The gift will help expand the counseling center, launch an integrative approach to mental health and wellbeing, and create the Hillel Endowment Fund.

Congressman David Trone 77 has given $10 million to Furman University, with $8.5 million dedicated to student mental health services and $1.5 million to support Furmans Hillel, the Jewish Student Association. The gift makes Trone, a 1977 Furman graduate and a member of the Board of Trustees, one of the universitys largest living donors.

As a proud alumnus of Furman University, I am honored by the opportunity to give back in a meaningful way on an issue of great personal importance, said Trone, a Democratic U.S. representative from Maryland who also is founder and co-owner of the retail chain Total Wine and More.

The $8.5 million for mental health will transform services, enabling the university to reach more students in need of care earlier, and with new approaches, making Furman a model for mental and emotional health care what Trone calls mental health fitness in higher education.

Trone has championed many mental health and addiction initiatives in Congress. He co-led the U.S. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, is founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force, and has spoken publicly about his nephew Ian Trones death from a fentanyl overdose.

In this day and age, it is vital that we work together to break the stigma surrounding mental health, ensure tolerance in our diverse communities, and equip our students with the tools and resources to succeed, said Trone, who gave $3.5 million to Furman in 2013 to renovate and name the Trone Student Center. With this gift through the David and June Trone Family Foundation, I trust that Furman University will continue to positively impact and shape our nations future leaders.

The gift gets to the heart of The Furman Advantage and its emphasis on helping students create lives of purpose and impact, said Furman University President Elizabeth Davis.

The Furman Advantage helps students become resilient and adaptable to change in the face of adversity. Mental fitness is vital to developing these skills, ensuring our students are able to succeed academically, socially and emotionally, Furman University President Elizabeth Davis says. David and Junes generous donation clearly will make a significant difference in our students lives and in our campus community, now and for generations to come.

Mental health problems among college students have been on the rise in recent years. Several studies show that increase was made worse by the pandemic. A spring 2021 national Healthy Minds Network Study showed that 41 percent of college students screened positive for depression, and 34 percent had anxiety disorder. In a fall 2021 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment, nearly 73 percent of more than 33,000 respondents reported moderate to serious psychological distress.

In a recent survey of Furman students, 65 percent said the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted their mental health and 63 percent said it affected their loneliness and isolation.

The impact of the Trones gift will kickstart a more integrative approach to mental health and launch us on a trajectory of prioritizing wellbeing as part of a students educational pathway, said Vice President for Student Life Connie Carson.

With $1 million of the Trone gift, Furman will expand and renovate its counseling center to create more group space and areas to practice mindfulness, as well as provide more flexible space for the expansion of other services and programs. The space will be renamed the Trone Center for Mental Fitness.

Another $7.5 million will create the Trone Family Fund for Student Mental Health and Well-Being. It will fund positions to ensure a consistent level of professional staffing that adapts as methods for engaging in mental fitness change, starting with the hiring of a health and wellbeing coordinator. It also endows the position that oversees mental health and ensures the hiring of a diverse staff to reflect the student population.

But the rising need for mental health services cant be met by only hiring more counselors. The Trone gift will allow Furman to expand mental health and wellbeing services beyond the walls of a therapists office, integrating mental fitness into a variety of student activities, such as mentoring and advising. The goal is to help students develop lifelong healthy habits that promote mental wellbeing, while giving students tools and skills to help them build resilience when health challenges arise.

We want to be up front about the importance of wellbeing as foundational to a students success inside and outside the classroom, Carson said.

Programs could include peer mentoring, body image and disordered eating programs, continual screening of all student athletes, alcohol and drug prevention, sexual health, stress management skills and suicide prevention training for students, faculty and staff. Some of these can be integrated into the Pathways program, a two-year course of personal, academic and professional growth that every Furman student takes in the first and second years.

The remaining $1.5 million will create the Hillel Endowment Fund to provide permanent support to expand and enhance the Furman Hillel for a more robust Jewish life for all students and the broader community. The Hillel also provides important aspects of mental fitness by giving students a place where they feel welcomed and valued, and where they can satisfy their spiritual needs.

By creating The Hillel Endowment Fund, we are able to expand and enhance the Furman Hillel for a more robust Jewish life for all students and the broader community, June Trone said.

David and June have once again identified a tremendous need among our students, Davis said. We are grateful for their generous spirit and we applaud their leadership and their willingness to make a difference.

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Congressman David Trone '77 and wife June give Furman $10 million to support mental health, Hillel - Furman News

Hummus, also known as houmous, is a dish that originated in the Middle East and is made with chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. In the Middle East, hummus is garnished traditionally with olive oil, a few chickpeas, paprika, and parsley. Hummus has created a lot of buzz around the Internet, because of its health benefits. Here is all about the potential benefits of hummus, the hummus recipe, and more.

1. It is a nutritious food

Hummus's nutritional value is quite high, and a 100-gram serving of hummus provides:

Calories in hummus: 166

Protein in hummus: 7.9 grams

Manganese: 39 percent of the recommended dietary intake

Fat: 9.6 grams

Carbs in hummus: 14.3 grams

Fiber: 6 grams

Copper: 26 percent of the recommended dietary intake (RDI)

Iron: 14% of the recommended dietary intake

Folate: 21% of the recommended dietary intake

Thiamin: 12% of the recommended dietary intake

Phosphorus: 18% of the recommended dietary intake

Vitamin B6: 10% of the recommended dietary intake

Magnesium: 18 percent of the RDI

Potassium: 7% of the recommended dietary intake

It is a rich source of protein, and vitamins, and is an excellent option for people who are on a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Hummus contains protein that is required for muscle building and immune strengthening. Moreover, it also contains B vitamins, folate, iron, potassium, and thiamin, all of which are important for optimal health.

All in all, it is a great food to include in our diet.

2. It can help in weight loss

People who are trying to shed some pounds should add foods containing monounsaturated fats to their diet, the reason being these fats promote weight loss and may also help in reducing the risk of heart disease, inflammation, and so on.

Hummus is usually made with a sesame seed butter, which is also known as tahini. Sesame seed butter is packed with monounsaturated fats that help in reducing belly fat and promoting weight loss.

One must remember that all fats are not unhealthy, so do not eliminate healthy fats from your diet, and get a daily dose of nutritious fats by eating hummus, nuts, avocados, chia seeds, and so on. Make sure to avoid trans fats and polyunsaturated fats because these are the ones that can wreak havoc on your health and lead to weight gain.

3. It can help people dealing with anemia

Anemia is a health condition characterized by a lack of healthy red blood cells in the body. It can cause extreme fatigue, pale skin, headache, dizziness, inflammation, weak nails, and many more problems. Hence, it is essential to eat a diet rich in iron regularly.

Hummus is traditionally made with tahini and chickpeas, both of which are excellent sources of iron.

Getting sufficient iron is important for your body to prevent anemia, so consume hummus to relieve iron deficiency.

4. It can improve your digestion

One of the most amazing health benefits of hummus is that it keeps the gut healthy.

Dietary fiber is an important part of the food that can keep gut problems at bay and improve digestion.

Every 100 grams of hummus contains 6 grams of dietary fiber, which means you will get 24% of the daily fiber recommendation (for women) and 16 percent for men from eating a serving of hummus alone.

Also, as hummus is rich in fiber, it will keep you satiated for a longer period. Moreover, a diet rich in dietary fiber makes bowel movement smooth and regular and feeds the healthy bacteria in the gut.

Learn hummus recipes now and add the tasty dishes to your diet to reap all the benefits of this nutritious food.

5. It can help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels

Hummus has so much goodness of nutrition that it can even help you balance your blood sugar levels. Although it might not treat diabetes, it can for sure prevent it or help you manage it properly. So, it's not a cure for all, but it helps a lot as its rich protein content keeps you full and prevents food cravings.

6. It can be helpful for people with allergies

Many people are allergic to gluten, nuts, and dairy. For people with allergies, sometimes it can be hard to find something that you can eat freely without worrying about your allergies. Hummus is dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut free, so you can have it without any worry. Also, you can try making hummus with different flavors and satisfy your taste buds.

Once the base hummus is made, you can add your choice of fruits, herbs, vegetables, spices, or whatever you want to get the taste you wish.

7. It has antioxidant properties

One of the major benefits of hummus is that it is high in antioxidants that help to prevent various acute and chronic problems. Traditional hummus is made with chickpeas that are packed with antioxidants, and hence it makes for a great dish to consume regularly.

8. Hummus may reduce the risk of heart disease

One of the major health benefits of hummus is that it can lower the risk of heart problems.

Hummus is packed with vitamins, potassium, folate, and other important nutrients that help in reducing risk factors for heart disease.

In a study conducted for five weeks, healthy adults were asked to consume a diet with either added chickpeas or added wheat. After the study was completed, it was observed that adults who consume a diet with added chickpeas had 4.6 percent lower bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) levels.

Apart from chickpeas, hummus also contains olive oil which is an excellent source of healthy fats. Olive oil is one of the best oils for the heart which makes hummus a great food for all.

9. It is a great substitute for junk food

Although junk food tastes delicious, it is not good for anybody's health. It is okay to eat junk food once in a while, but consuming it regularly can lead to heart problems, digestive problems, inflammation, and so on.

Hummus is a food that you can use as a substitute for mayo. You can also mix it with water or broth and use it as a salad dressing. You can also use hummus as a dip for raw vegetables. There are many ways to use hummus as a part of your daily healthy eating routine.

10. It can help in reducing inflammation

Hummus has sesame seeds that help in reducing inflammation in the body.

Inflammation can cause arthritis, gut problems, and heart problems. Chronic inflammation in the body can also increase the risk of injuries and infections, so it is important to eat a diet rich in anti-inflammatory properties.

These were the top 10 health benefits of hummus that we must know about. But is hummus always healthy? The answer is no! Too much of anything can cause a threat to our bodies, so it is important to consume hummus in moderation and prevent its side effects.

1. It can increase sodium levels in the body

Eating a diet with too much sodium can increase your cholesterol levels, cause high blood pressure, and even stroke. Hummus has a large amount of sodium, so you should be careful while consuming it in excess. Some of the pre-made hummus available in the market contain higher salt content than what we should be eating daily, so check the hummus nutrient value before purchasing it.

In addition, if you have high blood pressure or heart problems, then you should refrain from eating hummus frequently.

2. It has high potassium levels

Too much of anything that you eat can cause problems, and the same goes for potassium. There are some medications, for example, beta-blockers that increase the levels of potassium in the body, so if you are taking such medications, you should limit the portion of hummus intake as it is high in potassium as well.

3. It may cause allergies

If you are allergic to chickpeas or tahini, then you should refrain from eating hummus.

If you experience abdominal discomfort, nausea, or itching after eating hummus, consult a doctor immediately.

4. Kidney stones

Hummus is most often made with chickpea, and chickpeas contain oxalates that get eliminated from our bodies through urine. Consuming too much hummus can cause oxalate levels to increase and if oxalate starts getting deposited in the kidney, it can cause kidney stones. So, if you have kidney problems, or are more prone to getting a stone in your kidneys, eat hummus moderately.

5. Weight gain

Hummus when eaten in moderation can aid weight loss, but tahini and olive oil used to make hummus contains fats. Although these are healthy fat when taken in high doses, they can make you gain weight.

Moreover, if you consume store-bought hummus, you should always check the label to see its nutrition content, because some ingredients in the pre-made hummus can cause weight gain.

6. IBS

One of the major components of hummus is chickpea, which can be difficult to digest for some people. Many people with IBS and weak digestion are not able to tolerate chickpeas well, so if you experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, or bloating after consuming hummus, then see a doctor.

7. Excess iron and folic acid

Hummus contains iron and folic acid, and consuming both of these components in excess can cause a bitter taste in the mouth, bloating, nausea, sleep problems, trouble concentrating, constipation, vomiting, and dark stools.

8. Unhealthy ingredients

Hummus is a healthy food when consumed in moderation, but if you don't have the time and energy to prepare homemade hummus, and use store-bought hummus, then you must check the ingredients.

Each brand of hummus available in the market has its additional substances, and some of them have a high sodium content or a high sugar content that leads to various problems in the long run.

In addition, some brands also use preservatives, artificial additives, and flavors that make it an unhealthy snack. Traditionally, hummus is made with olive oil, but some brands use soybean or sunflower oil to prepare hummus that is not so healthy.

So while it is true that there are many health benefits of hummus, you should try making hummus at home to reap all its benefits.

Now that we know all about the hummus benefits and its side effects, let us take a look at an easy hummus recipe.

Learn to make homemade hummus with this best hummus recipe.

Ingredients to be used:

1 can of garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas (drained, liquid reserved)

1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic

1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 drops of sesame oil

Method

Take a garlic clove and crush it properly. Then, blend garbanzo beans, olive oil, garlic, salt, sesame oil, olive oil, and lemon juice in a food processor. Then, stream the reserved garbanzo bean liquid into the mixture as it blends until you get the desired consistency.

This is a simple, quick, and easy hummus recipe that you can try at home.

Hummus has high nutritional content, so add it as a part of your healthy eating routine. But, don't overindulge in it to avoid its side effects. Eat healthy foods, and stay happy and fit!

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10 Surprising health benefits of hummus, side effects and recipe - PINKVILLA

Amy Norton

THURSDAY, Aug. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Using a lower threshold to diagnose pregnancy-related diabetes does not seem to reduce the risk of having a big baby, on average but some women do benefit, a new clinical trial suggests.

Gestational diabetes is diagnosed when a pregnant woman's blood sugar levels are abnormally high. The condition can have consequences for moms and babies, a main one being fetal overgrowth. That results in a big baby and a difficult delivery that can injure the newborn or mother, and raise the odds of a Cesarean section delivery. In addition, some infants are born with low blood sugar or breathing problems that require treatment.

For women, meanwhile, gestational diabetes raises the risk of preeclampsia a potentially dangerous condition where blood pressure rises and protein accumulates in the urine.

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But while gestational diabetes is commonly diagnosed, experts are still debating exactly how to define it, said Dr. Michael Greene, a professor emeritus of obstetrics and gynecology at Harvard Medical School, in Boston.

"The problem has been gathering the evidence on where to draw the line," said Greene, who wrote an editorial published with the new study in the Aug. 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Back in 2010, the American Diabetes Association and the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) lowered their recommended blood sugar thresholds for diagnosing gestational diabetes.

That was based on a large international study that found the risks of negative pregnancy outcomes continuously rose with blood sugar levels. There was no clear "inflection point," Greene explained, that could be used as a cutoff for diagnosing gestational diabetes.

So, the expert consensus was to lower the blood-sugar threshold for diagnosing the condition, in the hopes it might prevent more pregnancy complications.

In the new trial, researchers in New Zealand tested the impact of those lower thresholds, versus higher ones that are still used in that country.

And they found that, overall, women diagnosed with gestational diabetes according to the lower threshold were no less likely to have a large newborn, versus those diagnosed based on the higher thresholds.

But there were benefits when the researchers focused on the subgroup of women whose blood sugar levels fell in between the higher and lower thresholds meaning they would not have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes based on the higher cutoff.

Among those women, treatment for gestational diabetes did lower the risk of having a large newborn, as well as the risk of preeclampsia.

"The health differences we did see... were driven by the 9% of women with 'milder' gestational diabetes, whose [blood sugar] results fell in between the higher and lower thresholds," explained lead researcher Dr. Caroline Crowther, of the University of Auckland.

She said the finding supports using the lower cutoff though that will mean more pregnant women being treated for diabetes. That typically means diet changes, physical activity and regularly doing finger-sticks to check blood sugar levels; some women need to take insulin or the oral medication metformin.

"Use of the lower [blood sugar] threshold will mean more women will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and that will increase health service utilization," Crowther said. "But for the women with milder gestational diabetes so detected and treated, the study suggests important health benefits."

The study involved just over 4,000 pregnant women who were being evaluated for gestational diabetes. Half were randomly assigned to a higher-threshold group, where the condition was diagnosed according to recommendations used in New Zealand. The other half were assigned to a lower-threshold group, using the blood sugar cutoffs recommended by the IADPSG.

As expected, the lower cutoffs resulted in more women being diagnosed with gestational diabetes: 15% versus 6%. Just under 9% of newborns in both groups were large for gestational age above the 90th percentile for babies born at that week of pregnancy.

Then, the researchers focused on that group of women between the two thresholds, who could be considered to have mild gestational diabetes. Among those in the lower-threshold group who were diagnosed and treated for the condition 6% had a large newborn. That compared with 18% in the higher-threshold group, who went untreated.

The treated women also had a lower rate of preeclampsia, 0.5% versus over 5% in the higher-threshold group.

Crowther said that in places where the lower threshold is not currently used, such as New Zealand, it might be time to consider it.

But the question of the optimal blood sugar cutoff remains open, according to Greene. The goal, he said, is to identify the greatest number of pregnant women who can benefit from blood-sugar management, without being so "stringent" that healthy women are diagnosed with a medical condition.

"There's no question that finding and treating gestational diabetes works," Greene said.

As for preventing it in the first place, he said that going into pregnancy at a healthy weight can reduce the risk.

The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more on gestational diabetes.

SOURCES: Caroline Crowther, MD, professor, maternal and perinatal health, Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Michael Greene, MD, professor emeritus, obstetrics and gynecology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, and associate editor, New England Journal of Medicine; New England Journal of Medicine, Aug. 18, 2022

Continued here:
Change to Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Helped Women - Journal Times

The tight labor market has contributed to wage gains of greater than 5% a year for the American workforce. But nearly half of employees (44%) say there's a perk they want even more than a bigger paycheck: solid retirement benefits.

Appreciation for company benefits is on the rise, according to the 2022 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey from insurance advisory firm WTW. Three out of five say a good benefits package is a key reason to stick with an employer, a significant jump of 12 percentage points from the last survey, conducted three years ago.

This isnt surprising, says Shane Bartling, senior director for retirement at WTW.

Given the tumult weve seen in the world, people are looking for security, he says. We're seeing the importance of retirement benefits jump to levels I haven't seen before in my career.

Rampant inflation, currently running at 8.5% on an annualized basis, weighs on workers minds when it comes to retirement considerations, as highly visible reminders like gas station prices keep the issue front and center in Americans minds.

People are acutely worried about how higher prices will impact their ability to maintain their desired standard of living in retirement. Close to one-third of workers think they will have to remain in the labor pool past age 70 or doubt they will be able to retire at all, WTW found.

This crisis of confidence in retirement security comes as defined-contribution plans have all but replaced defined-benefit plans, or pensions, in the private sector. In 2020, 3% of private-sector workers had only a defined-benefit retirement plan, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (An additional 12% have access to a combination of defined-benefit and defined-contribution retirement plans.)

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For job seekers, finding out if a prospective employer has a decent retirement plan isnt always simple. Many job applications mention a 401(k) or similar defined-contribution plan, but it might take some legwork to glean enough info to accurately evaluate a companys benefit offering.

If youre considering a new job and youve reached the interview stage, Glassdoor career trends expert Tyler Murphy advises asking a few questions about the retirement benefits. While many companies outline these benefits in the job description, its important to ask benefits-related questions during the interview process, he says.

Use online platforms to find out more: If you have connections to current or former employees through LinkedIn, reach out or ask a mutual acquaintance for an introduction. Search job-review sites like Glassdoor for reviews that mention retirement benefits by using keywords like contribution, match or 401(k).

Its also important to consider the retirement plan in the context of the entire compensation package, career experts say. Employers are excited about talking about the types of benefit programs they offer, Bartling says.

Along with the retirement plan, there might be other benefits such as health savings account contribution-matching, tuition reimbursement and other programs that can help you save for the future in other ways. When a company is is eager to have you on board, it will likely jump at the chance to enumerate.

The interview process is always a courtship process, Carvajal says.

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Career and recruitment efforts say there are a few questions you can ask that will help you get a sense of how highly an employer prioritizes the retirement benefits it offers its workers.

They might only enroll people at a certain point of the month or quarter, says Dave Carvajal, CEO of recruitment firm Dave Partners. While probably not a dealbreaker, an extra-long waiting period (think several months) could be a sign that the plan is more bare-bones than others.

Ask for the percentage or formula for any contribution matches. Thats an easy number that reveals a lot. That match is a good proxy for how generous the employer is, says Marc Cenedella, founder and CEO of Leet Resumes. Cenedella says a 2% or 3% match is the middle of the road, and 6% is terrific, especially if contributions are matched at 100%.

Sometimes its a whole year before you can start getting the match, Carvajal notes. If youre hoping to play catch-up on your retirement savings, make sure you account for that delay in your calculations.

Job seekers can certainly ask if there are socially responsible funds available, what is the default fund strategy, and are there various tax options available within the benefits, says Amy Polunsky, global benefits director at Indeed. The answer you get about ESG, in particular, is a window into how that company integrates its values into its operations.

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Owning a Car Costs More Than Ever, and These Brands Are Seeing the Biggest Price Increases

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The Postal Service Wants to Hike Prices for the Holiday Season

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Why Good Retirement Benefits Are a Lot More Important to Workers Today - Money

Inflation is driving the cost of living up rapidly these days, but it's pretty much always a concern, especially for retirees on a fixed income.

Moving to a more affordable area is one way to stretch your savings further if you're not too attached to your current home. You might really want to think about it if you live in one of the 10 states listed below.

Image source: Getty Images.

The following 10 states have the highest cost of living as of the first quarter of 2022, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. Each is shown alongside its index score, with the national average being 100. A higher number indicates a more expensive state. For example, an index score of 110 means a place is 10% more expensive than the national average.

The District of Columbia is also pretty expensive. Its index score of 158.8 was second only to Hawaii.

It's worth noting these are averages for the entire state. It's possible that some areas of these states are not that much more expensive to live in than the national average. It's also possible that some areas have an even higher cost of living than these averages suggest.

If you don't plan to live or retire in one of these states, you might be able to save less for retirement, but this isn't a guarantee. Likewise, retiring in one of these expensive states might not cost as much as you fear. But regardless, it's important to have a realistic idea about how much your basic retirement expenses will cost.

Those who plan to retire in their current city probably already have a good idea about average costs in the area. But if you plan to retire elsewhere, you need to get a sense of how much everyday expenses, like food, housing, and healthcare, stack up in your retirement destination compared to your current residence. Make sure you're basing your estimated retirement expenses around the costs where you plan to spend retirement.

Prioritize your retirement savings right now, too. You might feel that you have plenty of time left to save, but the longer you put off saving for retirement, the more difficult your task becomes. Once you have an idea of how much you plan to spend every year in retirement, it shouldn't be too tough to figure out how much you need to save.

If you're worried about retirement costs but you don't want to move, there are other things you can do to keep costs down. You could consider moving to a more affordable area within your state or downsizing your home. However, downsizing may not save you much money if housing costs have risen significantly in your area since you purchased your home.

You might also be able to reduce costs in retirement by shopping around before you buy things, relying upon senior discounts where you can find them, and devising a monthly budget and some sort of tracking system to hold yourself accountable.

Everyone's retirement looks different, so it's tough to say exactly what will work best for you. Be open and consider all your options. And don't wait until you're ready to retire before you begin thinking seriously about all of this. The sooner you begin planning, the better chance you have of retiring comfortably.

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Tight Retirement Budget? Don't Retire in These 10 States With a High Cost of Living - The Motley Fool

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U.S. credit card debt declined during the pandemic, as people were generally staying home and spending less money. But as the world ramped up again, revolving debt started increasing throughout the second half of 2021 and the first half of 2022.

Its easy to see why credit card spending is up, with a volatile stock market and record high inflation over the past year. Many are wondering what options are available to pay down credit cards.

We spoke with two financial experts on why its probably not a good idea to pull from your retirement account to pay off credit card debt, as well as what alternatives you should consider.

Because of the notoriously high interest on credit cards, its easy to feel like your balance isnt shrinking when youre only making the minimum payment. And while a lump sum payment can be far more effective, it requires money that many people simply dont have on hand. For that reason, consumers may find themselves turning to the money in their retirement accounts.

Generally speaking, financial experts agree that its not wise to pull from your retirement account to pay off debt, even if you have high-interest debt like credit cards.

Tapping into some retirement accounts early can leave you with a nasty tax bill and often a penalty on top of taxes, which will put you in an even tougher situation if you dont have the liquidity to pay off the debt without it, said Lauren Anastasio, a CFP and the Director of Financial Advice at Stash, a financial tech company.

First, assuming the money is in a pre-tax retirement account like a traditional IRA or 401(k) plan, youll be on the hook for income taxes for any money you withdraw. Depending on your annual income, the tax rate could range from 10% to 37%, which is excessively steep.

And because the money in your retirement accounts is meant to be used for retirement, theres an additional 10% penalty on early withdrawals. Between those taxes and penalties, a significant portion of what you withdraw will end up going directly to the IRS.

Most importantly, it can have a significant impact later in life when you are older, not working, and need to rely on those funds, said Paramita Pal, the head of US Bankcard at TD Bank.

Once you withdraw the money from your retirement account, you stop your portfolio from growing and compounding to build your retirement account. Unfortunately, you could find yourself with a shortfall during retirement as a result.

Consider this: Withdrawing $10,000 from a retirement account could help you eliminate your credit card debt in one fell swoop. But if you keep that money in your retirement account and dont add one single more dollar, with a conservative estimate of 8% annual return in the market, it would be worth more than $100,000 after 30 years thanks to compound interest. Thats the beauty of not touching your investments.

Credit card debt can feel unmanageable, but you may have more options than you think. Consider using a debt snowball or debt avalanche calculator to see just how quickly you could pay off your debt if you allocated your excess disposable income to it each month.

Its understandable that many credit card users want to maintain their credit score and, therefore, may panic during financial hardships if they find themselves in debt, Pal said. But instead of tapping their nest egg for funds, I advise looking into alternatives.

The first option available to tackle your credit card debt is to simply use your excess monthly income to pay off as much as you can. This option wont have quite the impact of a lump sum payment, but slowly and steadily, your debt will decrease. And using a debt payoff strategy such as the debt snowball or debt avalanche can help you jumpstart the process.

Even if you want to tackle your debt a bit more aggressively, there are still other options available.

One alternative solution is to seek out credit cards that offer strong balance transfer benefits, such as waiving balance transfer fees or not charging interest on the transferred sum for an extended period, Pal said.

These credit cards often offer 0% interest for anywhere from 12 to 18 months, meaning all of your payments are going toward your principal balance instead of interest. However, its important to make a plan to pay off the debt before the introductory APR ends, or else you risk getting stuck with a high interest rate (and possibly even retroactive interest charges).

Another alternative to using your retirement account is taking out a debt consolidation loan. Its technically a personal loan, meaning its unsecured, just like your credit cards. However, it allows you to pay off several credit cards and consolidate your debt into a single balance and single monthly payment. And often, you can land a lower interest rate.

While it can be tempting to use the money in your retirement accounts to pay off debt especially if theres a large amount in there experts advise against it. Not only could you find yourself on the hook for significant taxes and penalties, but youre also robbing your future self, potentially putting your retirement at risk.

As you look for solutions to your credit card debt, its also important to address the root cause that got you into your current situation. Sometimes debt is unavoidable, such as in a financial emergency. However, if racking up credit card debt seems to be an ongoing problem, consider creating a budget to decrease your spending to change course.

Creating a budget and sticking to it is key, Pal said. There are many digital tools available to help consumers manage their spending and identify areas where they typically overspend and can cut back.

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Pulling From Your Retirement Accounts Should Be Your Last Resort When Paying Debt. What to Do Instead - NextAdvisor

Berl Schwartz

MONDAY, Aug. 22 Ingham County Health Officer Linda S. Vail will retire in February, she has informed the county Board of Commissioners.

I have had strong feelings about not leaving our health department team, the Ingham County community, and the Board of Commissioners until I felt I had done everything I could to continue to provide leadership during this challenging and unprecedented time, Vail said in a letter to Chair Bryan Crenshaw. I am feeling confident at this time that we will have navigated our way through the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic by the time I retire.

As health officer, Vail has led the Ingham County Health Department for more than eight years. Vail, 61, is a microbiologist who led the Kalamazoo County Health Department for the previous seven years. She oversees a department with some 400 employees, a network of health centers and a budget of more than $50 million. Armed with emergency powers under state law, she exerted them at times during the height of the pandemic to crack down on violations. She was initially slow to embrace masks, but became an advocate.

"I found this career in public health to be very satisfying," Vail said today. "This job is more than a job to me,' Vail said today.

Asked what she might do after she leaves the Health Department, she said, "My brain is engaged in thinking about everything infectious diseases, how they spread, equity, justice. I don't anticipate my brain shutting down around those things."

However, she does not plan to work again full time. She will stay in Lansing with her husband, Mike Eyia, a musician who leads the band Orquestra Ritmo.

She wants to spend more time with her two granddaughters in Kalamazoo, where her daughter lives. She also has a son in Las Vegas.

Soon after her Feb. 17 retirement, she and her husband, daughter and granddaughters will head to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to ski -- part of her plan to "do some traveling and see what other options I might have."

Here is Vails letter:

"I have so many mixed emotions as I write to you confirming my intent to retire in 2023. When we spoke about this a few months ago, I did not have a specific date in mind other than sometime in 2023.

"With this communication I am informing you that 1intend to retire on February 17, 2023. I have had strong feelings about not leaving our health department team, the Ingham County community, and the Board of Commissioners until I felt I had done everything I could to continue to provide leadership during this challenging and unprecedented time. I am feeling confident at this time that we will have navigated our way through the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic by the time I retire.

"My other goal was to stay here for the new leaders who have joined the department in 2021 and 2022. As you know, all our Deputy Health Officer positions turned over in that time. I felt personally obligated to be here for them until they felt grounded in their new positions. I am confident in the executive team and their ability to carry forward with the exemplary leadership we have come to expect in our Ingham County Health Department.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my time with Ingham Countyyes, even the last three years. A once in a lifetime pandemic was certainly not how I anticipated I would finish out my career in public health. With an abundance of pride, I can tell you that we have risen to every challenge, and obviously there were some extremely difficult times and situations. Despite the stress and tremendously difficult circumstances that arose nearly constantly, successfully resolving those big problems has personally been extraordinarily rewarding. It is without a doubt quite the capstone to place on the end of what will be a 20+year career in public health, 16 years as a Health Officer, and nine amazing years here at Ingham County.

"There are not sufficient words to express my gratitude to you, as well as the rest of the Board, for the confidence you have had in me, the constant support I feel from all of you, and for the opportunity to hold this leadership position at the best health department in the State of Michigan. I am sincerely grateful to have been given the opportunity to be your Health Officer. It is hard to believe it has been nine years. Time flies when you have the resources and support to do great things with a great team every single day.

"In closing, I am available and willing to help you in any way I can as you search for and select a new Health Officer. Please let me know how I can be of assistance."

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Vail announces retirement as Ingham County's top health official: She led the local response to COVID during her nine-year stint - City Pulse

Home equity may not be the best resource for younger people to tap at the moment since it may be needed to help fund retirement, potentially through a product like a reverse mortgage. This is according to Liz Weston, a syndicated columnist for NerdWallet in a new piece distributed by the Associated Press.

The upward trajectory of home equity enjoyed by many American homeowners including seniors may make the prospect of tapping that equity an appealing one, but such a decision should warrant further consideration in these current times.

Citing data from Black Knight, Weston describes how the average-priced home is up 42% since the start of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, which could lead to average tappable home equity of over $200,000.

Spending that wealth can be tempting, she writes. Proceeds from home equity loans or lines of credit can fund home improvements, college tuition, debt consolidation, new cars, vacations whatever the borrower wants. But just because something can be done, of course, doesnt mean it should be done. One risk of such borrowing should be pretty obvious: Youre putting your home at risk.

A reason for additional caution toward equity tapping provided by Weston comes from lessons learned during the 2008-09 recession, in which home prices lost significant value in a very short period of time. Borrowers from that period who tapped equity, she said, were more likely to find themselves owing more than their homes were worth according to 2011 data, she said.

Other risks may be less obvious, including the potential for needing home equity later on, she explained. She specifically cites that home equity may be needed later for funding retirement, specifically citing a reverse mortgage as a potential use of a homes equity.

Many Americans arent saving enough for retirement and may need to use their home equity to avoid a sharp drop in their standard of living, she wrote. Some will do that by selling their homes and downsizing, freeing up money to invest or supplement other retirement income.

This may make a reverse mortgage a viable option in later life, presuming that the equity is not depleted, she explains.

The most common type of reverse mortgage allows homeowners 62 and up to convert home equity into a lump of cash, a series of monthly payments or a line of credit they can use as needed, she wrote. The borrower doesnt have to pay the loan back as long as they live in the home, but the balance must be repaid when the borrower dies, sells or moves out.

Weston has previously discussed home equity in her column, saying it could be a better option for seniors than credit cards, could help in delaying the taking of Social Security benefits, and could be a good retirement funding resource.

Read the column at the Associated Press.

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Avoid tapping home equity now since it may be needed in retirement, says columnist - ReverseMortgageDaily

Your client has a retirement savings plan great! The next step is to encourage participation by providing information about the plan to their employees. As a benefits adviser, you may help motivate the employee populations you serve to jump-start their retirement savings by increasing awareness of the benefits of tax credits, including the Saver's Credit.

This little-known federal tax credit is generally available to lower-income participants who contribute to employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs. According to the Congressional Research Service, the share of taxpayers claiming the Saver's Credit has gradually trended up to 6.1% in 2019 from 4.1% in 2002.

It's important for employees to understand the difference between a tax deduction and tax credit. A tax credit, including the Saver's Credit, is claimed in addition to any deduction for a contribution that may apply. A tax credit is generally more beneficial because it provides a dollar-for-dollar reduction on the tax that is owed. A tax deduction, on the other hand, reduces the amount of taxable income that is used to calculate an individual's tax liability.

Read more: Adult children may be sapping their parents' retirement funds

If a specific tax credit is considered refundable, individuals may receive a refund even if they don't owe any tax. The Saver's Credit is currently nonrefundable. So if the tax credit is greater than an individual's tax liability, the IRS does not refund the difference.

To claim the Saver's Credit, employees also should be aware that they must meet certain requirements. Individuals may claim a portion of the annual contributions (including Roth contributions) they make to employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs as a nonrefundable tax credit, subject to several requirements. They include the individual being age 18 or older, not being a full-time student or claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return.

If these criteria are satisfied, the amount of the credit then depends on the individual's adjusted gross income and tax-filing status. The tax credit, up to $1,000 for individuals or $2,000 for joint filers, may be 10%, 20% or 50% on contributions up to $2,000, depending on the applicable adjusted gross income limits.

*Single, married filing separately, or qualifying widow(er)

Individuals can claim the Saver's Credit for contributions made to their traditional or Roth IRA; elective deferrals made to a SIMPLE IRA plan, 401(k) plan, 403(b) plan, or governmental 457(b) plan; and after-tax contributions made to a qualified retirement plan or 403(b) plan. An individual who is the designated beneficiary of an Achieving a Better Life Experienceaccount also can claim the credit for contributions made to that account. Note that individuals cannot claim the credit for rollover contributions.

The Saver's Credit is claimed using IRS Form 8880, Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions, and is submitted along with the individual's IRS Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (or similar return).

Read more: How proposed legislation can help resolve retirement-savings gaps

Individuals should be careful not to take certain retirement account distributions, since the credit may be reduced by withdrawals made during the testing period. They can be referred to IRS Publication 590-A, Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), for more information.

You might be asking yourself, how can we increase awareness of the Saver's Credit and help a client's employees lower their tax bill? One way is to mention the credit and share within employee communications an online IRS Interactive Tax Assistant resource. You also could discuss the Saver's Credit during informational meetings about the plan.

Looking forward, stay tuned to proposed changes to the Saver's Credit included in the Securing a Strong Retirement Act (legislation. This legislation, commonly known as SECURE 2.0, proposes to improve the Saver's Credit for lower-income individuals by replacing the tiered formula with a single 50% credit on contributions up to $2,000 (effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2026).

No matter the route, spreading the word about the Saver's Credit and encouraging your client's employees to take advantage of it will ultimately help them. They will benefit from increased retirement readiness and may get a bit of extra cash in their pocket.

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Using the Saver's Credit can bolster retirement plan participation - Employee Benefit News

These days, many seniors are feeling the strain of inflation. So are everyday consumers, for that matter. But whereas workers still receive paychecks from their employers, many seniors are stuck with fixed, limited incomes that make it harder to keep up with rising living costs.

If you're worried that inflation will lead to a miserable retirement for you, fear not. With the right strategy, you can set yourself up to maintain your buying power even as inflation rears its ugly head. Here's how.

Image source: Getty Images.

Social Security is designed to protect seniors from inflation. But it often does a poor job of doing that, namely because its annual cost-of-living adjustments commonly fail to account for the rising living costs seniors specifically face. As such, it's important to have other income streams to tap, and that's why boosting your IRA or 401(k) plan contributions during your working years is essential.

The more savings you bring with you into retirement, the less reliant you will be on Social Security. Plus, you'll have the option to keep your IRA or 401(k) invested during retirement so that it continues to generate growth.

Investments that pay you on a regular basis can serve as a great source of supplemental income -- and give you more buying power during periods when living costs are on the rise. Dividend stocks are a great fit in that regard. During your working years, you can reinvest your dividends as they come in to grow your wealth even more. And during retirement, you can collect those dividends and use them as cash as needed.

If you're interested in building a portfolio of dividend-paying companies, it especially makes sense to look at REITs, or real estate investment trusts. REITs must pay at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders in dividend form, which often leaves them paying higher dividends than your average company.

Homes tend to gain value steadily over time. If you invest in an income property during your working years, you can use your rental income to offset your ownership costs, such as mortgage payments, maintenance, repairs, and property taxes. And then, come retirement, you'll have two choices. You can either hold onto that property and continue to collect income or sell it at what will hopefully be a nice profit.

Either way, having an asset like a house could serve as a huge source of protection against inflation. And if you buy a home in the right market, you may end up very pleased with the degree to which its value appreciates.

Inflation is a serious concern for seniors -- but it doesn't have to be for you. If you take the right approach to investing and retirement planning, you can set yourself up to land in a position where your bills aren't a burden -- and you're not perpetually strapped for cash.

See more here:
Worried Inflation Will Wreck Your Retirement? Make These 3 Moves - The Motley Fool