Elaine Silvestrini
Senior retirement editor Elaine Silvestrini has had an extensive career as a newspaper and online journalist, with several years of experience covering financial and retirement topics ranging from annuities to Social Security. Formerly a Kiplinger associate personal financial editor, she has received recognition for her coverage of annuities and tax fraud, among other subjects. Her newspaper career focused primarily on legal issues at the Tampa Tribune and the Asbury Park Press in New Jersey. Her beats have also included breaking news, municipal government, the military and mental health. She has won several awards, including from the Florida Society of Professional Journalists and Florida Sunshine State Awards in categories including community leadership. Among her recognized work was an examination of a phenomenon known as the annuity puzzle, which describes how people who could benefit from annuities hesitate to buy them. She has also been cited for a series of Tampa Tribune stories about tax refund fraud in Tampa, Florida, in which she uncovered shortcomings in the ability of law enforcement to address rampant theft from taxpayers. This reporting helped lead to a change in Florida identity theft law to make it easier to prosecute criminals. She’s had fellowships at Journalist Law School at Loyola and at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma. In more recent years, she's written for several marketing, legal, financial and health websites, including Insurance Journal, Annuity.org, Drugwatch,com, Health.com and LegalExaminer.com, and the newsletters Auto Insurance Report and Property Insurance Report. In addition, she worked for nearly a year as an assistant criminal defense investigator in the Federal Public Defender Office in Tampa. Originally from New Jersey, she lives in Florida with her husband and cats.
Latest articles by Elaine Silvestrini
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Annuities Rising in Popularity
annuities As interest rates increase, so does the appeal of annuities. How much do you know about these insurance products?
By Sandra Block • Last updated
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Tech Support Fraud Targets Seniors
retirement Get a message offering help with a computer problem you didn’t think you had? It’s probably a scammer looking for your money and personal information
By Elaine Silvestrini • Published
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Shingles Vaccines Work. But Medicare Won’t Always Cover Them.
Medicare Traditional Medicare Part B does not cover some recommended vaccines, including shingles shots; prescription drug plans include commercially available vaccinations, but are likely to require some payments from beneficiaries.
By Elaine Silvestrini • Published
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Repo Risk: Beware Illegal Car Repossessions
cars Used cars are worth more than ever before. The CFPB warns the hot market may tempt lenders to seize cars when they don’t have a legal right. What can you do if this happens to you?
By Elaine Silvestrini • Published
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Get Free Over-the-Counter COVID Tests Through Medicare
Medicare Beneficiaries can get up to eight tests a month through both original Medicare and Advantage plans.
By Elaine Silvestrini • Last updated
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8 Risky Jobs That Pay Big Bucks
career planning From professional athletes to police officers, some jobs carry more risks than others. If you don’t mind possible injury or even the possibility of death, here are some dangerous jobs that offer financial compensation for the risks.
By Stacy Rapacon • Last updated
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Create a Financial Plan for Natural Disaster
personal finance If disaster strikes, do you have your important financial documents safeguarded in case you need to leave your home in a hurry? Here’s what you’ll need.
By Rivan V. Stinson • Last updated
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How to Get Your Grown Children to Move Out
personal finance The number of adults who live with their parents has been increasing for decades. For many, that’s a good thing. But if you’d like to uproot yours, here’s how.
By Elaine Silvestrini • Published
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What to Do When the Rent Is Too High
Inflation Rent prices are soaring nationally, and housing shortages are compounding the crisis. While the options for consumers are limited, there are some things you can do when facing a rent increase.
By Elaine Silvestrini • Published