Curated Monthly
Retirement Reads
A hand-picked handful of the best retirement articles we've read lately, from trusted sources around the web. We summarize each one and link you straight to it — with a pointer back to our own guides when they can help.
This month's picks · August 2026Claiming Social Security Soon? 5 Smart Moves to Make Now
Claiming is a lifelong decision, and a poor one can cost the average couple more than $180,000. This piece walks through five concrete tasks to complete before you file — from checking your earnings record to coordinating with your spouse — so you don't lock in a costly mistake.
On RetireCalm: work through the tradeoffs in our Social Security guide and break-even calculator.
Medicare Open Enrollment: Get Ready Before October 15
Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) is closer than it feels. Your plan's Annual Notice of Change arrives in September — this official page explains what to review, what you're allowed to change, and why comparing plans each year matters, since costs, drug lists, and networks all shift for 2027.
On RetireCalm: get oriented first with our plain-English Medicare guide.
5 Retirement Tax Traps to Watch in 2026
Five ways retirement income can quietly cost you more than expected — from RMD penalties and the taxation of up to 85% of your Social Security, to withdrawals that push you into a higher bracket or trigger a Medicare surcharge. Useful for planning withdrawals before year-end.
On RetireCalm: see how RMDs are calculated in our IRA & RMD guide.
Stronger Muscles After Age 60 Linked to Longevity
A 2026 study of more than 5,400 adults 63 and older found that greater grip strength and faster chair-stand times were linked to a meaningfully lower risk of death over the following eight years — more evidence that keeping your muscles strong is one of the most powerful things you can do for a long, independent life.
On RetireCalm: build strength safely with our strength-training guide.
3 Questions That Define Your Ideal Social Security Claiming Age
A practical framework for retirement's biggest money decision: three questions — about your likely lifespan, your income needs, and the effect on your spouse and heirs — to help you settle on the right age to start benefits.
On RetireCalm: work through the tradeoffs in our Social Security guide and break-even calculator.
Medicare Open Enrollment: What You Can Change
The official rundown of what you're allowed to change during Medicare's fall Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) — switching between Original Medicare and Advantage, or joining or changing a Part D drug plan. Worth reviewing before plans update their costs and drug lists.
On RetireCalm: get oriented first with our plain-English Medicare guide.
4 Required Minimum Distribution Mistakes to Avoid in 2026
Four common — and costly — required-minimum-distribution slip-ups, from misreading the first-year deadline to overlooking how a large withdrawal can raise your Medicare premiums and the tax on your Social Security. A quick read if you're 73 or older.
On RetireCalm: see how RMDs are calculated in our IRA & RMD guide.
Five Healthy Habits for Successfully Aging in Our 60s and 70s
Stanford physicians share the five habits that matter most in your 60s and 70s — including aiming for roughly 7,000 steps a day (which you can split into shorter walks) and working on your balance now to help prevent the falls that threaten independence later.
On RetireCalm: ease into it with our simple walking program.
Links lead to third-party websites we don't control; we share them because we found them useful, not as endorsements or advice. Summaries are our own. Always confirm details that affect your money or health with the source or a qualified professional.