Sandra Block

Washington, D.C.

Senior Editor at Kiplinger

Senior associate editor for Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Proud West Virginian. I read a lot of books.

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Articles

Medicare Tips for First-Timers

4 weeks ago | theepochtimes.com | Sandra Block

3/27/2025Updated: 3/27/2025By Sandra BlockFrom Kiplinger’s Personal FinanceIn the months before I turned 65 last year, I got a lot of mail from two sources: assisted living centers featuring photos of youthful seniors playing pickleball and Medicare Advantage and medigap providers promoting their plans. Most of the missives went into the recycling bin. I don’t play pickleball (or plan to sell my house anytime soon), and I was still working.
What Retirees Need to Know About Taxes

4 weeks ago | kiplinger.com | Sandra Block |Rob Williams

Few of us enjoy paying taxes. But when you’re working, the task is usually pretty straightforward: Taxes are withheld from your paycheck throughout the year, and when it comes time to file your return, you square up with the IRS. Most people get a refund. Retirees face a very different tax landscape — one that can be both confusing and costly.
20 Ways to Clean Up Your Finances This Spring

1 month ago | kiplinger.com | Lisa Gerstner |Sandra Block |Kim Clark |David Rodeck

Along with washing your windows and vacuuming under the sofa this spring, take some time to tidy up your financial life. We’ve rounded up tips to declutter, simplify and make sure everything is in its place. Sweep out portfolio cobwebsSpring clean your investments annually, says Paul Winter, a Salt Lake City certified financial planner, “to review what you own, with an eye to getting rid of what you no longer need and to organizing what remains.”Is any fund a long-term under-performer?
Planning Summer Travel? Use These Strategies

1 month ago | kiplinger.com | Sandra Block

Looking to cut the cost of summer travel? We asked Brian Kelly, founder of consumer website The Points Guy and author of How to Win at Travel,for insider tips on how to score less expensive airfares, accommodations and insurance. Airfares are expected to remain high in 2025. What strategies can travelers use to lower the cost of flying? The number of people traveling is expected to increase, so you need to plan appropriately and use technology.
Planning Summer Travel? You’ll Have Lots of Company

1 month ago | theepochtimes.com | Sandra Block

By Sandra BlockFrom Kiplinger’s Personal FinanceBrian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, a consumer website, and author of “How to Win at Travel,” offers summer travel advice. Question: Airfares are expected to remain high in 2025. What strategies can travelers use to lower the cost of flying? Story continues below advertisement Answer: The number of people traveling is expected to increase, so you need to plan appropriately and use technology.
Don’t Pay More Than Necessary to Prepare Your Tax Return

1 month ago | theepochtimes.com | Sandra Block

By Sandra BlockFrom Kiplinger’s Personal FinanceTechnology has made it possible for taxpayers to save money on tax preparation, and most tax software programs do an excellent job of highlighting deductions and credits. If your tax return is straightforward, you may even be eligible to prepare and file your tax return for free. But before you start plugging in your numbers, scrutinize the terms of the program.
Why You Should Take Extra Care With Your Tax Return

2 months ago | kiplinger.com | Sandra Block

It’s tax season, the anxiety-inducing time of year when millions of Americans start thinking about all the things they’d rather do than prepare their tax returns. But the task could be less onerous this year. There weren’t a lot of adjustments to the tax code in 2024, so if your personal circumstances didn’t change, your tax return probably won’t change much, either.
The Outlook for Home and Auto Insurance in 2025

2 months ago | kiplinger.com | Sandra Block

Todd Jackson is chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. He recently spoke to Kiplinger about the outlook for home and car insurance prices in light of inflation and recent natural disasters — and how to cut the cost of your premiums. Consumers have seen premiums for homeowners and auto insurance rise sharply in recent years. What’s behind the increases? There are several factors.
Is 2025 the Year Workers Will Return to the Office?

2 months ago | kiplinger.com | Sandra Block

This is shaping up to be the year that thousands of U.S. workers will need to put away their soft pants and return to the office — at least for a couple of days a week. A summer 2024 survey of chief executive officers by accounting firm KPMG found a sharp turnaround in views toward remote work. More than three-fourths of CEOs expect employees to return to a traditional in-office schedule within three years. Earlier in 2024, only one-third of CEOs predicted a return to an in-office model.
What Social Security Beneficiaries Should Know About 2025 Numbers

Nov 29, 2024 | kiplinger.com | Sandra Block

One of the most important features of Social Security is the annual cost-of-living (COLA) increase, which is designed to help retirees’ income keep up with inflation. But after several years of above-average adjustments, seniors will see just a modest increase when the first payment lands in their bank account in January. In October, Social Security announced that beneficiaries will receive a 2.5% COLA adjustment in 2025.