Issue 34: The Retirement Buzz

RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?

(Answer at bottom)

Protecting Yourself from Seasonal Scams Targeting Seniors

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), scam reports spike between October and December, targeting retirees during Medicare open enrollment and holiday donation drives.

🔍 Top Seasonal Scams:

• Robocalls pretending to verify Medicare benefits

• Emails asking for personal banking info

• Fake GoFundMe campaigns for veterans or wildfire victims

🎯 Pro Tip: Hang up. Don’t click. Always verify with a trusted contact before taking action.

👵 Jeanette L., 74 – Asheville, NC, received a call claiming her Medicare needed "updating." She almost gave her SSN—until she remembered her senior center's fraud prevention seminar. “I hung up and called Medicare myself. It was all fake. If I hadn’t been warned, I would’ve fallen for it.”

🔗 Visit https://consumer.ftc.gov/ for real-time alerts.

How to Use Your RMD Strategically Before Year-End

If you’re 73 or older, the IRS requires that you withdraw your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from tax-deferred retirement accounts by December 31 to avoid a steep penalty.

📘 Smart Ways Retirees Are Using RMDs:

• Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): Donate up to $100,000 tax-free

• Prepay 2026 Medicare premiums or property taxes

• Spend on legacy travel or education gifts for family

👴 Frank H., 77 – Billings, MT, used part of his RMD to help his granddaughter buy college textbooks—and donated the rest to his church. “I didn’t just take the money out. I used it to put something good back in.”

📌 Reminder: Talk with your financial advisor or visit irs.gov/rmd to calculate your exact requirement.

😂 JOKE OF THE WEEK

What’s it called when a tree takes some time off?

A leaf of absence! 🍂

Hosting a Fall Book Swap with Friends or Neighbors

With cooler evenings and warm drinks, fall is perfect for building deeper connections—book by book. According to the National Institute on Aging, socializing through shared interests like reading improves emotional and cognitive health.

📚 How to Host a Cozy Book Swap:

• Ask guests to bring 1–2 books they’ve read

• Offer tea, cider, or a small snack

• Invite each guest to share one thing they took away from their book

👩‍🦳 Rachel W., 68 – Minneapolis, MN, started a monthly "Books & Brownies" night with three neighbors. It’s now grown to 12 women across two apartment buildings. “We talk, we cry, we laugh. It’s about books—but it’s really about each other.”

Fall Puzzle Season Begins — Brain Benefits Included

A 2024 study from the Journal of Cognitive Health found that older adults who do jigsaw puzzles regularly score 15–25% better on memory and reasoning tests.

🧩 Why Puzzles Matter:

• Strengthen attention and problem-solving

• Lower stress through calm, focused activity

• Provide purpose and satisfaction

🧠 Challenge Tip: Organize a "Puzzle Swap" with friends or in your community center to rotate puzzles and cut down on cost.

👵 Carl & Angie D., 70 & 68 – Boise, ID, Carl and Angie keep a 1,000-piece puzzle going all autumn. “It’s our daily check-in. We do a few pieces, drink coffee, and talk about the day. It’s our peace ritual.”

Sweater Weather & Sacred Stillness

Fall is more than cozy sweaters and falling leaves. It’s an invitation to return to inner stillness. Many spiritual leaders suggest turning small comforts into sacred routines that foster presence, peace, and gratitude.

🍂 Sacred Rituals to Try:

• Light a candle at dinner and say one thing you’re grateful for

• Wrap in a meaningful sweater and sit in silence

• Step outside and let the wind “clear your mind”

🧘 Joan K., 75 – Ithaca, NY, lights a candle each night and writes down one thing she’s learning in retirement. “Some nights it’s just: ‘I’m learning to rest.’ That’s enough.”

🧩 RIDDLE ANSWER

🗺️ Answer: A map

🎖️ MILITARY & HOLIDAY RECOGNITIONS

🇺🇸 National Day of the Deployed – October 26 (Recognized This Week)

This observance honors U.S. service members currently deployed abroad. It’s a time to support troops who won’t be home for the holidays.

🎁 Action Step: Support organizations like Soldiers’ Angels or Operation Gratitude by writing letters or sending care packages.

🌎 United Nations Day – October 24

Founded in 1945, the UN promotes peace, dignity, and global cooperation. This day reminds us that even in retirement, your wisdom and voice matter in shaping the world.

💡 How to Get Involved:

• Attend a local cultural event

• Volunteer for refugee or language literacy programs

• Learn about your community’s diversity and share stories

Follow us on social media to stay inspired, stay active, and stay connected!

Got questions or feedback? We’d love to hear from you! Simply reply to this email or contact us here.