
<p>Retirement insights from a Colorado PERA perspective</p>



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A distant view shows a mountainous landscape with sloping peaks, green trees in the foreground, and a cloudy sky above.


<p style="color:#000000;" class="has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/expert-tips-for-paying-down-debt-saving-for-retirement-and-other-financial-goals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>If You Have a Money Resolution for 2026, Start Here, Experts Say | PBS News</strong></a></p>



<p>It’s that time when many people make—and very quickly break—self-improvement goals for the new year. If your resolutions are more financial in nature, like buying a home or paying down debt, here are some tips for making and achieving realistic goals.</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/31/investing/year-gains-us-stock-market" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>US Stocks Just Posted a Third Straight Year of Stellar Gains | CNN Business</strong></a></p>



<p>2025 was another great year in the financial markets. The U.S. stock market ended with its third straight year of double-digit gains, with the S&amp;P increasing more than 16% for the year. Colorado PERA won’t have complete and audited financial results for the Defined Benefit Plan portfolio until the release of the <em>Annual Comprehensive Financial Report </em>in June.</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.planadviser.com/missing-rmds-cost-investors-1-7b-in-penalties-per-vanguard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Missing RMDs Cost Investors $1.7B in Penalties, per Vanguard | PLANADVISER</strong></a></p>



<p>If you have money in a defined contribution retirement account like a 401(k) or IRA, you’re hopefully aware that you’re required to withdraw a minimum amount from your accounts each year once you reach a certain age. According to a recent report from Vanguard, many account holders fail to do so, racking up hefty tax penalties.</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.cpr.org/2025/12/19/alzheimers-drug-leukine-medical-journal-findings/?ct=t(Y_COPY_310)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Colorado Scientists Say the Drug Leukine Halts Brain Cell Loss in Patients with Alzheimer’s and Could Improve Cognition | CPR News</strong></a></p>



<p>Scientists in Colorado have published some promising new research on treating Alzheimer’s disease. A team found the drug Leukine, which can be used during cancer treatment, shows promise in reducing cell death in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s. The drug is not yet approved for treatment of Alzheimer’s and scientists said further research will help determine whether the drug can reduce or even reverse cognitive decline. &nbsp;</p>



<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


News You Should Know: Tips for Making Financial Resolutions That Stick


<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://coloradosun.com/2024/12/10/colorado-economic-forecast-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado Experts Predict What the Economy Will Look Like in 2025 | The Colorado Sun</a></h2>



<p>Every year, local experts have the difficult task of taking stock of the state economy and predicting what a new year will bring. For 2025, experts say the state’s population continues to grow, albeit slower than in years past. And that slower growth rate could have a ripple effect on the job market as employers struggle to find enough employees to fill open positions.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-urges-many-retirees-to-make-required-withdrawals-from-retirement-plans-by-year-end-deadline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IRS Urges Many Retirees to Make Required Withdrawals by Year-End Deadline | Internal Revenue Service</a></h2>



<p>If you’re retired and you have savings in a defined contribution plan like a 401(k), 457, or IRA, you’re likely required to make minimum required distributions (RMDs) by the end of each year. The IRS sent out a notice reminding retirees of the deadline and new rules enacted under the SECURE 2.0 Act.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/quiz-test-your-financial-literacy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quiz: Test Your Financial Literacy | Kiplinger</a></h2>



<p>How would you rate your financial literacy? Believe it or not, three simple questions can help you gauge your literacy. If you can correctly answer all three multiple-choice questions, you’re doing better than over half of all Americans.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/real-estate/2024/12/10/how-america-can-age-in-plaec/76826197007/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baby Boomers Are Aging, and Most Want to Stay at Home Forever | USA Today</a></h2>



<p>A recently released survey from AARP finds that an overwhelming majority of Americans say they want to stay in their homes and their local communities while they age, but many are unsure they’ll be able to do so. Half of the survey’s respondents said they were not confident their current living situation will meet their needs in the future, and over half of that group said they expect to move.</p>



<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


News You Should Know: How Will Colorado’s Economy Fare in 2025?


<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://money.com/trump-2024-victory-money-impact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump is the President-Elect. Here’s What It Means for Your Wallet | Money</a></h2>



<p>Former President Donald Trump has won another term in the White House. What does that mean for the economy and the finances of everyday Americans? Here’s what we can likely expect, based on what Trump has said on the campaign trail.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://coloradosun.com/2024/10/23/colorado-hospital-price-lookup/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coloradans Can Now Compare Hospital Prices for Specific Procedures, Insurance Plans | The Colorado Sun</a></h2>



<p>The State of Colorado is looking to make it easier for people to shop around for their medical costs. A new website, ColoradoHospitalPrices.com, provides a one-stop shop for searching and comparing costs for various procedures and other medical care at different hospitals. The site also shows what different insurance providers pay for the same procedure. Officials hope the added transparency will help Coloradans lower their costs and increase competition between providers and facilities.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/11/03/new-required-minimum-distribution-2024/76026379007/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3 New Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Rules Everyone Should Know for 2024 | USA Today</a></h2>



<p>The end of the year is approaching and so is the deadline for most people to take their annual required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts. There have been some changes to RMD rules in recent years, so make sure you’re up-to-date and don’t face any penalties for not meeting the requirements.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://fortune.com/well/article/end-of-life-planning-conversation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to Discuss End-of-Life Planning with Aging Parents | Fortune Well</a></h2>



<p>Talking about death can be uncomfortable or even taboo, but it’s an important discussion to have with loved ones. Here are some tips for navigating conversations about end-of-life wishes with parents who are getting older.</p>



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<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


News You Should Know: What a Second Trump Presidency Could Mean for Your Finances


<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.nextavenue.org/us-national-plan-on-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Finally Has a Plan on Aging: Will We Use It? | Next Avenue</a></h2>



<p>A collection of federal agencies known as The Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities has taken its first step toward developing a nationwide plan for supporting aging adults. The report focuses on four key areas: age-friendly communities, housing, long-term care, and health and well-being. Officials expect to release a more detailed action plan after listening to feedback from the public.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/irs-ends-confusion-annual-rmds-required-for-many-inherited-iras" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New IRS Inherited IRA Rules: Annual RMDs Required for Many Beneficiaries | Kiplinger</a></h2>



<p>The IRS issued final rules that clarify the requirements for people who inherit an individual retirement account (IRA) from the original account holder. Beginning in 2025, most non-spouse beneficiaries will have to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) and deplete the account within 10 years.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.investmentnews.com/regulation-and-legislation/news/second-court-blocks-all-aspects-of-dols-fiduciary-rule-255828" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Second Court Blocks All Aspects of DOL&#8217;s Fiduciary Rule | InvestmentNews</strong></a></h2>



<p>Two district court judges have halted implementation of the Department of Labor’s new fiduciary rule. That rule, which had been set to go into effect in September, aims to increase protections for retirement savers by expanding the definition of who in the financial services sector is considered a fiduciary and is therefore required to act in their clients’ best interests. Insurance companies had sued the government to try to prevent the rule from taking effect.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://hbr.org/2024/07/why-people-resist-retirement" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why People Resist Retirement | Harvard Business Review</a></h2>



<p>Making the decision to retire is a complex and personal process, and it usually involves financial and health factors. But for some, transitioning into retirement is a challenge for various psychological reasons. New research from Harvard found three main obstacles prospective retirees face that aren’t financial: changes in identity, purpose, and relationships.</p>



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<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


Tag Archives:

News You Should Know: Tips for Making Financial Resolutions That Stick

News You Should Know: How Will Colorado’s Economy Fare in 2025?

News You Should Know: What a Second Trump Presidency Could Mean for Your Finances

News You Should Know: U.S. Releases Federal Framework on Aging

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