An ongoing analysis of Americans’ retirement readiness showed a slight improvement in 2016, but the results still reveal that half will find themselves short of their golden-year goals. The National Retirement Risk Index (NRRI) dropped from 52% to 50% between 2013 and 2016, according to the most recent calculation from the Center for Retirement Research…

American homeowners aged 62 and older controlled $6.5 trillion in home equity during the third quarter of 2017, according to the most recent estimate from the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association. That’s a jump of 1.9%, or $121 billion, from last quarter, NRMLA and data analytics firm RiskSpan reported. “Housing wealth continues to be a…

A $1 million nest egg has long been considered the benchmark for a secure retirement. Sadly, these days, it’s only a fraction of what you will really need. For instance, a 67-year-old baby boomer retiring now with $1 million in the bank will generate $40,000 to live on in the first year, adjusted for inflation…

Physical activity is good for the body and the brain, but what about people with thinking and memory difficulties? A new recommendation from the American Academy of Neurology suggests that exercise is indeed helpful for people with mild cognitive impairment. The condition, in which thinking and memory skills deteriorate, often occurs as people age. Mild…

How do you buy a home after retiring? If you have one that’s paid for, you could sell and use the proceeds to buy another. You could raid your savings if you have enough. Or you could get a mortgage if you have enough income and good credit. But even if that’s possible, who wants…

If you plan to travel with an elderly relative this holiday season, don’t leave things to chance, an expert on geriatric medicine says. “Simply traveling long-distance to visit relatives can become increasingly stressful as individuals age,” said Dr. Angela Catic, an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine’s Center on Aging in Houston. While traveling,…

Just under 20% of seniors who responded to a recent survey were unaware of reverse mortgages — despite showing an overwhelming desire to stay in their homes and potentially make renovations into old age. Among homeowners aged 60 to 70, 44% said they would keep a mortgage through retirement, according to a study on retirement…

Rising interest rates could make reverse-mortgage lines of credit more appealing to younger retirees. A reverse mortgage is a type of loan taken against equity in a home, available to borrowers who are at least 62. It requires no monthly payments, with interest charges instead added to the loan balance and paid only after the…

Even months after recovering from the flu, older people remain at increased risk for a heart attack, stroke or disability, a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases warns. “We all know about the illness influenza causes — obviously fever and making you feel poorly, aches and pains — and that is because it sets up…