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Gas Prices Turn the Gig Worker Economy Upside Down WSJFrom Boston to Denver, US drivers cut back as Iran war pushes fuel costs higher ReutersAmerica barely uses Middle East oil. So why did gas prices rise? USA TodayIs Oregon going to suspend the gas tax amid war in Iran? Kotek responds KOIN.com
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American Airlines is joining Delta, United, Southwest and JetBlue in raising its checked bag fees as the industry deals with high jet fuel prices.
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Feel like society and the environment are beginning to break down? There's an ETF for that.
Newday Impact's Sustainable Development Goals ETF (SDGS) delivers a growth-oriented product that promotes dual impact, promising to advocate for environmental and social improvements and donating 10% of revenues to global youth education and skills development programs.
American Dystopia
Partnering with a veritable who's who of progressive economists, scientists, and non-profit organizations, the firm's investment criteria rests on a sophisticated analysis of global ills and solutions. This approach may turn off investors who disdain concepts like decarbonizing the economy, but should resonate with anyone who feels like Mad Max may just drive down Mainstreet, U.S.A. any day now.
Though the problems are global, the U.S. is a great place to focus on these daunting problems, according to Newday's President, Anne Popkin. "It doesn't matter what side of the political spectrum you're on," said Popkin. The U.S. has "food inflation, heat waves, rising tides in the south, and fires in California. It's all happening here."
Limits to Growth
The ETF's rationale is based on the belief that the planet's ability to withstand human impact on the environment is limited. When these limits are exceeded, we are said to have gone beyond the "planetary boundaries" of the earth. In fact, several resources, like forested land—central to food, fuel, clean water and air—have already been pushed beyond a safe limit of use.
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Are you thinking of retiring soon? Perhaps earlier than you had planned years ago? A potential hurdle could be the incentives set up by the Social Security Administration - they calculate your benefits to reward you for staying in the workforce.
But if you are looking to take an early retirement, you're not alone.
SEE MORE What If I Retired Today?
In the first 15 months of the COVID pandemic (March 2020-May 2021), about 2.5 million Americans retired. That was about twice the number of people who retired in 2019. This means there were essentially 1.2 million fewer people in the workforce over the age of 55 than would otherwise be expected.
First, find out what Social Security benefits you can expect
For anyone born in 1943 or later, your full retirement age, as defined by the Social Security Administration, is between age 66 and 67, based on your birth year. If you're contemplating retiring before that, it's important to know that the Social Security program has been orchestrated to incentivize beneficiaries to delay claiming benefits. Specifically:
If you start taking benefits at age 62, your Retirement Benefit will shrink by 25% to 30%, depending on your birth year. That's because your lifetime annual benefits are decreased by approximately 8% for each year prior to your full retirement age you start to claim them.Conversely, your lifetime annual benefits increase by 8% for each year past your full retirement year if
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It probably comes as no surprise that ongoing economic fallout from the pandemic, including inflation, market volatility and the threat of a recession, have led millions of Americans to re-evaluate their retirement plans. New research from the Nationwide Retirement Institute® shows that two-thirds of Americans (66%) say they worry more now than they did before about their retirement income— that's a 10-point increase from 2021!
SEE MORE When You Claim Social Security Can Have Huge Implications for Your Spouse
In volatile moments like we're experiencing, it's easy to make emotional decisions with lifelong implications. Unfortunately, misconceptions about Social Security, which forms the foundation of almost every American's retirement income strategy, are all too common, according to the survey. The good news is with the right advice from a trusted financial professional, you can avoid unintended consequences that may come with an uninformed decision.
What People Are Getting Wrong About Social Security
About half (49%) of consumers believe if they file for Social Security early, their benefit will automatically go up once they reach their full retirement age — it won't. A sizable number of boomers (39%) who are not currently receiving Social Security plan on drawing from their benefits before their full retirement age, a decision that may cost them in the long run and should only be done with eyes wide open about implications for the future.
Misperceptions like this could make a huge difference in
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