

Percentage that “age in place”

Behind The Finery

A bleak picture for retirement in the future?

The best state to retire? Take a close look.

Make the Attic Great Again

State Farm Dividend

Finding A Balance

Inflation Hedge

How do you prepare for the long term care cost as retiree?

Free Newsletter

Get Educated

Manifesto

think

Truths

humans

Money Guide

Manifesto

Spotlight: Health

Ironman Training Update

Healthcare spending and premiums during a post age-65 retirement- facts and ideas.

Husband will still be working at 65, delay taking Medicare?

No, I did not have a heart attack, but I surely got a lot of tests

Medicare Signup Goes Awry

A Lifetime of Loss

Spotlight: Marsh

Reverse Hospitality

Social Security Alert?

Avoiding Unhappiness

Holiday Habits

Priceless Pets

Planning My Time