Retired Guy USA

This blog post:     https://retiredguyusa.com/four-phone-scams-retirees/

 Here are four more ways phone scammers are ripping off retired folks! The phone scam is so ubiquitous today we are almost used to it. I didn’t realize how pervasive the problem was until I retired. When I worked, I was not at home to hear the phone ring over and over during the day. It probably rings 10 – 15 times per day, mostly scams. And that is just the land line.

The cell phone is just as bad or worse! It seems Congress can’t do anything about it.Retirees and senior citizens get more of these calls because they are home more during the day than most of the population.

Phone scammers go after us with their disgusting tactics using: investments, obituaries, charities and IRS impersonation.

 

 USEFUL LINKS:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-donate-wisely-and-avoid-charity-scams (FTC site about charity scams)

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 I am Trippe, retired U.S. Government Financial Analyst. M.B.A., grew up on a farm, played in rock bands for several years. This podcast is for entertainment and education. I am neither a personal financial adviser, medical provider nor an attorney. Consult your own professionals. 

Blog:   https://retiredguyusa.com/

Podcast:  https://retiredguyusa.podbean.com/

This blog post:   https://retiredguyusa.com/phone-scams-target-elderly/   

KInds of phone fraud to look out for: utility scam, health care scams, jury duty scams, and more!. 

 

USEFUL LINKS:

Remember that phone scams are evolving constantly and we have to stay ahead of them. Listed below are some nice links to help keep you safe.

*    https://ncea.acl.gov/ National Center on Elder Abuse

*    https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts FTC page about scams in general

*    https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-donate-wisely-and-avoid-charity-scams   FTC list of organizations that can help you research charities

  

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 I am Trippe, retired U.S. Government Financial Analyst. M.B.A., grew up on a farm, played in rock bands for several years. This podcast is for entertainment and education. Consult your own professionals if you need legal, financial or medical advice.. 

Blog:   https://retiredguyusa.com/

Podcast:  https://retiredguyusa.podbean.com/

This blog post: https://retiredguyusa.com/medicare-open-enrollment-2019/ 

  This podcast provides a brief summary of the choices surrounding Medicare. The program is so VASTLY COMPLICATED that you need something to guide you. I tried to keep it as simple as I could. This information is believed to be current at this time. Of course, some of it will change by next enrollment season. However, this is a good summary! Be prepared for the open season!

USEFUL LINKS:

https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-and-you     all about Medicare

https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx compare different plans

https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/medigap-home.aspx help you find a MEDIGAP policy

https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers  what Medicare covers

https://www.benefitscheckup.org/  National Council on Aging

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 I am Trippe, retired U.S. Government Financial Analyst. M.B.A., grew up on a farm, played in rock bands for several years. This podcast is for entertainment and education. I am neither a personal financial adviser, medical provider nor an attorney. Consult your own professionals. 

Blog:   https://retiredguyusa.com/

Podcast:  https://retiredguyusa.podbean.com/

This blog post: https://retiredguyusa.com/beware-internet-fraud/  

I record a typical encounter with an internet fraudster in this podcast! 

While most of us see through this, there the vulnerable individuals such as loners, social recluses, and cognitively impaired who fall for internet fraud. The elderly are often more trusting, having grown up in a more ‘innocent’ time when we were not wired so much into the world. The criminals who prey on the vulnerable are the lowest form of pond scum!

Report internet fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. The Center is run by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). You may report internet-related scams, investment fraud, hacking, email scams and much more. They list all kinds of internet crimes with detailed description of each. They also include exhaustive detailed preventive measures for each crime. A lot of tiny print for ‘fun’ reading. It is disheartening when you see how much bad stuff is out there to harm you. And to what length criminals will go to hurt us!

 USEFUL LINKS:

  https://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx  FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

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 I am Trippe, retired U.S. Government Financial Analyst. M.B.A., grew up on a farm, played in rock bands for several years. This podcast is for entertainment and education. I am neither a personal financial adviser, medical provider nor an attorney. Consult your own professionals. 

Blog:   https://retiredguyusa.com/

Podcast:  https://retiredguyusa.podbean.com/

This blog post:   https://retiredguyusa.com/credit-freeze-equifax/ 

In 2015, someone hacked the personnel records and security clearance files of current and former U. S. Government employees and family members. I was one of those federal employees.

After the 2017 Equifax breach, the ‘experts’ recommended everyone complete a credit freeze. However, less than one of ten people has actually done so. And when your identity is stolen, it can take years to sort out and can be very costly. The thief can open accounts in your name, buy stuff and actually commit crimes, leaving you to fix it (if possible). These sleazey hackers care nothing for your inconvenience, expense and hurt.

USEFUL LINKS:

The three major credit reporting agencies are:

Equifax          800-685-1111

Experian       888-397-3742

Transunion   888-909-8872

You can apply to freeze your credit by contacting them either online, by phone or in writing. 

 

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 I am Trippe, retired U.S. Government Financial Analyst. M.B.A., grew up on a farm, played in rock bands for several years. This podcast is for entertainment and education. I am neither a personal financial adviser, medical provider nor an attorney. Consult your own professionals. 

Blog:   https://retiredguyusa.com/

Podcast:  https://retiredguyusa.podbean.com/

This blog post:   https://retiredguyusa.com/online-social-security-account/    

 

You should create an online Social Security account. With that online account, you can access ‘Your Social Security Statement’. You may also get the same from your local SSA office but once you set up the account, it is much less hassle than waiting in line at SSA.

You may receive one of three different Statements based on age:

1 – One Statement for younger workers (ages 25 – 34),

2 – Another Statement for workers in mid-career (ages 35 – 54),

3 – A different Statement for workers near retirement (ages 55 and over).

 

 

Your online Social Security Statement looks just like the paper one the SSA used to mail out to everyone. It provides the same information as the paper one:

1- An estimate of your monthly retirement benefits at age 62, at your full retirement age around 66 – 67 depending on your birth year, and at age 70. 

2 – Your estimated disability benefits if you became disabled today,

3 – An estimate of the benefits you, your spouse, and children would receive if you become disabled,

4 – Whether you qualify for Medicare coverage. 

USEFUL LINKS:

https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ To set up your account.

 

 

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 I am Trippe, retired U.S. Government Financial Analyst. M.B.A., grew up on a farm, played in rock bands for several years. This podcast is for entertainment and education. I am neither a personal financial adviser, medical provider nor an attorney. Consult your own professionals. 

Blog:   https://retiredguyusa.com/

Podcast:  https://retiredguyusa.podbean.com/

This blog post:  https://retiredguyusa.com/market-noise-ignore/      

 "It’s different this time."  "Sell on strength." "The market is forming a base."

Market celebrities express opinions or recommendations that constitute  unceasing market noise you must ignore. They couch their opinions in a way which allows them to claim credit no matter which way the market or their recommendation goes. What they say sounds just smart enough to fool you into thinking they have some special insight into the future. So here is another podcast on silly market platitudes and what your response should be.

USEFUL LINKS:

https://money.usnews.com/investing/articles/2017-05-30/can-celebrity-pundits-predict-the-profitable

 

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 I am Trippe, retired U.S. Government Financial Analyst. M.B.A., grew up on a farm, played in rock bands for several years. This podcast is for entertainment and education. I am neither a personal financial adviser, medical provider nor an attorney. Consult your own professionals. 

Blog:   https://retiredguyusa.com/

Podcast:  https://retiredguyusa.podbean.com/

This blog post: https://retiredguyusa.com/financial-first-aid-disaster/   

There are other kinds of disasters besides a hurricane, flood or tornado! These include military conflict, electromagnetic pulse, biological warfare, communicable disease, and electronic warfare. In case of nuclear war, I don’t know what kind of preparedness would do any good in the long run!

We speak often of emergency medical kits. These contain such items as medical supplies, bandages, medicines, flashlights, and weather radios. But we pay much less attention to financial first aid!

There are far more detailed lists than the suggestions I provide in this podcast. But I prefer you put together a simple list like mine rather than be overwhelmed by a huge list and then do nothing. My simple list is more of a plan than most Americans have! So take the time now to organize your emergency financial first aid kit!

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1524144185649-5dd9736e7ff89b5997182396f4e13fee/Emergency_Financial_First_Aid_Kit_(EFFAK)_signed_04.09.18_508.pdf                                      (a VERY extensive FEMA checklist)

https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program (National Flood Insurance Program)

 

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 I am Trippe, retired U.S. Government Financial Analyst. M.B.A., grew up on a farm, played in rock bands for several years. This podcast is for entertainment and education. I am neither a personal financial adviser, medical provider nor an attorney. Consult your own professionals. 

Blog:   https://retiredguyusa.com/

Podcast:  https://retiredguyusa.podbean.com/

This blog post:  https://retiredguyusa.com/silly-market-talk-ignore/  

The television, radio and print media are full of stuffed suits (and pantsuits) spouting silly market talk you should ignore. Most try to sound knowledgeable and educated with an insider’s special insights. But all they are really doing is just filling up time and taking up print with their misguided market talk.

They are either just entertaining you or simply trying to sell you something.They are getting paid or are receiving some kind of publicity to sell their product. Maybe they want to sell you investment advice, a book, a subscription, or an investment course or program!

 This podcast presents a few of my favorite market quips from the talking heads and what your response should be.

https://www.kiplinger.com/article/investing/T047-C032-S014-depend-on-market-efficiency-not-pundits.html    (link from Kiplingers regarding market pundits)

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 I am Trippe, retired U.S. Government Financial Analyst. M.B.A., grew up on a farm, played in rock bands for several years. This podcast is for entertainment and education. I am neither a personal financial adviser, medical provider nor an attorney. Consult your own professionals before acting on any information contained herein. 

Blog:   https://retiredguyusa.com/

Podcast:  https://retiredguyusa.podbean.com/

This blog post:   https://retiredguyusa.com/fighting-long-term-care-rate-increases/

 The last several years saw several big long-term care rate increases. We long-term care policy holders face terrible choices – pay astronomically higher premiums or reduce coverage substantially. The worst case is to drop the coverage we have paid into for many years. This is a betrayal! 

If you are notified of a rate increase, you usually have several choices, depending on the insurer. None of these choices are good! Some insurers will let you decrease coverage instead of paying the rate hike. They are doing you no favor by ‘letting you’ reduce coverage! You bought the policy in the first place because you wanted a certain level of coverage. 

This podcast discusses your unhappy choices such as reducing the benefit period or inflation factor!

https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/index.html    Medicaid eligibility

 

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 I am Trippe, retired U.S. Government Financial Analyst. M.B.A., grew up on a farm, played in rock bands for several years. This podcast is for entertainment and education. I am neither a personal financial adviser, medical provider nor an attorney. Consult your own professionals. 

Blog:   https://retiredguyusa.com/

Podcast:  https://retiredguyusa.podbean.com/