benefits

Maybe the Social Security benefits you are going to get in retirement are being unfairly maligned. They could be more valuable than you think. Let me explain. Invariably (and correctly) the traditional advice when it comes to thinking about how you are going to fund your retirement is “don’t plan on relying on Social Security.” And you shouldn’t. It’s not that Social Read more...

See also: annuity, benefits, Social Security

Winter is notoriously harsh on your skin -- dry, cold air and wind cause cracking and flaking. And while most people choose lotions and creams based on scent and texture to ease weather-induced charing and discomfort, Robyn Tisdale Scott, RPh, PharmD, warns that if you're not buying 100 percent shea butter, you're not doing what's best for your skin. "All shea butter products are Read more...

Sometime during this year, vanguard baby boomers -- those bornin 1946 -- celebrate their 60th birthdays. They lead the boomergeneration across the threshold into that so-called "golden" phase oflife.Most of these leading-edge boomers are satisfied with the waytheir lives are going, according to an AARPsurvey of 800 boomers released last month. An optimisticbunch, 70 percent or more of the Read more...

One of the more confounding issues facing job seekers is how to negotiate a compensation package. With some employers, there is little room for discussion; others are open to some give-and-take.Because situations vary, there is no one methodology that always works. However, there are some things you can do to prepare yourself for discussions if the employer is open for negotiations.The topic for Read more...

It's rare, but occasionally the government discovers employers who are abusing employee contributions by either using the money for corporate purposes or holding on to the money too long. Here are 10 warning signs that your pension contributions are being misused: 1. Your 401(k) or individual account statement is consistently late or comes at irregular intervals. 2. Your account Read more...

By Dr. Connie Peraglie Guttersen, R.D., Ph.D. In Sonoma County each year, there's a special festival called the Blessing of the Olives. That's how central olive trees and the foods they yield are to the economy and the eating habits of the region. And olive oil is the most treasured gift of these blessed trees. In fact, there's probably no food choice you'll make that does more for your health Read more...

What is there to love about physical activity? With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, let us count the ways. It guards against heart disease, eases existing heart disease, improves blood pressure and cholesterol, and keeps arteries flexible. Those are just for starters -- the benefits extend far beyond the heart. Regular physical activity helps maintain normal weight, protects against Read more...

Legend says a Chinese emperor discovered tea when leaves from a nearby bush drifted into his boiling water, but the ancient tradition of tea is shared by cultures in every country around the globe. As the many health benefits of tea are confirmed by modern research, and as so many wonderful varieties and flavors of green tea are introduced, it's easy to appreciate the traditional wisdom of Read more...