aarp

Described as a "fear tactic" by critics, the White House warned Tuesday that if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling soon, come August, millions of Social Security recipients may find themselves without a check. The comments were met with a firestorm of criticism by seniors and their advocates.

Job growth in the traditional market is tepid, but among contractors, freelancers and e-lancers, hiring is booming. Of course, if you go that route, that means you have to handle a host of things your employer used to, but there are ways to make it less of a chore -- and new companies looking to help.

Wouldn't it be great if you could plot your retirement with one simple mathematical equation? We're not there yet, but Lincoln Financial Group comes close. Their formula: Just save up 10 times your annual income for retirement. But does the 10x Rule really work?

With age comes some privileges, and chief among them may be getting discounts just for being older. And just how old is "older?" AARP, the country's largest lobbying group, considers you a senior when you turn 50. But if that insult can be forgiven, then you can expect to be rewarded -- with deep...

It's true that Social Security paid out more than it collected in 2010. But the Trust Fund owns $2.6 trillion in Treasury bonds, and though some people may claim those holdings are an illusion, they aren't. Still, there are some fairly painless steps we could take to shore up the program's balance sheet for the long term.

Picture this: You're a middle-aged worker, raising your kids and worried about your job and mortgage, and suddenly your 75-year-old mother breaks her hip. She needs your help to continue living independently, and of course you'll rise to the challenge. But at what cost to your own financial and...

After compiling this huge list of senior discounts and freebies, I'm convinced that, if you're of a certain age, it's just a matter of asking to save money. Just remember to bring ID, as many retailers and restaurants will ask for proof of your age. After all, you look so young!

Every change of season brings with it a new set of scams. And even for those still in a deep freeze, spring is on its way ... and so are the spring scams that are sure to follow. AARP is warning consumers about the scams of spring you can expect to see:

#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-987252{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-987252, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-987252{width:620px;height:439px;display:block;}As the economy still muddles through a funk, the price of prescription drugs continues...

Retirement may be right around the corner, but if you haven't taken these final steps, you probably aren't ready to say goodbye to your colleagues and settle down in the rocker. As Liz Pulliam Weston says in her excellent roundup of retirement-readiness tips, "Be sure that you've taken care of...