cjcagle
There are two prevalent assumptions about the cost of living in retirement. One is that most retirees can live on 70% to 90% of their pre-retirement income. Another is that that percentage will decrease (net of inflation) as we grow older. Both offer some comfort when we look at the cost of a long retirement. … Read more
I recently assisted the wife of a good friend in unwinding one aspect of a set of problems they had due to a phishing attack. She was pretty distraught over what had happened, and rightfully so—it’s nasty stuff. Thankfully, they were able to remedy the situation. And I was grateful to be of help. The … Read more
Did the title of this article (or the image above) surprise you? Perhaps you think I may have rejoined the workforce in a full or part-time paid position? Well, that’s not the case, and I’ll explain later in this article. But before I go there, you may be surprised to know that, according to a … Read more
Many books and articles have been written about Christians and money, and some about retirement. This blog is about Christians and retirement, and I often write about money and stewardship. There’s much to say about these topics, but the Bible tells us what is most essential for us to know—not every practical detail about personal … Read more
The last three articles discussed why retirees might want to own bonds and possibly individual bonds instead of investing in a bond fund. Bonds come from many sources: governments, government agencies, blue chip corporations, and risky smaller companies (junk bonds). Municipalities also issue bonds (they’re called “munis”). Something is common to them all: the more … Read more
The Secure Act 2.0 was finally passed as just one part of a massive funding package by the outgoing congress just before Christmas on December 23, 2022, and signed into law by the president as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, an omnibus spending bill authorizing roughly $1.7 trillion in new Federal spending (yikes!). You’re … Read more
Originally published January 4, 2023 | Updated December 2025 An important preliminary note: Given what took place in both the stock and bond markets in 2022, I started 2023 with a series of articles about “safe” retirement income and the roles that bonds and other instruments may play in providing it. Now, nearly three years … Read more
A character in the story of the birth and early days of Jesus we often overlook is a man named Simeon. Simeon was a devout Jew who regularly worshiped in the Temple at Jerusalem and was there when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus in. Luke tells the story in Chapter 2, verses 22 thru 35: … Read more
An increasing number of boomer-aged families are receiving inheritances; it’s all part of a trillion-dollar transfer of wealth that will happen over the next several decades. Gen. Xers are next in line. Many families near or in retirement have aging parents, so an inheritance may be in their future. They can come in different forms—possessions, … Read more
