Whole-life: a source of cash for retirees

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 05 January 2010 19:57

Most people buy life insurance for the policy’s death benefit. But financial professionals say whole-life insurance can also supplement retirement planning because it’s flexible and helps policyholders address their ever-changing circumstances. A rising number of American households—nearly 45 percent—are “at risk” of not having enough money in retirement, according the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

But some retirees have discovered a surprising source of supplemental retirement income: the cash value of their whole-life insurance policies.

Many retirees will use the cash value of their whole-life insurance policies as a supplemental income stream to see them through tough times. The cash value of whole-life is guaranteed to grow every year, unlike stocks and mutual funds which can have good and bad years.

“My whole -ife insurance policy has always been the best value for the buck,” said Jack Leon, 79, a lawyer in San Antonio. “I’ve always...

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Healthy Geezer: Hip replacements surgery has high odds for success

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 05 January 2010 19:55

Q I’m considering having a hip replaced. What are the odds that this operation will work?

 

A The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says joint replacement surgery is successful in more than nine out of 10 people. And replacement of a hip or knee lasts at least 20 years in about 80 percent of those who have the surgery.

In the procedure, an arthritic or damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint called a “prosthesis.” Artificial joints are medical devices, which must be cleared or approved by the Food & Drug Administration before they can be marketed in the United States

The goal of surgery is to relieve the pain in the joint caused by the damage done to cartilage, the tissue that serves as a...

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Holiday season doesn’t have to mean the demise of your weight-loss goals

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 15 December 2009 20:03

The holiday season doesn’t have to create havoc on your weight-loss goals, according to TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Club Inc., the nonprofit weight-loss support organization.

Follow these ten strategies to navigate the eating season for a great time without a great gain.

1. Don’t go hungry. Arriving at a party on an empty stomach is a recipe for disaster that can lead you to overeat and make poor choices.

Have a light snack of a low-fat, high-fiber food a half-hour before you go, such as yogurt, an apple with a teaspoon of peanut butter, a piece of string cheese, or vegetables with low-calorie dip.

This will help curb your appetite and make it easier to control your intake.

2. Treat yourself. There’s no need to ban your...

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Homeopathy provides new purpose in retirement

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 08 December 2009 20:18

Bill Woford, who went back to school at age 65 to study natural health, holds his recently published book. When Bill Woford discovered homeopathy as an alternate approach to medical treatment at age 65, he ultimately discovered a new purpose for his retirement years, too.

Now 77, Woford is a committed practitioner in the field and has even written a book on the subject that outlines a quicker way to identify the right remedy for a chronic disease—without the use of prescription drugs.

“Why I was given this discovery, I’ll never know,” Woford said. “I just have to accept it.”

He admits that homeopathy is not a widely understood approach to medicine.

“A lot of people tell me, ‘Oh, it’s herbs,’” Woford said. “But it’s the furthest thing from herbs you ever saw. We do make some remedies out of herbs, but really...

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