The Pros and Cons of Annuities Right Now

TIMELY RETIREMENT NEWS, INSIGHTS, AND ADVICE

RETIRE WITH MONEY COMMUNITY INSIGHTS

Thanks to all who wrote in with new recipes they’ve tried in quarantine!

Jean Rife, of Mass., offered a recipe for DIY sourdough starter. “All it requires is flour, water, and a little pineapple juice to give it a head start,” she says.  “It takes just a few days to gather the yeast from the air, and you are all set.  No pressure, but look at Breadtopia.com for tips.” Here I was thinking that starter had to be bought from a fancy artisanal store or inherited from a friend who had been nurturing it for decades--thanks for setting me straight, Jean!

Tina Lam, of Mich., shared this recipe for a chocolate-espresso mousse pie that she called “heaven.” She made it for the first time to celebrate her wedding anniversary and “shared’ it with friends and family over Zoom. Looks divine! 

Kevin Thomas, of North Carolina, bakes pizza at home on a domed wood-burning oven that came from Italy. He recommends using Caputo OO flour or King Arthur’s pizza blend flour and freezing dough balls. “Let them sit out for a day before you use them,” he writes. “Put them in a covered greased bowl or else they will go everywhere as the yeast starts to kick in. Punch it down and roll them out.” Thanks, Kevin! Good pro tips.

We also had some healthy and delicious-looking recipes, including this one for Greek salmon from Maureen Corcoran, of Texas, and this slow-cooker turkey sausage and zucchini lasagna recipe from Lina Au in the S.F. Bay Area.

Bon Appetit!

Revisiting Model Airplanes and Family Memories During The Pandemic

A New York City-based musician finds solace building model airplanes like he used to do with his father. NPR

A Guide to Pandemic Scams, and What Not to Fall For

Scams are flourishing amid the government relief programs. Here's what to watch out for.  THE NEW YORK TIMES

Taking Money Out of Your IRA Under the CARES Act Is More Complicated Than it Sounds
 

There are interim tax consequences to weigh even if you recontribute the money within the designated three-year window.  MARKETWATCH

Social Security Benefits Aren't Keeping Pace with Retirees' Costs

Social Security benefits have lost 30% of their buying power since 2000, and some experts are predicting no cost-of-living increase for 2021.  CNBC

Elizabeth O'Brien is deputy editor at MONEY. She has covered retirement and health care for nearly a decade. A Brooklyn resident and mom of two boys, she navigates the alphabet soup of Medicare and the New York City subway system with equal ease. You can email her at elizabeth.obrien@money.com and follow her on Twitter at @elizobrien.