Finance
Important Decisions for Retirees and Near-Retirees
The years immediately preceding retirement, and the first couple of years of actual retirement, are a critical time for individuals. After carefully planning and diligently saving for retirement most of their lives, individuals must make some important decisions during this time.
“These decisions could have a big impact on an individual’s or couple’s retirement finances for years to come,” says David Lerner Associates Executive Vice President Martin Walcoe.
Some of these decisions fall into the following areas:
1. Early IRA withdrawals and 401(k) distributions — Withdrawals from IRAs before age 59½ are generally subject to a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. However, this penalty may be avoided if substantially equal periodic payments are taken from the IRA based on life expectancy for at least five years, or until age 59½, whichever is longer.
The same early withdrawal penalty generally applies to withdrawals from 401(k) plans that are made before age 59½, Walcoe notes. However, individuals who are at least 55 years of age when leaving a job can begin to take penalty-free distributions from a 401(k), although federal and state income taxes will still be due upon withdrawal.
2. Minimum IRA distributions — Minimum distributions must be made from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) by April 1 of the year after individuals turn 70½ years old. Withdrawals must begin by December 31 of this year and continue each year thereafter. The penalty for failing to take minimum IRA distributions is 50 percent of the amount that should have been withdrawn.
3. Timing of receiving social Security benefits — Currently, you may elect to begin receiving Social Security benefits as early as age 62. However, you will receive a larger payment each month if you wait until your full retirement age of 67 (if you were born after 1959) and an even larger monthly payment still if you wait until age 70 to begin receiving benefits.
“Each individual’s unique situation will dictate when he or she should elect to begin receiving Social Security benefits,” says Walcoe. If you’re married, however, keep in mind that if you decide to wait until age 70 to receive benefits, you can still file for spousal Social Security benefits at age 66. If your spouse is collecting a Social Security benefit, this could boost your household income by half of this amount.
4. Enrolling in Medicare Part B — Currently, Americans are eligible to enroll in Medicare at age 65. Once eligible, though, you must enroll in Medicare Part B (which covers outpatient services and doctor’s appointments) within three months of your 65th birthday. Otherwise, a late-enrollment penalty may apply that would boost the premium amount by 10 percent for each year that’s delayed.
Note that this penalty is waived for individuals who maintain health insurance through an employer (or a spouse’s employer). However, it is retroactive if enrollment is not completed within the required time frame after this coverage terminates.
Given the potential long-term financial impact of these and other decisions, Walcoe says it may be advisable to seek professional assistance from a financial planner and/or tax expert in making them. “Making the wrong decisions during this time could cost individuals and couples dearly for the rest of their lives.”
Finance
AI and the Future of LinkedIn: How Technology is Redefining Professional Networking

The tech industry has always been a proving ground for new tools and ideas, and right now one of the most powerful forces reshaping the way professionals connect is artificial intelligence. From the way companies recruit talent to how thought leaders build influence, AI is changing the rules of the game on LinkedIn and beyond.
Smarter Recruiting
Hiring managers no longer sift through stacks of résumés. AI-powered systems can analyze skills, career paths, and even cultural fit to recommend candidates. On LinkedIn, predictive recruiting tools help companies identify prospects before they start looking for a new role. The result is faster hiring and better matches between employers and employees.
Personalized Content Feeds
LinkedIn’s algorithm has grown into more than just a filter. It now functions as a learning engine that studies professional interests and behavior. For tech companies, this means employees and executives can reach the audiences that matter most. A thought leadership article, a product update, or even a short post can now land in the feeds of potential clients, investors, or collaborators with remarkable accuracy.
The Rise of Automated Outreach
Sales and business development teams are experimenting with AI-assisted outreach. Instead of sending hundreds of generic messages, companies can use tools that analyze profiles, identify key talking points, and create personalized introductions. While this raises questions about authenticity, it also makes networking more efficient and effective.
Data as a Strategic Asset
LinkedIn’s real strength lies in its data. Millions of profiles, skills, and career shifts create a powerful resource. With AI, companies can analyze that information at scale, spotting workforce trends, predicting which industries are about to grow, and even identifying where the next wave of innovation might emerge. For tech leaders, this kind of intelligence can shape everything from hiring strategies to market expansion.
Balancing Human and Machine
The challenge is keeping professional networking personal. AI can accelerate connections and refine the process, but relationships still depend on authenticity, trust, and shared experience. The tech industry, more than most, will need to find the right balance between automation and genuine human interaction.
As AI becomes part of the digital networking fabric, LinkedIn is evolving into more than a résumé platform. It is becoming a predictive, personalized ecosystem that reflects the future of work. For tech companies, learning how to use this shift to their advantage may be just as important as the innovations they are building.
Finance
PR and SEO Best Practices for Law Firms, Dentists, Wellness Companies, and Chiropractic Offices

These days, your reputation often begins online before a client ever walks through your door. Whether you run a law office, a dental practice, a wellness brand, or a chiropractic clinic, people are searching the web to find answers, compare options, and decide who they can trust. That is where public relations and search engine optimization come together.
PR shapes your story and builds credibility. SEO makes sure the right people actually see it. When the two are aligned, they create a cycle of trust and visibility that fuels growth.
Why PR Matters for Professional Services
Public relations is not just about getting your name in print. It is about shaping perception. A thoughtful media mention, a quote in an article, or a published expert opinion can position you as someone worth listening to. For a lawyer, this might mean explaining a high-profile case in plain language for the public. For a dentist, it could be offering preventative care tips during National Dental Health Month. Chiropractors might focus on wellness and posture awareness, while wellness companies can shine by connecting their products to lifestyle conversations.
“PR is about storytelling,” says Mike Falkow, CEO at Meritus Media. “For industries like law and healthcare, it is often the difference between being just another listing online and being recognized as a trusted voice.”
How SEO Brings People to You
PR helps you look credible. SEO makes you visible. If you want new clients to find you when they type into Google, you need smart SEO strategies. That includes clear keywords, easy-to-navigate websites, local business listings, and reviews.
A law firm in Los Angeles that wants more personal injury clients has to show up when someone searches for “Los Angeles personal injury attorney.” A Tampa chiropractor has to be easy to find when someone types in “back pain relief near me.” It is not just about ranking higher, it is about meeting people right at the moment they need you.
Blending PR and SEO
Here is where the magic happens. When you land a feature in a credible publication, that mention often includes a link back to your website. Google sees that link as a vote of confidence, which boosts your search rankings. On the flip side, a blog post that is written with SEO in mind can get picked up and shared if it is timely and tied to bigger conversations in the media.
According to Meritus Media, “The mistake many professionals make is treating PR and SEO as separate projects. The truth is they amplify each other. Press mentions bring credibility and backlinks, and optimized content helps that coverage travel further.”
Best Practices for Each Industry
-
Law Firms: Build authority through thought leadership. Comment on relevant legal issues and create content around the cases and topics people are searching for.
-
Dentists: Focus on education. Share preventative care tips, encourage reviews, and make sure your practice shows up in local searches like “dentist near me.”
-
Wellness Companies: Lean into education-driven PR. Announce new research, highlight expert voices, and optimize for lifestyle searches such as “natural ways to boost energy.”
-
Chiropractic Offices: Become the go-to local expert. Host workshops, engage with local press, and use SEO to highlight treatments tied to specific conditions and locations.
The Takeaway
A strong digital presence requires more than just a website. It requires being seen, being trusted, and being remembered. For law firms, dentists, wellness companies, and chiropractic offices, the smartest approach is one where PR and SEO are not competing, but working together.
As Meritus Media puts it, “It is not enough to have an online presence. You need to be discoverable, credible, and memorable. That is the sweet spot where PR and SEO intersect.”
Finance
A Smarter Way to Save: Real Strategies That Actually Work

Saving money often feels like something we should be doing, but somehow never quite master. Not because we lack discipline or financial know-how, but because most of us were never taught to approach saving in a way that feels organic and sustainable.
Forget the lectures about willpower. Think of saving more like tending a garden. You don’t expect a harvest overnight. You plant, water, and trust that something is growing under the surface.
Why Saving Feels Difficult
At its core, saving is about delayed gratification. You put money aside today for something you won’t enjoy until tomorrow. That can feel abstract and unsatisfying in a world where we’re used to quick wins.
Add to that the wear and tear of everyday decision-making. By the time you’re deciding whether to stash a hundred dollars or buy something impulsively, your mental energy is already spent. The easier option usually wins.
It’s not a character flaw. It’s a missing system.
Common Pitfalls That Derail Saving
One of the biggest traps is not knowing where your money is actually going. Subscription services, late-night shopping, and small indulgences add up fast.
Then there’s the issue of unclear goals. If you’re just “trying to save more,” it’s too vague to build momentum. Without a target, it’s hard to feel like you’re making progress.
Finally, many people treat saving as something they do only when it feels convenient. And as we all know, those moments rarely come around.
Simple Strategies That Actually Work
Start by making saving automatic. Set up recurring transfers to a separate account, even if it’s just fifty dollars a month. According to David Lerner Associates, automating your savings creates consistency without requiring daily effort. You don’t have to think about it—it just happens.
Next, tie your savings to something that matters to you. A trip. A safety net. A home project. As Martin Walcoe, CEO of David Lerner Associates, explains: “Saving works best when it’s connected to a goal you care about. Whether it’s building financial security or planning for something joyful, people are more likely to stick with it when it feels personal and meaningful.”
Small wins also build momentum. Consider using a round-up app that sweeps change from purchases into savings. Or throw spare change into a jar. These little actions remind you that progress doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful.
Make Budgeting Feel Less Like a Chore
Instead of thinking of budgeting as a restriction, think of it as guidance. Look at your spending once a month. Track where your money goes. Treat savings like a bill—something you pay no matter what. Then adjust as needed.
Financial planning, like nutrition or exercise, is more effective when it fits into your natural rhythm rather than disrupting it.
Think Long-Term, Even in Small Steps
If you’re carrying debt, make a plan that works without pressure. Focus on understanding your terms and building a slow but steady path out. Saving and repaying can happen side by side. As Martin Walcoe puts it, “Finding the balance between repaying student loans, saving for the future, and investing is possible. With a proactive approach and the right strategies, you can tackle your loans while laying a strong foundation for financial growth.”
Even modest investing can pay off if you start early. Time does a lot of the heavy lifting. You don’t have to do it all—you just have to start.
Your Environment Shapes Your Habits
Surround yourself with people who share your mindset. Having a spouse, friend, or coworker on a similar journey can make saving feel more like teamwork and less like sacrifice.
And don’t overlook the importance of rituals. A monthly money check-in. A progress tracker. A celebration when you hit a milestone. These things help make saving part of your lifestyle rather than something separate from it.
Final Thought
Saving doesn’t have to feel like denial or discipline. When it’s tied to your values and built into your everyday life, it becomes a natural act of self-respect. Like nourishing your body, saving is an investment in the kind of life you want to live—not someday, but starting now.
-
Wellness6 months ago
How a Billion-Dollar Entrepreneur Is Changing Wellness Technology
-
Wellness6 months ago
The Future Is Personalized: Why Peptides Are the Next Big Thing in Wellness
-
Wellness6 months ago
The Future of Wellness
-
Wellness6 months ago
Peptides: The Emerging Frontier in Health and Wellness
-
Fashion6 months ago
Spring Fashion Trends: Fresh Looks for a New Season
-
Wellness6 months ago
Wellness Gets a Bold New Face: MAKE Launches with Star-Studded Kickoff Event in Florida
-
Entertainment4 months ago
Read, Watch, Repeat: A Father’s Day Tradition That Brings Stories to Life
-
Food & Drink6 months ago
Top 5 Restaurants in America: Where Michelin Stars Meet Rave Reviews