2+ week, 4+ day ago  (982+ words) Pat Ege holds up an artistic plate a former Cunningham Children's Home resident made her on Monday afternoon. Pat Ege will retire from the Cunningham Children's Home after 47 years of employment, but she won't stay gone for long. She still…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago  (386+ words) For couples approaching retirement, few decisions carry more weight than when to claim Social Security. The choice between an earlier, smaller benefit and a later, larger one has a material impact on retirement spending. For couples, that decision must be…...

4+ week, 1+ day ago  (574+ words) The respected "gem" of a public information officer and "God's gift to reporters" from the Savoy Fire Department has retired after 50 years of service....

4+ mon, 3+ week ago  (275+ words) Brokerage accounts are often referred to as "taxable" accounts because they receive no special tax treatment. Any time an investment is sold for a gain, taxes are owed on that gain in that year. It is the same with taxable…...

4+ mon, 1+ week ago  (510+ words) Illinoisans have heard it all before: The state's public pensions are in disastrous financial shape. But a report prepared by Illinois Policy Institute analyst Ly Lena Estabine not only outlines the situation, but proposes solutions to a problem that has…...

4+ mon, 1+ week ago  (464+ words) Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis listens to remarks from the bench at the Illinois Supreme Court in Springfield. SPRINGFIELD " Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis announced she will retire from the state's high court later this month. Theis,…...

7+ mon, 19+ hour ago  (338+ words) Get ready for the annual onslaught of enrollment ads for Medicare Advantage. For beneficiaries, the choice between traditional Medicare or an Advantage plan, or between individual Advantage plans, can be frustrating and confusing. Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage are two…...

6+ mon, 5+ day ago  (219+ words) The IRS recently announced the new maximum retirement plan contribution limits for 2026, and though I wish there was some way to frame this information in a creative and interesting fashion, you'll have to forgive this column for being somewhat of…...

6+ mon, 15+ hour ago  (303+ words) There are several great ways retirees can use their investment portfolios to give to charity. One of which is taking a Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA account, or "QCD" for short. As the name suggests, it involves taking a…...

6+ mon, 3+ week ago  (256+ words) CHAMPAIGN" A longtime veteran of the Champaign Fire Department who has served as interim chief on more than one occasion is stepping into the role on a permanent basis. City Manager Joan Walls has appointed Tyler Funk to serve as…...