Social Security COLA Increase for 2025 Could Be the Lowest in 4 Years

And eight great places for snowbirds to land. Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( August 21, 2024 CONNECT WITH KIPLINGER  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [Instagram ]( [Youtube]( [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [WEBSITE]( [] INTRODUCTION [] [Stepping Into Credit Freezes]( Every day it seems that a new data breach comes to light. The [NDP]( and Change Healthcare breaches hit harder than others. The NDP breach showed how easy it is for corporations to scrape private data and use it for profit, and the Change Healthcare cyberattack exposed that our most personal information can be held for ransom. I resolved to find a way to feel safer after what felt like an invasion of privacy. That’s why I am seriously considering freezing my credit. It is an affirmative step anyone can take to slow down and thwart scammers and fraudsters. Use these [three easy steps to freeze your credit]( and sleep more soundly knowing that your credit is as safe as it can be from the bad actors hacking into our lives. - Donna LeValley, personal finance writer [6 Things Not to Do When Selecting a Financial Advisor]( Working with a financial advisor can be a great first step to helping make sure you're on track to reach your retirement goals. But choosing the wrong one could wreak havoc. Check out these 6 things not to do when choosing a financial advisor, so you can work to potentially avoid years of stress. [See the list]( ADVERTISEMENT [] SOCIAL SECURITY [] [Social Security COLA Increase for 2025 Could Be the Lowest in 4 Years]( [Social Security COLA Increase for 2025 Could Be the Lowest in 4 Years]( (Getty Images) I am edging closer to retirement and now pay more attention to all things related to Medicare and Social Security. July inflation data gleaned from the CPI gave the number crunchers what they needed to update their COLA forecasts. These projections have more credibility as the July numbers are the first of three sets of numbers the SSA will use to determine the 2025 COLA. Keep reading to [learn the recent COLA forecast for 2025 and when the COLAs were at their highest and lowest over the years](. [] PLACES TO RETIRE [] [8 Great Places for Snowbirds to Land]( [8 Great Places for Snowbirds to Land]( (Getty Images) More than 1 million people spend part of the year in Florida, and many are retirees. I live in the Northeast and the idea of not needing a shovel or wool socks to get the winter is something I’m warming to. Check out these [eight affordable warm-weather cities for snowbirds]( that offer plenty of housing options, abundant activities for retirees and access to good health car. [Your IRA, made to order]( Choose where and when you want to retire, and a Betterment IRA can help make your money hustle all the way there. [Learn More]( ADVERTISEMENT [] DATA BREACH [] [Change Healthcare Data Breach: What To Know for Your Social Security Safety]( [Change Healthcare Data Breach: What To Know for Your Social Security Safety]( (Getty Images) The number and size of recent data breaches had me climbing the walls trying to figure out how to protect myself in the future. Well, notifications have started going out about the massive Change Healthcare data breach in February; I got one myself last week and a second from UnitedHealthcare about the same breach. Read the article to [see the extent of the leaked personal information and how much UnitedHealthcare paid the hackers to end the cyberattack](. 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