Why the Improving Economy Has Rattled the Stock Market

There was a lively discussion in our Retire with Money Facebook group this week about retiring abroad. The post that inspired it  asked, “Anyone here seriously look into retiring abroad in a place like Belize or anywhere else? I will have a solid $2 million or so by age 40 with no kids, and I’d rather retire somewhere cheap at age 40 than somewhere expensive at 50-55.”

Members said he should research issues such as health care, finances, taxes, transportation, etc. Many recommended that he rent an apartment and test out regular life for three to six months, instead of basing a decision on a quick tourist visit. One person noted that in the developing world, you’re often much more exposed to climate incidents like hurricanes or earthquakes, and even under normal circumstances electricity and internet access might not be as reliable as we’re used to the U.S. One member spoke from personal experience: “I retired to Mexico two years ago at age 62, and I love it. But it's not for everyone, especially if you've never lived abroad before. The least happy people I see are the ones who moved here largely for the low cost of living. If you don't want to learn the language and culture and make local friends, you're better off moving to a low cost of living part of the U.S.”

If you already have a 401(k) or traditional IRA, you might be curious about a Roth IRA. You won’t pay taxes on qualified withdrawals in retirement, and any potential earnings will grow tax-free, but you will owe taxes on the amount you convert. Learn how to estimate your tax liability in this case, and get answers to some of the most common conversion questions, including what time of year to consider converting and how to manage taxes when converting.

CDC Says It's Safe For Vaccinated People To Do These Activities

The new guidelines are great news for vaccinated grandparents, among others. NPR

Investment Manager Sees Bitcoin Joining Stocks and Bonds as Part of the Classic Balanced Portfolio

Will the U.S. Have Covid-19 Vaccine Doses for Everyone by the End of May?

The math behind Biden’s pledge is aggressive, but not impossible. STAT NEWS

Conservatorship Gets the Hollywood Treatment

A woman whose family had a bad experience with a court-appointed conservator evaluates two recent films on the topic. NEXT AVENUE

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.