Daniel Bortz

Washington, D.C.

Freelance Editor at Freelance

Freelance writer. Real estate expert. Professional TV dinner zapper, with dreams of being resurrected as a food critic.

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Articles

4 Smart Investment Moves for Retirees in a Bear Market

5 days ago | aarp.org | Adam Shell |Daniel Bortz

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Plunging stock prices in a down market, like what we recently witnessed in the wake of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs plan, can leave a sour taste in the mouth of retirees who rely on their investments to help cover their living expenses. But instead of bailing out of the stock market or wallowing in your financial misfortune, a better strategy is to turn a lemon market into lemonade.
10 Products That May Get More Expensive Due to Tariffs

4 weeks ago | aarp.org | Daniel Bortz

Glenn Harvey Facebook Twitter LinkedIn From groceries to smartphones to sneakers to cars, tariffs could drive up prices on a variety of consumer goods sold in the U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed 25 percent tariffs on most goods imported from Canada and Mexico that could take effect as early as April 2. Earlier this year, the administration imposed two rounds of tariffs against China totaling 20 percent, on top of the existing 10 percent tariffs levied during Trump's first term. In...
A Recession Survival Guide for Retirees

1 month ago | aarp.org | Daniel Bortz

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Is the U.S. in a recession? The media is filled with speculation after the stock market’s recent nosedive. On March 10, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 890 points, or 2.08 percent; the Nasdaq composite dropped 4 percent; and the S&P 500 sank 2.7 percent.
The Real Estate Commission: How Much Are Agent Fees?

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Daniel Bortz

Real estate agents don’t earn a salary. Instead, they generally make money through commissions, getting paid only when a deal closes. This means they can work with a client for months without receiving a paycheck. But when a deal goes through, who pays the agent and how much? Can you negotiate real estate broker fees or the closing costs associated with them?
Ease the Tax Bite When You Tap Retirement Accounts

2 months ago | seniorsguide.com | Brian Marsh |Devin Partida |Daniel Bortz

Retirement Planning, Elder Law, and Senior Finance 2/20/2025 | By John Waggoner A key part of retirement planning is knowing how to tap retirement accounts without running up a huge tax bill. Retirement brings so many questions. Should we ditch the house and buy a condo? Will we need a part-time job? And even more importantly, how can I wring as much tax savings as possible from my retirement funds? Here are four tax-saving tips for retirement savings. Let’s start with the basics.
Paying Off Mortgage Before Retirement

2 months ago | seniorsguide.com | Daniel Bortz |Brian Marsh |Kimberly Lankford |Annie Tobey

Retirement Planning, Elder Law, and Senior Finance 2/13/2025 | By Daniel Bortz Is it wise to pay off your mortgage before retirement? The experts at Kiplinger offer the pros and cons of the common conundrum. Question: Should I pay off my mortgage before retirement? Answer: Deciding to pay off your mortgage before retirement is something many near-retirees wrestle with. Ditching the debt would feel oh so good, but would you be imperiling your long-term security in retirement?
Take a Look Back Behind the History of the Penny

2 months ago | aarp.org | Daniel Bortz

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Getty Images (2)) Facebook Twitter LinkedIn The penny has been under fire for decades, with a number of politicians — including both Democrats and Republicans — pushing for legislation to abolish it over the years.
Standard vs. Itemized Deduction: Which One Should You Take as a Homeowner?

2 months ago | sfgate.com | Daniel Bortz

Standard versus itemized deduction: Which one should you claim? This question may be weighing heavily on your mind as you prepare to file your taxes, so let this guide help you decide which deduction is better for you. Itemizing your deductions—particularly if you've bought a home recently—could save you major bucks when you file. But, more than ever, you need to understand what you can and can't do tax-wise.
How to find, cancel unwanted online subscriptions

2 months ago | clickorlando.com | Daniel Bortz

Tired of paying for online subscriptions you no longer use but can't quite figure out how to cancel? You're not alone. Streaming platforms like Netflix, cloud storage services like iCloud, and newspaper and music subscriptions often make it difficult to find the cancel function on their app or website. It's also easy to simply forget about digital subscriptions you signed up for, especially ones started as free trials. Months can go by before you realize the provider is charging your credit card.
Standard vs Itemized Deduction: Which One Should You Take as a Homeowner?

2 months ago | yahoo.com | Daniel Bortz

Standard versus itemized deduction: Which one should you claim? This question may be weighing heavily on your mind as you prepare to file your taxes, so let this guide help you decide which deduction is better for you. Itemizing your deductions—particularly if you’ve bought a home recently—could save you major bucks when you file. But, more than ever, you need to understand what you can and can’t do tax-wise.