Inflation is often reduced to a single number: 3%, 4%, or whatever the latest headline says. But there’s more to the story. The government publishes several inflation measures, each designed to capture a different view of how prices are changing. CPI, CPI-W, CPI-E, and PCE can tell very different stories—and the inflation rate that matters most may be the one reflected in your own spending habits. For retirees and households with higher healthcare costs, that difference can be especially important.

Most retirees plan for Medicare premiums and prescription coverage—but a few costs tend to slip through the cracks. Fidelity puts average lifetime healthcare spending for a retired couple at roughly $330,000, not counting extended care, and new Medicare Part D rules cap drug costs at $2,000 a year only for medications on your plan's covered list. Add in the healthcare-access tradeoffs of a rural retirement move or the growing appeal of concierge medicine, and the real cost of retirement healthcare starts looking a lot bigger than the basics.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reshaped individual and business taxes when it passed in July 2025 — and 2026 is the first full year those changes are in effect. Here's a clear rundown of what's permanent, what's temporary, and what's about to expire. Whether you're eyeing the higher SALT cap, the new senior deduction, or the sunset dates on tips and overtime relief, knowing where you stand can save you surprises at filing time.

Identity theft is a growing risk in our digital world — but a credit freeze can stop it in its tracks. By restricting access to your credit report, a freeze makes it far harder for thieves to open accounts in your name. Whether you're responding to a data breach or simply being proactive, a freeze puts you back in control. Here's what a credit freeze does, how it works, why it matters, and how to put one in place.