Annual open enrollment for Medicare runs from October 15 through December 7. This is the time Medicare health and drug plans can make changes. It’s also, of course, a chance for you to make changes, as well. The open enrollment period is only for those who are already enrolled in Medicare. The standard monthly premium Read more
Bowen Reports
Great Greenbacks: Why the U.S. Dollar Dominates Reserve Currency
A reserve currency is held by a nation’s central banks in significant quantities and widely used to conduct international trade and financial proceedings, thus eliminating the costs of settling transactions involving different currencies. Any reserve currency must be easily convertible and have a stable value. The factors that determine the usage of a country’s currency Read more
You Bet Your Life: Actuarial Financial Planning
Here’s a sobering, inescapable truth: we’re all going to die. It’s a fact that nobody likes to think about for long, but our inevitable demise is a fact of life and keeping it in mind is a necessary part of financial planning. You shouldn’t let the grimness of the Grim Reaper’s inevitable arrival keep you Read more
Against the Wind: Headwinds Could Change the Course of the Economy
Throughout 2023, the U.S. economy has stayed resilient in the face of rapid monetary policy tightening; consumer demand has stayed solid, and the labor market has remained unflinching. Gross domestic product (GDP), adjusted for inflation, rose at a 2.4% annual rate in the second quarter, up from a 2% growth rate in the first three Read more
Property Protectors: Homeowners Insurance vs. Home Warranty
Whether you own a house or are planning to buy one, you may be considering a home warranty and homeowners insurance and pondering the difference between the two. Both are important tools that can reduce the potential risk and unexpected financial burdens of home ownership. But while the distinction between the two might seem ambiguous, Read more
What Do You Know About Social Security? Take a Quiz
For most of those nearing retirement, Social Security is expected to be the main source of income. Nearly nine out of ten people aged 65 and older were receiving a Social Security benefit as of December 31, 2022, and Social Security benefits represent about 30% of the income of the elderly, according to the Social Read more