Finance

 By David A. L’Ecuyer In order to be eligible to join a credit union, the potential member must fit into the Field of Membership (FOM)...

Years of handling your own finances and investments sharpen the ability to make sound decisions. But failing to prepare for the day when growing older hampers your judgment can be costly at an age when more is at stake.

Mary Eliff, 68, loves living in the Boston area. Barely a week goes by that the Dorchester resident, who is semi-retired, isn’t at one of the many cultural opportunities the city has to offer.

Taking maximum advantage of tax breaks and other strategies will make savings last longer, which is critical for those living on a fixed income.

By David A. L’Ecuyer Many people get confused or simply don’t appreciate the difference between banks and credit unions. Both banks and credit unions offer...

“Express Scripts, a pharmacy benefits manager, has a near-majority market share and will benefit from an aging population, more generic drugs and society’s need to lower health-care spending,” said Paul Larson, Morningstar equities strategist.

Hiring financial help is hard. Anyone looking for assistance managing their money will quickly encounter an alphabet soup of professional designations.

But as many boomers have lost their jobs and faced long-term unemployment in the Great Recession, career change has been difficult.

The days of being able to count on averaging 10 percent annual returns from the stock market are over. So, it is important for retirees to know just how much they can take out of their portfolios every year without drawing them down too fast.

The biggest pain is likely to be felt by baby boomers, who are mostly still in the workforce but facing increasing prospects that their employers may freeze their pensions.