A digest of timely information and insight about finance, investing, and retirement.

Effective retirement plan communications are understandable, accessible | PlanSponsor
Employees need to understand their retirement plan options so they can make the best decisions for their future, but the general public often misunderstands words that are commonly used by financial providers, employers and others in the retirement planning industry, according to a new report from the Empower Institute.

As retiree health care costs soar, public employers turn to private insurers | Governing
The cost of retiree health care is spiraling out of control. In just two years, according to a recent S&P Global Ratings report, unfunded retiree health-care liabilities across the 50 states increased by $100 billion to now just under $700 billion. In response, some public entities are scrapping government-sponsored health plans and instead paying for retirees to purchase a plan on a private health insurance exchange. The change is expected to save some cities hundreds of millions of dollars and make their annual retiree health-care costs more predictable.

Six things you learn after retirement | US News
Retirement is a graduation of its own kind and a transition from one phase of life to another. Lessons from people who have already been retired for a while are sometimes encouraging, sometimes challenging, but they’re all valuable in their own way.

The bucket approach to spending reduces the stress of retirement | Ventura County Star
Anyone retiring in 2019 could understandably be feeling a little skittish. There’s retirement research showing market declines in the first few years can devastate a portfolio’s chances of providing enough income for life, and recent volatility after a nearly decade-long bull market is worrisome. Interest rates moving higher could be a good sign, in theory, for someone hoping to build ladders of CDs, for example. On the other hand, if it also ushers in an era of rising inflation, that’s troubling, too. And a prolonged government shutdown could have even more of an impact on the economy. But if delaying is no longer an option, either because of health, the job market or simply your own conviction, consider building in a few contingency plans.

Worried you’re never going to be able to retire? | Kiplinger
Some people spend more time thinking about retirement than others, but most everyone has at least a few ideas about what their life will be like when they don’t have to work anymore. Unfortunately for many, hoping and dreaming is about as far as they get in the planning process. They don’t know whether they can really achieve their goals because they haven’t taken the steps necessary to prepare for them. If that sounds like you, and you’re anywhere close to the age you think you’d like to be when you retire, be forewarned: Your retirement reality could be far different from the lifestyle you’ve imagined. And if it is, it likely will be because you ignored one or more of five basic threats.

Colorado named 3^rdbest state for retirement | The Denver Channel
Colorado continues to be a great place for retirees, according to a new ranking released by personal finance website WalletHub. The Centennial State came in third on WalletHub’s list of the best states in which to retire, falling one spot from last year’s list. Florida was once again named the best state for retirees. WalletHub based its rankings on three main factors: Affordability, quality of life and health care, taking into consideration things like tax rates, cost of living, activities available for seniors, and cost and quality of health care, among others.