Life Done Right™

There was a time when people stuffed cash under their mattress, fearful that putting the money in the bank was a sure guaranty of losing it all. Some today would call that fear irrational, but after reading about a rogue banker who lost $7 billion and nobody at the bank knew it (supposedly), maybe the [...]

When your purpose in life is almost 100 percent derived from your work, then what happens after you retire? Where does your ego go for satisfaction when the daily rituals of work disappear? Will all that “free time” truly provide you with a sense of identity that equals the stroking your job nurtured through your [...]

Imagine being the grandfather of Paris Hilton and watching her daily antics play out around the world. Would it bring a smile to your face or make you want to hide in a hotel closet? The answer, my friends, is blowing in the cash: Barron Hilton just announced he’s leaving 97% of his $2.3 billion [...]

One day someone will hopefully sit me down and explain why it costs $50,000-$80,000 per year to live in a nursing home. I mean, c’mon. The resident is usually sharing a room the size of a shoe box and remains in bed for a good portion of the day in many cases. What costs so [...]

For those women who have never heard of the word narcissism before, please, enjoy this article about yet another ambitious feminist who can’t seem to sustain a personal relationship but can sure find time to bond with the abstract love shared by her grandparents. It’s a touching tale of self-indulgence that makes every effort to [...]

Old age brings a rash of problems that have nothing to do with your life but somehow become the focal point of your daily existence. Who knew pill popping at $5 a pill times four or five would produce such a strain on your meager purse. When your children come to visit why is it [...]

With New York real estate prices so insane, the thought of a developer investing in a continuing care community makes about as much sense as growing grapes in the Arctic. You can try, but it’s the wrong environment. Sure you could build a green house up there, but it would cost you a small fortune [...]

Newsflash: “Analysts said the alarming write-downs at a handful of Wall Street firms could pale in comparison to the possible damage from shaky paper striking at the heart of assets held by insurance giants, mutual funds and big pension funds.”
If you thought only guys like casino owner Steve Wynn were allowed to gamble away fortunes [...]

It sounds good, doesn’t: the medical costs for seniors is increasing at a slower rate than for those poor suckers who are under 65. Gee, why is that? Our guess: The Bush administration has allowed the health care and insurance industry to shift the cost burden onto working stiffs who have no clue of how [...]

Fixed income retirement is about as pleasurable as having your wisdom teeth pulled by a student at a university teaching clinic. The cost of everything keeps rising but the cash flow off Social Security remains pretty much the same. Without any saved income, the thought of living in a city like New York seems absurd. [...]

Ladies, pay attention. If you’re married to a wealthy millionaire, or with better luck, a billionaire, please, be sure to snoop around and find the old man’s will. It’s imperative that you know how much he loves (values) your relationship to him BEFORE he dies, because once you’re in the room listening to the executor [...]

A collector is born the day she discovers that owning two or three or four of the same-but-different thing allows them to appreciate how the human mind likes to endlessly reinvent common shapes and forms in order to put food on the table. A collector is really a historian in disguise. What’s crucial for this [...]

Put a woman with long legs in a provocative dress and have her walk down the street…and watch the heads of males turn for a peek, despite walking with their wife or girlfriend. It’s male instinct at work. Mercator Insurance knows your pain, ladies. The message: “Ladies, you better rely on yourself for the future. [...]

Here’s the deal: when Baby Boomers started working for U.S. corporations, there was an agreement to fund retirement and health care benefits. As the years passed, the obligation to pay out these benefits continued to accrue. There was no doubt that one day these benefits would be paid out. There was no doubt about the [...]

There’s been a lot of talk lately about how Baby Boomers are migrating to big cities for retirement. The idea is simple: buy a condo, walk everywhere, and live in close proximity to culture. HelpAge India conducted a survey to find out just how welcoming Delhi India was to seniors. The results: not good. “The [...]

It’s rather humorous to read that President Bush is looking forward to replenishing “the ol coffers” with cash from his corporate friends that he helped so generously while in office. The joke, of course, is that this man is no President Clinton. Clinton is one of the smartest and most fluent speakers in the world. [...]

As the financial markets explode and implode, what’s a retiree on a fixed income supposed to do? Jump out of a plane without a parachute? How about packing up your beach gear and hitting the beach. Why worry when you can enjoy the sun and go for a nice dip when it gets too warm. [...]

The National Press Foundation held a four-day fellowship program on “Retirement Issues in the 21st Century” for business, personal finance and consumer reporters in May of 2006. Although this program was held last year, trust us, the issues it dealt with ain’t going away soon. The best part: it’s free to listen!
The Sandwich Generation: Caring [...]

A new puppy is pure delight. There’s nothing like seeing a bundle of energy tearing around the house and nibbling at everything in sight. Aside from the occasional mess on the rug, a puppy that grows up to become a trusted companion is worth the time and investment.
Does the same apply for your aging [...]

Some call it “aging in place,” some call it staying put, some just cuss and say, “ain’t no fricking way you’re gonna put me in one of those nursing homes or assisted living facilities!!” Baby Boomers are waking up to the crappy nature of places that isolate seniors in old age. Honestly, who the hell [...]