The University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is a longitudinal panel study that surveys a representative sample of approximately 20,000 people in America over the age of 50 every two years. Supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA U01AG009740) and the Social Security Administration, the HRS explores the changes in labor force participation and the health transitions that individuals undergo toward the end of their work lives and in the years that follow.

Since its launch in 1992, the study has collected information about income, work, assets, pension plans, health insurance, disability, physical health and functioning, cognitive functioning, and health care expenditures. Through its unique and in-depth interviews, the HRS provides an invaluable and growing body of multidisciplinary data that researchers can use to address important questions about the challenges and opportunities of aging.

The full scope of the study is described in the publication Growing Older in America: The Health and Retirement Study; an overview is provided in our general brochure and this video.

Health and Retirement Study data products are available without cost to registered users; certain Conditions of Use apply. Once you are registered, the Getting Started page will help you learn more about the data products produced by this complex study.

View original post here:
Health and Retirement Study

Overall

If you've been considering retiring in the Empire State, here is information on the best places to retire in New York. This website has useful data and opinions on the exciting active adult retirement communities in New York. The Empire State has over 19 million people and 62 counties. It includes America's most famous city, the Big Apple, to charming sea coast villages on Long Island; from wealthy New York suburbs to the vast Adirondacks; from upstate to the Finger Lakes wine region; there is definitely a New York community where you can be happy in retirement. TheWikipedia entry for New Yorkhas more facts.

New York Climate The New York climate is called humid-continental. There are 4 seasons and the climate is influenced alternatively by the Gulf of Mexico and the Northeast. Summers are hot and winters are cold with occasional snowstorms. Western New York has a more severe climate, Long Island more moderate.

Economy and Home Prices New York has one of the highest household incomes ($55,223) in the United States. Median home prices can range greatly - in wealthy New York City apartments routinely cost over a million dollars. In the bigger NY Metro the median home price was $368,300 in the first quarter of 2013. In Albany, however, the median home price was $194,300. Cost of living in the New York Metro is very high but differs in other regions - 135 index in New York City and 101 in Ithaca.

New York Taxes

Tax Burden:New York is generally regarded as a high tax state. Its state and local tax burden is 2nd highest in the nation.Total tax burden inNew York Cityis the second highest in the nation at 12.3%.

Marginal Income Tax Rates.New York's top marginal income tax rate is 8.97% on the top bracket of $500,000.

Retirement Income Exemptions.When it comes to taxation of retirees, the tax situation is quite friendly. Military pensions, civil service pensions, NY State and local pensions are not taxable. Up to $20,000 of qualified pensions can be excluded if you are 59 years of age or older.

Social security exemption.Social security is not taxed.

Sales Tax:State sales tax is 4.0% but many towns and cities can and do add 5% additional tax.

Property Taxes:The worst tax problem for retirees is property tax, which is 2nd highest in the nation.

Homestead Exemption.New York has a homestead exemption.

Estate and/or Inheritance Taxes.New York has a new estate tax as of April 1, 2014. The exemption for 2014 was raised to $2.062,500 and is set to rise by just over $1 miilion each year until it reaches the federal exemption of $5.3 million (indexed for inflation) by 2017. The tax rate is 16%.

Here is more information abouttaxes for senior citizens in New York.

Topretirements named NY as the 8th worst state for retirement on its 2012 list.

Certified Retirement Communities New York does not have a certified retirement community program.

Best retirement communities in New York New York is a great state for active adults and people over 50, particularly if you live there already or hanker for "car-free" life in the Big Apple. For example, active adults looking for retirement information on thegreat City of New Yorkwill find vital information to help assess pros and cons of living there.

Other "best" retirement communities include the beautifulcollege town of Ithaca, the North Folk coastal town of Mattituck, or the state capitol in Albany. Towns like Poughkeepsie, Elmira, and Yonkers are other retirement places to consider.

Get started withreviews of the best retirement communities.

View post:
new_york retirement guide - Find Your Best Place to Retire

This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only.

The New York State Office of the State Comptrollers website is provided in English. However, the Google Translate option may help you to read it in other languages.

Google Translate cannot translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. If you rely on information obtained from Google Translate, you do so at your own risk.

The Office of the State Comptroller does not warrant, promise, assure or guarantee the accuracy of the translations provided. The State of New York, its officers, employees, and/or agents are not liable to you, or to third parties, for damages or losses of any kind arising out of, or in connection with, the use or performance of such information. These include, but are not limited to:

Because Google Translate is intellectual property owned by Google Inc., you must use Google Translate in accord with the Google license agreement, which includes potential liability for misuse: Google Terms of Service.

See the rest here:
NYSLRS About Retirement Online - New York State Comptroller

JillLang

Q. Im going to retire next year, and I have a traditional IRA worth $260,000 that Im thinking of converting to a Roth. I dont think I will need the money during my retirement, so I love the idea of giving a tax-free gift to my kids. What should I consider?

Read More

A new report took a look recently at retirement plans and participation in New Jersey and some of the results were pretty surprising.

Read More

Q. I have an individual 401(k). Whats the best way to make contributions as the employer or as the employee? Which is more beneficial for my taxes? I earn about $100,000 a year from my business.

Read More

If you havent started socking cash away for retirement, a new Wells Fargo report might give you some strong incentive to save now.

Read More

A new AARP New Jersey survey finds that there is a great deal of angst among New Jerseyans when it comes to their ability to afford retirement.

Read More

Have you heard about the latest government scam?

Read More

If you haven't saved any money at all for retirement you have a lot of company according to a 2014 Federal Reserve report.

Read More

There's a big difference in financial security between New Jersey residents who are retired and those who are not.

Read More

You may be planning to work until you are 65, then head south where you can spend your days on the beach or on the golf course. But life may have other plans, and you may be forced into retirement earlier than expected -- and that could send your plans into a tailspin.

Read More

Have you saved any money for retirement or are you among the many Americans who haven't socked away anything? You could get the opportunity to have your company take a small percentage from your paycheck and put it into a state-run retirement account.

Read More

Read the original here:
Retirement - New Jersey 101.5

If you have been searching for the perfect retirement community in the "American Heartland," then you have come to the right place. TopRetirements.com gives you detailed and honest reviews of the best places to retire in Iowa, by active adults for active adults. Peruse our listings to answer all your questions about a Midwestern favorite.

Overall

Coined the Food Capital of the World, Iowa is in the heart of the Corn Belt; once a purely agricultural economy, beautiful stretches of farmland stretch out under wide skies in some counties, while others are home to exciting, bustling cites. The states industries are diversified, including biotechnology and green energy production. It is also rated one of the safest states in which to live. A famous state for writers

and other intellectuals, Iowa has the third highest high school graduation rate in the nation. The population was 3.07 million in 2012.

Active adults looking for information on what retiring in Iowa is like will find information here. You can also refer to Iowas Wikipedia page for more helpful information.

Des Moines Skyline

Climate

Iowa, like most of the Midwest, has a humid continental climate. Depending on the season, there are extremes of cold and heat throughout the state. In spring, a period characterized by severe weather begins. Tornados are common, and Iowa has about 50 days of thunderstorms a year. Summers are incredibly hot, with daytime temperatures oftentimes in the nineties, while average winter days are well below freezing.

Per capita income and home prices

In 2010 the Iowa per capita income was reported at $26,059. Iowa ranks well on cost of living, among the top 30% of least expensive states in which to live. In November of 2011, the Zillow Home Value Index was $120,800. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median home price in Des Moines was $156,200 in the first quarter of 2013.

Taxes

Tax Burden:Iowas state and local tax burden is lower than the national average at 9.5% of income.

Marginal Income Tax Rates.The personal income tax system is divided into nine brackets; the top rate is 8.98% starts at an income rate of $63,315; it is the fifth highest for states charging individual income taxes.

Retirement Income Exemptions.A portion of retirement income may be exempt; it can be up to a $6,000 exemption for those filing singly and up to $12,000 for those filing jointly.

Social security exemption.By 2014, Iowa will fully exempt social security benefits from taxation.

Sales Tax:There is a 6% general sales tax on all consumers.

Property Taxes:Iowa is one of 13 states that do not collect state-level property taxes.

Homestead Exemption.There is a homestead tax credit for those who live in the state over six months a year.

Estate and/or Inheritance Taxes.The Iowa inheritance tax ranges from 1% to 15%.

Linkto Iowa Department of Revenue

Certified Retirement Communities

Iowa does not have any certified retirement community programs.

Best Retirement Communities

Des Moines in Iowa is home to at least one active adult community, Deerfield.

Link:
iowa retirement guide - Find Your Best Place to Retire

The good news is that we're living longer. The bad news is we have to pay for it. That means saving more in a 401(k) or similar employee-provided retirement savings accounts, like a 403(b). Or, it means saving in Individual Retirement Accounts or Roth I.R.A.s. Later on, it may mean buying an annuity. Our collection of articles can help you get started.

Even though a law meant to protect older workers has existed since 1967, proving discrimination has since been made tougher.

By ELIZABETH OLSON

Theres about a month left till the filing deadline. Here are a few things you might do to hang onto more of your cash.

A Citigroup report on 20 nations said pension obligations, much of them unfunded, amounted to nearly twice the countries total national debt.

By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH

Honest Dollar is part of a group of investment companies vying for small-business employees who do not have access to traditional employer-sponsored savings plans.

When a child leaves the nest, tantalizing vistas of opportunity can open up. One option is a long-term rental of your home that can pay for your travels.

By DEBORAH L. JACOBS

The job of paying pensions is given to an insurance firm in a strategy called pension buyout.

By CONRAD DE AENLLE

The danger for investors in retirement is a punishing stock market downturn that reduces not only their income stream but also their total wealth.

Longer lives, rising costs and the limits of Medicare coverage have increased the amount people must save to pay for health care in retirement.

By CONSTANCE GUSTKE

There are ways to minimize the tax bite after decades of putting money into retirement accounts like I.R.A.s and 401(k)s.

By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD

In a rare victory, about 1,350 retirees will be paid in full for pensions that were cut when the Renco subsidiary they worked for went bankrupt in 2012.

By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH

The Artist Pension Trust, a retirement plan for artists, pools together their work, diversifying risk. While one artist may fall out of favor with collectors, anothers art may appreciate in value.

By BRADEN PHILLIPS

With families often living far apart, bringing everyone together for vacations is more common. But plan carefully to avoid conflicts.

By FRAN HAWTHORNE

Continuing care offers retirees independent living with assistance when needed, but prospective residents need to evaluate communities carefully.

By JOHN F. WASIK

The group was said to have agreed to pay $2.8 billion for the company that operates the airport, which is close to the center of London.

By CHAD BRAY

A plan from the Treasury Department to ease Puerto Ricos debt crisis would put pension payments ahead of payments to bondholders, which may rattle the muni market.

By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH

Ideas drawn from psychology are helping Americans make better economic choices, but they fail to address problems in areas like retirement savings.

By EDUARDO PORTER

Questionnaires and other quick ways to determine risk tolerance should not replace a thoughtful assessment of your investment goals.

By CARL RICHARDS

Caution should be the first rule, experts advise, followed by piecing together the financial picture.

By KERRY HANNON

A former chief economist argues that a 100 percent allocation to stocks despite ones age makes sense, though it has long been viewed as risky.

By DAVID A. LEVINE

Ray Dalio, the founder, said Bridgewater Associates was continually assessing the responsibilities of executives including Greg Jensen, the co-C.E.O.

By ALEXANDRA STEVENSON

Even though a law meant to protect older workers has existed since 1967, proving discrimination has since been made tougher.

By ELIZABETH OLSON

Theres about a month left till the filing deadline. Here are a few things you might do to hang onto more of your cash.

A Citigroup report on 20 nations said pension obligations, much of them unfunded, amounted to nearly twice the countries total national debt.

By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH

Honest Dollar is part of a group of investment companies vying for small-business employees who do not have access to traditional employer-sponsored savings plans.

When a child leaves the nest, tantalizing vistas of opportunity can open up. One option is a long-term rental of your home that can pay for your travels.

By DEBORAH L. JACOBS

The job of paying pensions is given to an insurance firm in a strategy called pension buyout.

By CONRAD DE AENLLE

The danger for investors in retirement is a punishing stock market downturn that reduces not only their income stream but also their total wealth.

Longer lives, rising costs and the limits of Medicare coverage have increased the amount people must save to pay for health care in retirement.

By CONSTANCE GUSTKE

There are ways to minimize the tax bite after decades of putting money into retirement accounts like I.R.A.s and 401(k)s.

By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD

In a rare victory, about 1,350 retirees will be paid in full for pensions that were cut when the Renco subsidiary they worked for went bankrupt in 2012.

By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH

The Artist Pension Trust, a retirement plan for artists, pools together their work, diversifying risk. While one artist may fall out of favor with collectors, anothers art may appreciate in value.

By BRADEN PHILLIPS

With families often living far apart, bringing everyone together for vacations is more common. But plan carefully to avoid conflicts.

By FRAN HAWTHORNE

Continuing care offers retirees independent living with assistance when needed, but prospective residents need to evaluate communities carefully.

By JOHN F. WASIK

The group was said to have agreed to pay $2.8 billion for the company that operates the airport, which is close to the center of London.

By CHAD BRAY

A plan from the Treasury Department to ease Puerto Ricos debt crisis would put pension payments ahead of payments to bondholders, which may rattle the muni market.

By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH

Ideas drawn from psychology are helping Americans make better economic choices, but they fail to address problems in areas like retirement savings.

By EDUARDO PORTER

Questionnaires and other quick ways to determine risk tolerance should not replace a thoughtful assessment of your investment goals.

By CARL RICHARDS

Caution should be the first rule, experts advise, followed by piecing together the financial picture.

By KERRY HANNON

A former chief economist argues that a 100 percent allocation to stocks despite ones age makes sense, though it has long been viewed as risky.

By DAVID A. LEVINE

Ray Dalio, the founder, said Bridgewater Associates was continually assessing the responsibilities of executives including Greg Jensen, the co-C.E.O.

By ALEXANDRA STEVENSON

Go to Home Page

See the original post here:
Retirement - The New York Times

Crystal River Village, in Crystal River, Florida, is a perfect blend of location, home selection, services, amenities, price, climate, activities and friendly neighbors. Crystal River Village is a gated 55+ active retirement community offering the total environment needed to make each day of your retirement years truly enjoyable.

Rarely will you find a community so conveniently located. Our magnificent 7,500 square foot waterfront clubhouse as the center of activities featured in our residents' monthly newsletter. This impressive structure contains a huge central dance/theater area (ideal for Bingo, holiday parties, etc.) surrounded by separate library, exercise equipment, art, craft, woodworking, hobby, card, table tennis and billiard rooms. A complete, modern serving kitchen for hosting potluck and holiday events, and laundry facilities are also included for residents' use.

Just outside the clubhouse is Lake Evelyn, one of two lakes within Crystal River Village, well stocked with fish and containing many trophy size bass waiting to test your skill. To add variety to your activities we also offer a heated swimming pool with water aerobics classes, screened lanai, lighted shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits, lawn croquet, and many other activities organized by the Crystal River Village Home Owner's Association.

Speaking of sports, how about joining our golf league for a round of golf at the beautiful 18-hole public course, at the Plantation Inn and Country Club, just across U.S. 19 a half mile from your door, or a couple of sets of tennis at the public courts just down the street from our entrance. Florida's best fresh & salt water fishing is only minutes away and Gulf of Mexico beaches are just 7 miles from the community.

Here is the original post:
Crystal River Village | Active Retirement in Crystal River ...

Here at The Villages of Citrus Hills, FL we believe your Florida Retirement experience is about enjoying pastimes and pleasures like never before. That's the vision at the very foundation of The Villages of Citrus Hills. They are Florida Retirement Communities that have been specially designed for those demanding something special from their Florida retirement and Active Adult Lifestyles.

The Villages, Florida of Citrus Hills Florida offers you the Florida retirement experience that begins with these truly unique Gulf Coast Communities located in Citrus County, Florida just north of Tampa Bay. Affectionately known as the "Nature Coast" this picturesque area lives up to its description by delivering a locale of unspoiled natural beauty graced with the famous spring fed rivers of Crystal River, FL and surroundings distinctively highlighted by lush rolling hills, sparkling lakes and nature preserves.

Few Florida Retirement destinations provide a more ideal backdrop for boating, trophy fishing, year around outdoor recreation and endless Florida Retirement recreation opportunities as The Villages of Citrus Hills. A point further enhanced by easy access to Orlando, FL and Tampa and the nearby Florida Retirement city of Ocala, Florida.

But what makes the promise of Florida Retirement in The Villages of Citrus Hills truly come together for todays new breed of active adult retiree is its extraordinary collection of world-class community country club amenities and extensive social activities.

Find fun-filled Florida Retirement living in The Villages of Citrus Hills, whether your interests run to:

Finally The Villages of Citrus Hills is a Florida Retirement Community with single family homes and maintenance free villas that have been built with todays demanding baby-boomer in mind.

Impeccably manicured, The Villages of Citrus Hills Florida has distinctive collections of fully customizable homes featuring a variety of prices and designs to accommodate everything from seasonal Florida snowbird retreats to luxury executive level Florida Retirement Living.

Living Florida Retirement to the fullest. Its much more than an idle promise at Floridas Citrus Hills.

We now invite you to spend a few moments more exploring our website. Youll experience a new idea in perfecting your idea of quality Florida Retirement Living at The Villages, Florida of Citrus Hills.

Read more from the original source:
The Villages, FL | Terra Vista & Citrus Hills/FL Retirement ...

Tennessee Best Places to Retire - A Guide

Overall Tennessee is a state in America's Southeast that attracts many active adults over 55 for its low cost of living and easy lifestyle; therefore, there are many best placesto retire in Tennessee, from livable cities like Nashville to lake towns like Paris. The Great Smoky and Cumberland Mountains and many rivers including the Mississippi offer exceptional scenery and recreation opportunities. This site will acquaint you with some basic facts about what it's like to retire in Tennessee (population just under 6.5 million in 2012).

Countryside near Crossville TN

Climate The Tennessee climate is characterized as humid subtropical, influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. Summers are hot and humid while winters tend to be mild, except at higher altitudes.

Per Capita Income and Home Prices In Tennessee the 2011 inflation-adjusted per capita income was $24,197. Real estate and the general cost of living is well below average compared to the total U.S. The Census Bureau reports that the statewide average home price was $159,000 in early 2012. The first quarter of 2013 median home price in Knoxville was $132,800, for example, well below the national average of $176,600. The median selling price in the same period for Chattanooga was $119,900 (Source: NAR). Tourism and agriculture (cotton and beef) are important in Tennessee, along with textiles. Cost of living is estimated to be 10% below U.S. average.

Taxes

Tax Burden:Total tax burden is one of the lowest in the country (44th).

Marginal Income Tax Rates.Tennessee has no income tax, although interest and dividends are taxed at 6%.Persons over 65 whose total income is less than $16,2000 (single) or $27,000 (married) are exempt from that tax.

Sales Tax:Sales tax is 7%, and some localities also have a sales tax.

Property Taxes:TN has a property tax relief program that the elderly, disabled and veterans can take advantage of. Property taxes are set at 25% of assessed value.

Estate and/or Inheritance Taxes.There is an inheritance

Linkto theTennessee Department of Revenue.

Certified Retirement Communities Tennessee does not have a certified retirement community program, but it has an equivalent, the Retire in Tennessee program.

Best retirement communities Tennessee has several large cities like Memphis and Nashville, along with many small towns. Several cities and towns in Tennessee are popular as retirement communities, particularly lake towns like Paris or the golf capital of Tennessee of Crossville. Nashville is the country music capital of the world. Maryville is a small town near Knoxville that has two great colleges in it. Johnson City and Franklin are interesting towns in the northeastern and central parts of the state. Active adult communities are being built in and around towns throughout the state and there are many to choose from. Find more helpful information on more than 30 different state retirement guides.

Get started - Click on the Tennessee Retirement Community profiles on the right.

See the rest here:
tennessee retirement guide - Find Your Best Place to Retire

Nashville, Tennessee is the state capital of Tennessee and is famous for its history, music, and vibrant arts culture.

Nashville has many arts festivals throughout the year. It's home to the Nashville Film Festival (one of the biggest film festivals) and the Country Music Association Awards (broadcast to millions of country music fans worldwide).

Nashville Tennessee has a lot of colleges and universities such as Vanderbilt and Tennessee State University as well as many other smaller niche specific colleges and training facilities. This makes Nashville great for the senior who wants continuing education opportunities.

Many consider Nashville to be among the best retirement cities in the U.S. Here are some other reasons to choose living in Nashville.

Social Opportunities: studies have shown that a good group of friends is more important to a happy retirement than money or health. Nashville offers many opportunities with civic groups and hobby clubs to generate a solid core group of friends. These friends can help ward off the problems of aging like dementia and health issues.

Public Transportation: rural living isn't good for seniors who can't drive since they require someone's help to get around. The expenses of transportation add up quickly for fixed-income seniors so the public transportation of Nashville is quite beneficial. Even better is that most public transit systems have senior rates that are much cheaper than normal.

Access to Medical Services: it's pretty obvious that if you live near a hospital, you're more likely to survive a medical emergency. Despite how your mind feels, the body starts to break down and there's a good chance you'll need a hospital visit during your retirement years. Living in Nashville is great since there are more specialists and medical services available and at cheaper rates.

Access to Local Businesses: city living offers walking distance to most businesses that you'll ever use in your retirement years. Even if you need to travel, there are a lot more shopping centers and discount stores in urban areas.

Fitness: exercise is critical to keeping healthy during your retirement years. Cities have every type of fitness facility from standard fitness centers to niche fitness places like indoor rock climbing walls so there's something for everyone. Even if you want to exercise on your own, there's tons of parks or indoor malls to enjoy walking in.

Continuing Education: todays seniors know the importance of exercising their brains, as well as their bodies. Urban living provides access to a wide range of classes, through local universities, museums, city recreation departments, etc. Enrolling in these types of courses can help stave off the depression that some people feel once they stop working full time.

Food and Entertainment: retirement should be full of activities you never had a chance to enjoy while working. Dinners out to fancy restaurants or weekend getaways to a nearby city or historical site are all possible living in a city. Usually, cities have tons of entertainment venues like theaters and museums and there's always something going on.

Nashville Retirement Housing Options: In Nashville there are unique housing options which include condos, apartments for rent, hi-rises, retirement communities, lofts, co-ops, luxury condominiums, top end townhouses and other housing for over 55 boomers and seniors.

Over 55 Condo's Mount Juliet TN 110 Silverstone Lane, Mount Juliet, TN 37122 Over 55 custom condos, conveniently located approx. 25 miles east of downtown Nashville, near Summit Hospital, shopping, airport, recreation. In Wilson County were taxes are lower. Condo's feature detailed trim work, custom cabinets, granite counters.

Active Community in the Heart of Tennessee 7119 Sunrise Circle, Franklin, TN 37067 Lovely townhome located in the Heart of Tennessee-20 min. drive to downtown Nashville and located in Franklin, Tennessee. Money Magazine's Top 10 Places to Retire. Home is like new with vaulted ceiling, fireplace, outdoor patio, and open floor plan.

Retirement Communities Tennessee Nashville TN 301 Infantry Run, Mount Juliet, TN 37122 Del Webb at Lake Providence is located just 17 miles east of downtown Nashville and a simple 10-minute east of the Nashville International Airport!

Richland Place is Nashville's premier retirement community for active seniors. This distinctive luxury retirement community is designed for seniors over the age of 55 desiring the peace of mind, convenience, and comforts of a comprehensive residential package. Located conveniently near Interstate 440 at West End Avenue

Morningside of Belmont offers affordable Independent Living and Assisted Senior Living with a variety of service options promoting an exceptional quality of life for our residents and peace of mind for their caregivers.

Read the rest here:
Nashville Retirement Living: 55+ Homes - Condos ...