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5 days ago | 
money.usnews.com | Tim Smart |Elizabeth Whitehead
I had to take a vacation from my column for a couple of weeks. I enjoyed three good meals a day, exercised with a trainer and received 24/7 care. Sounds great, right? Well, not so much. The truth is I went for a walk with the dog and, 15 minutes later, turning to acknowledge a neighbor, I lost my balance and landed in the street. I think I remember pavers and a sidewalk en route to the ground. But that’s about all. A flurry of neighbors came to my rescue, and I can’t thank them enough.
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1 week ago | 
thenewdaily.com.au | Elizabeth Whitehead
New Zealand’s backcountry is a paradise for hikers, with 11 official Great Walks that rank among the most spectacular treks in the world. The most sought-after has to be the four-day, 53.5-kilometre Milford Track that steers walkers through ancient rainforests and alpine passes and ends at the mystical fjords of Milford Sound. But if you had your sights set on hiking it this season, bad news: Bookings sold out in under half an hour.
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2 weeks ago | 
money.usnews.com | Ashley Merryman |Elizabeth Whitehead
One perk of contemplating retirement or being in retirement is having the chance to indulge more in pastimes you love—or new ones that you’ve always wanted to try. And there’s no time like the present, because researchers around the world are discovering a range of benefits from having hobbies and, in fact, older adults with hobbies report being healthier, happier and having higher life satisfaction.
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3 weeks ago | 
money.usnews.com | Ray Frager |Elizabeth Whitehead
If you’re like me, you catch your breath when that "check engine" warning flashes on, you realize your loyal four-legged companion needs an emergency vet visit, or your orthopedist tells you it’s time to have that long-delayed knee surgery. Not only do you have to figure out the best way to tackle these everyday concerns, you also have to determine how to pay for them. For many older Americans, the answer is to slap down their credit card.
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4 weeks ago | 
thenewdaily.com.au | Elizabeth Whitehead
Imagine being carried into a cool, shady forest where towering karri trees are blanketed in moss and stretch 70 metres into the sky. As a vintage wooden tram hums softly along, you amble across trestle bridges spanning rivers and streams before stopping at a mesmerising cascade. It sounds like a scene from a storybook – but this is the Pemberton Tramway, hidden away in Western Australia’s tranquil south.
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1 month ago | 
money.usnews.com | Tim Smart |Elizabeth Whitehead
Memorial Day marks the traditional start of the summer travel season. I got a jump on some of you this year, taking a much-needed break a couple weeks ago. The weather was spectacular and the crowds minimal at Cape San Blas on Florida’s Forgotten Coast, as is often the case during the shoulder season. But this year, according to reports, you may not find as many people traveling as usual.
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1 month ago | 
money.usnews.com | Tim Smart |Elizabeth Whitehead
One of the biggest decisions entering into retirement is where to live. Although the majority of people stay put, those who decide to move are generally influenced by a variety of factors including nearness to family, climate, the tax situation and the all-important cost of housing. That explains why Florida, where my wife and I live, and the Carolinas have traditionally topped the list of retirement destinations as they mix affordability, a relaxed lifestyle and natural beauty.
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1 month ago | 
money.usnews.com | Tim Smart |Elizabeth Whitehead
The first quarter of 2025 has provided those saving for retirement and others already enjoying it with some stomach-curdling drops in the stock market. In early April, the S&P 500 index suffered a two-day, 10% loss in value after President Donald Trump announced sweeping import tariffs. While those losses were somewhat recouped following a postponement of some levies, concern about tariffs continues to roil the markets. Bottom line? Volatility may be our constant companion in the coming months.
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1 month ago | 
money.usnews.com | Tim Smart |Elizabeth Whitehead
If you’re like me, music has been an integral part of your existence, the soundtrack to your life. I grew up with vinyl, lived through cassettes and compact discs, and now enjoy creating streaming playlists for smartphones and my home stereo. And I am happy to say that performers I saw live in my youth–Joe Cocker and the group Bad Company–were among the latest inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Female vocalist Cyndi Lauper, also a personal favorite, made the cut too.
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2 months ago | 
money.usnews.com | Tim Smart |Elizabeth Whitehead
For 70 years, April 15 has been the day of reckoning for most Americans who must file their returns with the Internal Revenue Service. Retirees often are told that they can expect to face lower taxes once they quit working. Like many accepted “truths,” reality is not quite so cut-and-dried. In fact, IRS data (table 1.5) show that older Americans are among the highest earners and therefore their tax burden may not necessarily be lower than their younger counterparts.
