
<p>Retirement insights from a Colorado PERA perspective</p>



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A distant view shows a mountainous landscape with sloping peaks, green trees in the foreground, and a cloudy sky above.


<p class="has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://coloradosun.com/2025/05/20/colorado-aging-demographics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Colorado’s Median Age is Nearing 40 — and Getting Older. Here’s What That Looks Like. | The Colorado Sun</strong></a></p>



<p>Colorado has long been one of the “youngest” states in the country as measured by median age of its population, but that’s changing as birth rates and migration into the state have declined. The Centennial State’s median age has crept up to 37.9 years old, which is still one of the lowest in the nation, but our state is now aging at the third-fastest rate.</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/401ks/new-bill-would-lower-age-to-contribute-to-401k-to-18-from-21" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>New Bill Would Lower Age to Contribute to 401(k)s to 18 from 21. What You Need to Know | Kiplinger</strong></a></p>



<p>Federal lawmakers have reintroduced a bill that seeks to expand access to employer-based retirement plans like 401(k)s for younger workers. The Helping Young Americans Save for Retirement Act would lower the minimum required age to 18 from 21 and make it easier for employers to offer plans to those workers.</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/fda-approves-alzheimers-blood-test/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>What to Know about the First FDA-Cleared Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease | AARP</strong></a></p>



<p>The Food and Drug Administration has for the first time given approval to a blood test that can help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Diagnosing Alzheimer’s traditionally involves brain imaging and invasive procedures like lumbar punctures, so doctors hope a simple blood test will make it easier to identify the disease. &nbsp;</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.realsimple.com/signs-you-are-aging-well-11739429" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>5 Subtle Signs You’re Aging Well, According to Longevity Experts | Real Simple</strong></a></p>



<p>We hear a lot about aging and some of the health concerns and other issues that can arise, but how do you know you’re aging well? Here are five things that medical experts say are good signs you’re living your best life as you get older.</p>



<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


News You Should Know: Colorado is Getting Older Faster


<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IRS Releases Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2025 | Internal Revenue Service</a></h2>



<p>The new year is just two months away, and the Internal Revenue Service has announced some important tax-related updates. For tax year 2025, the IRS is making adjustments to various tax provisions based on inflation, including the standard deduction, marginal tax rates, earned income tax credits, and more.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://qz.com/medicare-2-drug-list-medicaid-1851668732" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Medicare Wants to Make These Generic Drugs Available for Just $2 | Quartz</a></h2>



<p>The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a list of dozens of prescription medications that may be included in a pilot program to provide low-cost generic versions of drugs. The drugs—which include popular medications such as inhalers, antibiotics, blood thinners, and cholesterol pills—would be available for $2 beginning in 2027.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.uchealth.org/today/new-blood-tests-for-alzheimers-may-allow-for-earlier-detection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Blood Tests for Alzheimer’s May Allow for Earlier Detection | UCHealth Today</a></h2>



<p>Multiple companies have been rolling out new blood tests to help screen for Alzheimer’s disease, aiming to someday replace expensive and invasive procedures like spinal taps and imaging scans. Experts at UCHealth say that while the new tests are promising, there’s still more research that needs to be done before they can be made widely available, and the tests are not yet FDA-approved or covered by insurance or Medicare.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/how-to-step-confidently-into-your-life-after-retirement" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to Step Confidently Into Your Life After Retirement | Kiplinger</a></h2>



<p>Retiring is a major life change that goes beyond a change in employment status, and that move often involves a shift in identity. Here are some tips for handling the transition and embracing a new phase of life.</p>



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<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


News You Should Know: IRS Releases Tax Adjustments for 2025


<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://spanberger.house.gov/posts/spanberger-graves-file-discharge-petition-for-social-security-fairness-act-push-to-force-u-s-house-vote-on-bipartisan-bill-to-eliminate-wep-gpo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="broken_link">Spanberger, Graves File Discharge Petition for Social Security Fairness Act, Push to Force U.S. House Vote on Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate WEP &amp; GPO | Rep. Abigail Spanberger</a></h2>



<p>Congress is back from recess, and the two main sponsors of a bill that would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) say they’re going to attempt to force a floor vote on the bill. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Garret Graves (R-LA) filed a discharge petition, which will need 218 signatures to force a vote. The bill, The Social Security Fairness Act, has received the support of more than 300 members of Congress but has stalled since it was introduced in early 2023.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/employee-retirement-income-security-act-erisa-turns-50" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Employee Retirement Income Security Act Turns 50: Protecting Your Plans | Kiplinger</a></h2>



<p>It’s been 50 years since the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) was enacted into law, adding new protections for workers and changing the way many people save for retirement. While ERISA doesn’t govern public pension plans like Colorado PERA, it’s been a consequential piece of legislation in the private sector and paved the way for today’s employer-based retirement plans like 401(k)s.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://chhs.source.colostate.edu/new-drug-may-improve-memory-in-older-adults-treat-alzheimers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Drug May Improve Memory in Older Adults, Treat Alzheimer’s | Colorado State University</a></h2>



<p>Researchers at Colorado State University say they’ve been testing a drug that shows promise in treating memory loss associated with aging and neurological conditions like Alzheimer&#8217;s disease. The researchers teamed up with a local biotech company to test the drug, which targets two specific proteins in the brain. The team hopes to get approval for human trials soon.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://coloradosun.com/2024/09/10/colorado-taxes-pilot-program/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado Department of Revenue to Help 100,000 Residents File Their Taxes | The Colorado Sun</a></h2>



<p>State officials are working to implement a new law that will help many Coloradans claim tax credits they may know they qualify for. Under the law, the Colorado Department of Revenue will help up to 100,000 households file or amend their tax returns to claim state and/or federal earned income tax credits and child tax credits, which could help many lower income families in the state.</p>



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<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


News You Should Know: Lawmakers Push for Floor Vote on WEP/GPO Bill


<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.ncpers.org/costs-of-pension-reforms-income-inequality" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hidden Costs of Pension Reforms: Rising Income Inequality, Lagging Economic Growth | National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems</a></h2>



<p>Changes to the defined benefit pension landscape—including the shift from pensions to defined contribution plans like 401(k)s in the private sector—have contributed to worsening income equality among retirees over the years, according to new research. The study, from the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems, also concluded that income inequality has an overall negative effect on the economy by limiting growth.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-prices-inflation-federal-reserve-economy-2cd182eb34a7d6772ff573bec0bcf64d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jerome Powell Says Fed to Soon Begin Reducing Interest Rates | AP News</a></h2>



<p>Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell confirmed he’s ready to start lowering interest rates. At the Fed’s annual conference in Wyoming, Powell said it’s time for policy to adjust as inflation has eased and the job market has cooled. Though Powell didn’t specify when the central bank will start to lower rates, many experts expect the first cut to come when the Federal Open Market Committee meets in September.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.cpr.org/2024/08/25/colorado-talk-about-dementia-campaign/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado Hopes to Raise Awareness of Dementia, Start Conversations, With New Campaign | Colorado Public Radio</a></h2>



<p>The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is launching a new campaign called “Talk About Dementia.” The campaign aims to raise awareness about dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, which can often go undiagnosed. Since early detection can be important for treatment, officials hope the campaign can help lessen dementia’s impact in the state.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2024/08/15/long-term-care-costs-emerge-as-a-top-issue-for-older-americans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Long-Term Care Costs Emerge as a Top Issue for Older Americans | ThinkAdvisor</a></h2>



<p>Paying for health care is one of the top concerns for retirees and those who are preparing for retirement. A new survey of Americans aged 50 and older found people are especially concerned about the cost of home care, assisted living, and nursing home care. The cost of acute medical care was the second-highest concern, followed by the cost of prescription medications.</p>



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<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


Tag Archives:

News You Should Know: Colorado is Getting Older Faster

News You Should Know: IRS Releases Tax Adjustments for 2025

News You Should Know: Lawmakers Push for Floor Vote on WEP/GPO Bill

News You Should Know: Income Inequality Rises with Decrease in Pension Access, Study Finds

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