Lauren Sieben

Naming a beneficiary for life insurance and retirement accounts is a crucial step that spells out who will receive benefits or the balance of your accounts if you pass away.
But what happens if your beneficiary passes away before you, or around the same time? What if they can't take over the account for other reasons? In situations where the primary beneficiary can't step in, it's important to have a contingent beneficiary named to your policy or account.
What Is a Contingent Beneficiary?
A c...

“Sweater weather” takes on a whole new meaning when you’re a homeowner.
From lawn maintenance to winterizing the pool, the change of the season ushers in a slew of extra items for your to-do list.
There’s plenty to keep you busy this fall if you’re feeling ambitious and ready to try your hand at some DIY home maintenance. But it’s also easy to outsource your list if you have the budget—and if you prefer not to spend your weekends installing insulation or trimming back tree branches.
Ready to ...

You check in for a doctor’s visit and a nurse or physician’s assistant leads you back to the exam room. There, they check your vitals — blood pressure, temperature, pulse, breathing rate. Maybe height and weight too.
Most of us are so used to this routine that we don’t think twice about it. Some of the core vital signs are as old as the field of medicine itself. Centuries ago, nobody used medical equipment to check if someone was breathing or had a pulse; you could simply watch for breathing ...

When you're planning your estate, you need to think beyond how you want your physical and financial assets distributed. You might also need a document that spells out the medical care you would want to receive if you're ever unable to speak for yourself.
What Is a Living Will?
A living will is a type of advance directive, a legal document that details the medical care you'd want to receive if you were ever unable to make your own medical decisions — for example, if you become critically ill o...

Alumna Lorna Mahlock becomes the U.S. Marine Corps’ first Black woman to lead as brigadier general

In 2016, a video posted to YouTube showed a routine test of a SpaceX rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. A few seconds into the clip, smoke begins snaking out from the side of the rocket. A minute passes, then boom: An explosion erupts and a mushroom of flames erupts from the structure. Fire engulfs the rocket and the launchpad below.
The stunning footage ran on news broadcasts around the world, and the public immediately started asking: What went wrong?

Many retirees don't have spouses or immediate family members to factor into their end-of-life planning. If this is your situation, it's still vitally important to consider your estate planning, even if you have no beneficiary at the moment.
It's wise to take time now to think about your wishes regarding your health care and the distribution of your financial assets. If you're unsure of where to start, here are a few of the most crucial end-of-life planning considerations for retirees without ...

Serving as a caregiver for a loved one can be both exhausting and rewarding. Over time, though, the stress and demands of this work can lead to caregiver burnout, which impacts both the caregiver and the person receiving care.
One way to stave off burnout and exhaustion is to create a respite caregiver plan. Planning ahead for respite care is an important part of ensuring that you don't lose sight of your own health and needs while you care for others.
What Is Respite Care?
Respite care is an...

In retirement, you might have to add new medicines or vitamins to your routine. The last thing you want is mix-up or a missed dose messing with your health, and that makes medication management crucial.
To make managing your meds easier, follow these best practices for organizing your prescription and non-prescription drugs.
Bring Your Medicines to Your Doctor's Visits
Next time you go to the doctor, bring all your regular medications. This includes inhalers, ointments, vitamins and herbal me...

As you plan for and eventually settle into retirement, you're likely to encounter seemingly endless advice from family, friends and the internet. But when you want to zero in on a particular topic, sometimes the best approach is to pick up a good old-fashioned book.
We've put together a curated list of worthwhile reads covering such topics as finance, physical health and inspiration to support your transition into a retirement lifestyle.
These books for the retirement mindset can help you pla...

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be both challenging and rewarding. As a family caregiver, you need to consider every facet of your parent's care, from home safety to finances. It's equally important to take care of yourself along the way and prevent burnout.
Before you commit to caring for a parent with dementia at home, here are a few tips to help you consider what the duties and experience may entail.
1. Seek Out Education About Dementia
Dementia goes beyond memory loss. The condit...

Maybe you’ve stared into your closet debating which outfit to wear to a routine physical, skin exam, pre-op consult or any other type of doctor’s visit.
Will any doctor, nurse or receptionist judge you for showing up in sweats? Would dressing up be weird? What if you really, really hate the idea of changing into a hospital gown — can you stay in your own clothes?
We talked with several doctors about what to wear to make your next appointment more comfortable and efficient. It turns out sweats...