Kate Ashford

2 months ago | nerdwallet.com | Kate Ashford

The average lowest-cost Silver plan on the health insurance marketplace costs $486 per month in 2025 without any tax credits or subsidies, according to KFF, a health policy nonprofit[0]. That’s for an individual plan, priced for a 40-year-old person. Across other metal tiers in the marketplace, the average lowest-cost Bronze premium is $381, and the average lowest-cost Gold premium is $507.

Dec 10, 2024 | effinghamdailynews.com | Kate Ashford

Financial planners talk about three phases in retirement: the go-go years, the slow-go years and the no-go years. Expenses tend to be highest at the beginning and end of retirement — creating a U-shape. But many people think of retirement spending as a constant variable. "As they enter retirement, especially early in retirement, they see themselves spending all sorts of money and then they can't envision themselves cutting back," says Jonathan Swanburg, a certified financial planner in Houston.

Dec 10, 2024 | effinghamdailynews.com | Kate Ashford

Now that retirement spans more years than ever, you might need to rethink how you're envisioning that stage of your life. Although Americans are retiring a little later than they did 30 years ago, they're also living longer. Retirement isn't a blip on the life radar — it's a significant chunk of time. While your parents may have retired and never worked another day in their lives, you may find that part-time work when you get older fulfills your mental needs and helps your retirement savings last.

Dec 3, 2024 | sacbee.com | Kate Ashford

By Kate Ashford, NerdWalletEach year, Medicare comes with a new set of prices, new plan ratings and sometimes new regulations. What you'll pay may be different from last year, and your network and prescription drug coverage may change, depending on your plan. Here's how Medicare looks in 2025. Plan ratings have gone downThe average Medicare Advantage star rating in 2025 is 3.92 out of 5, weighted by enrollment, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Dec 3, 2024 | mercurynews.com | Kate Ashford

By Kate Ashford, NerdWalletEach year, Medicare comes with a new set of prices, new plan ratings and sometimes new regulations. What you’ll pay may be different from last year, and your network and prescription drug coverage may change, depending on your plan. Here’s how Medicare looks in 2025. Plan ratings have gone downThe average Medicare Advantage star rating in 2025 is 3.92 out of 5, weighted by enrollment, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.