Maurie Backman
Maurie Backman is a freelance contributor to Kiplinger. She has over a decade of experience writing about financial topics, including retirement, investing, Social Security, and real estate. She has written for USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, and Bankrate. She studied creative writing and finance at Binghamton University and merged the two disciplines to help empower consumers to make smart financial planning decisions.
Latest articles by Maurie Backman
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I'm 60 With $4 million — Can I Have a Luxury Retirement?With inflation and volatility, how careful should I be?
By Maurie Backman
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I Retired at 63 and My Grown Kids Want Help With ChildcareI love my grandkids, but It's too much. What should I do? We asked therapists and relationship experts for advice.
By Maurie Backman
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She's 63 and a Veteran, He's 62. How Should They Manage Healthcare?In our retirement advice column, Wealth Wise, our reader turns 65 a year before a spouse. Here's how to seamlessly bridge the age gap using veteran benefits.
By Maurie Backman
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Is a 'Lost Decade' Threatening Your Retirement Savings?High market valuations are triggering dot-com-era flashbacks, but panic isn't a financial strategy for retirement savers.
By Maurie Backman
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Shopping for Long-Term Care Insurance at Age 50, 55, 60 and 65Long-term care insurance can help offset one of the biggest financial blind spots in retirement. But timing and strategy are everything.
By Maurie Backman
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6 Fun (and Cheap) Ways to Stay Busy in RetirementIt's not all about the big trips and special occasions. There are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself day-to-day in retirement without breaking the bank.
By Maurie Backman
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How to Fire Your Financial Adviser (Who Is Also a Friend)If your portfolio has been underperforming, you might need to fire your adviser. That gets tricky if you share a friend group.
By Maurie Backman
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You’ve Mastered Asset Allocation — Now It’s Time for Asset LocationIn our retirement advice column, Wealth Wise, a 66-year-old retiree learns how strategically placing your stocks, bonds, and cash can save you thousands.
By Maurie Backman
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Whole Life Insurance: Stealth Retirement Tool or Waste of Money?It may seem like everyone wants to sell you a whole life insurance policy. Is it worth it as a retirement savings hack?
By Maurie Backman
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'The Best Is Yet to Come' — Five Things You Gain in RetirementRetirement should be a time of exploration, expansion and delight. So if you've done your planning well, enjoy these five retirement perks.
By Maurie Backman
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You May Not Want to Downsize in Retirement: Here's WhyYour financial planner may urge you to downsize in retirement. Your kids may even pressure you. But be sure it's right for you before you make a move.
By Maurie Backman
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Lost Your Spark? 6 Ways to Break Out of a Retirement FunkIt's common for retirees to struggle with mental health and the "blahs." Here are six ways you can break free, according to the experts.
By Maurie Backman
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Wealth Wise: Should We Bankroll Our Son's Law School Tuition?In our retirement advice column, Wealth Wise, we help a couple weigh whether to lend their son $180K for his tuition or protect their savings.
By Maurie Backman
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The Short-Term Rental Crackdown: Should You Sell?We consider the case of a retired couple relying on summer rental income from a $1.1 million beach house. Local zoning changes are forcing a hard choice between lifestyle and portfolio stability.
By Maurie Backman
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Wealth Wise: Should We Sell Our Rental or Keep the Income?An out-of-state property is a great inflation hedge, but the hidden tax hits and landlord headaches might not be worth it. Our retirement advice column answers your questions.
By Maurie Backman
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A Retirement Lesson From 'The Pitt'If "The Pitt’s" chief attending has you rethinking the daily grind, it might be time to plan a strategic career pause — before you call it quits for good.
By Maurie Backman
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Is $3.2 Million Enough to Retire in an Expensive College Town?College towns are booming retirement hubs, but experts warn that retirees often underestimate the hidden costs. We break down the options for a couple with $3.2 million.
By Maurie Backman
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Wealth Wise: Downsize or Drain Our 401(k) to Pay Off Our Home?In our retirement advice column, Wealth Wise, we help a reader navigate a heart-wrenching choice: Tap a 401(k) to save the lake home they love, or sell it to protect their financial future.
By Maurie Backman
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When Spouses Clash on Retirement Age: Longevity Risk vs FOMOHow can a couple get retirement timing "right" when one spouse comes from a long-lived family and the other doesn't?
By Maurie Backman
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Wealth Wise: Should We Borrow Money From Our Elderly Father?In our retirement advice column, Wealth Wise, we answer a reader's question about whether you should take a loan from an elderly parent without them knowing.
By Maurie Backman
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Is the HSA Triple Tax Benefit Worth the Paperwork Hassle?Should we sign up for a Health Savings Account (HSA) and embrace even more healthcare paperwork? We'd rather plan vacations than track receipts.
By Maurie Backman
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My Husband's Dementia Puts Our Retirement Savings at RiskMy husband's new diagnosis has me reeling; how do I protect our $1.6 million savings?
By Maurie Backman
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I Want to Pay Off Our Grandson's $45K Student Loan DebtWe're 73, with $2.1 million and $4k a month in Social Security. My husband says we can't afford to help our grandson. Who's right?
By Maurie Backman
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What's the Best Way to Fund my Grandchild's 529 Plan for College?Is it better to make a lump-sum contribution up front or spread funds out through the years? We asked a college savings professional and a financial planner for their advice.
By Maurie Backman
