Opinions

From the Editor’s Files Over the past weekend, I got some heartfelt compliments on my Christmas decorations – inside and outside of my home. That simple gesture helped confirm for me that sometimes, less really is more.

Dear Savvy Senior, I recently had an estate plan drafted, including a will, power of attorney and advance directive, but I’m not sure what to do about all my online accounts – email, banking, and social media. What can I do to make sure my family can access what they need and protect my digital information after I’m gone.

There have been clear signs we have transitioned into another season on the farm. The temperatures have dropped, the geese are flying and the kids are counting down the days until their winter break begins.

As I mentioned last week, Kim and I were able to spend the Thanksgiving holiday in Chicago. When I make a list of major cities I've visited around the world, Chicago is still one of my favorites.

Savvy Senior Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I are relocating to a nearby state to be closer to our daughter and will need to find a new primary care physician when we arrive. We are both in our late 70s and are interested in getting a geriatrician to oversee our health care going forward.

Random Thoughts This is turning into a rough season for fans of the Kansas City Chiefs. The team has been in or on the cusp of a Super Bowl for the better part of a decade.

Guest Column As a nation, it seems, we've come to fear talking about death or even saying the word dead. Undertakers, a lot of physicians, most veterinarians avoid it.

Random Thoughts Last week, my college friend Tim Powers tagged me in a post to wish me a happy Dick Cavett's birthday. The longtime TV personality and comedian turned 89 years old on Nov.

From the Editor’s Files It's not very often that I share a word of the week, but this one's pretty good, The word is “cacophony.” Using it in a sentence, I came up with this: “A harsh discordant mixture of sounds, like a cacophony of deafening alarm bells.” What got me thinking about this word of the week was a genuine cacophony of birds eating the berries off of a crabapple tree in my front yard. It's a beautiful tree, but I've been dealing with the mess off of this tree for years now.

Dear Savvy Senior, How do Social Security spousal benefits work? My wife, who’s approaching age 62, has had a few small-paying jobs over the years, but spent most of her time as a homemaker. What is she entitled to? Primary Breadwinner Dear Breadwinner, Spousal benefit questions are among the most frequently asked and confusing parts of Social Security.