However, just because it’s sold over the counter doesn’t mean it’s automatically safe for you.

“OTC does not mean risk-free,” says Laura A. Rhodes, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

Hidden in plain sight on the medication label is all the info you need, but only if you actually read it and understand what everything means.

“The label has the information, but it is not always easy for patients to quickly understand or compare products, particularly when they are managing multiple symptoms at once,” Rhodes says.

[READ: ]

The 7 Core Sections of an OTC Label (Explained)

The Food and Drug Administration mandates a standardized format for all OTC drug labels to help consumers locate the key elements about the medication they’re taking.

The standard format of the “Drug Facts” label is divided into sections to make it easier to read:

1. Active ingredients and purpose

The first and most important section is “Active Ingredients,” which lists:

— Drug: The specific drug that treats your symptoms. These are FDA-approved components that have been scientifically tested and proven to treat or provide a certain health benefit.

— Amount: The amount of the drug per unit (e.g., 500mg per table) to indicate the strength.

“The most confusing part of OTC labels for many of my patients is the active ingredient and dosing information, especially when different brand name products contain the same medication,” Rhodes says.

Next to each active ingredient is “Purpose,” which states what the drug does or what category it belongs to, such as “,” “fever reducer” or “.”

[READ ]

2. Uses

This section specifies the symptoms or conditions the drug is approved to treat, for example, “sneezing” or “itchy throat.” When selecting an OTC drug, look here to determine if it’s the right one for your symptoms.

Some medications address multiple symptoms, but make sure you match your symptoms exactly and don’t “over-treat” if the label lists more symptoms than you have.

“Whenever possible, I encourage patients to about choosing a combination product that fits their needs,” Rhodes says. “Combination products are where people are more likely to accidentally double up on the same medication without realizing it, which increases the risk of serious harm.”

[READ: ]

3. Warnings

This is one of the most crucial sections on the medication label to pay attention to, even though it still has some limitations.

“The warning section of the Drug Facts label is a helpful starting point, but it doesn’t take into account a person’s full or medication list,” says Sue Ojageer, a pharmacist.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to review your — including any conditions you have, your prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, — to make sure everything is safe to take together.

The warnings section is divided into several subsections:

— Do not use. This section lists contraindications to taking the medicine, such as certain or taking other specific medications.

— Ask a doctor before use. This means the medication may or may not be safe for you to use, so you should talk to your doctor before taking it. For example, if you have a chronic condition, like or , it’s important to run the OTC medication by your doctor to make sure it doesn’t worsen or conflict with your health issue.

— When using this product. This section lists side effects and actions to avoid. For example, it will state that you should not drive because the .

— Stop use and ask a doctor. Certain rare side effects listed in this section may indicate a serious reaction, so if you experience them, stop taking the drug and call your doctor.

— Pregnant or breastfeeding. As with all medications, check with your doctor to make sure an OTC medication is safe to take while or .

— Keep out of reach of children. This medication may be dangerous for children, especially if taken at a large dose, so call Poison Control if they ingest it.

[READ ]

4. Directions

When reading a medication label, this is probably the information most people are looking for.

The directions usually give dosage by age and/or weight, as well as how often it’s safe to take.

“I get a lot of questions about how and when to take a medication,” Rhodes says. “Many people focus on the brand name or symptom relief and miss the max daily dose or warning section.”

Safety note: Never use a kitchen spoon to measure liquid medicines, because a kitchen “teaspoon” is often not the correct measurement. Only use the provided dosing cup or syringe.

5. Other information

This section will give storage instructions, such as avoiding heat or humidity, and sometimes electrolyte content, such as sodium and magnesium.

Pro tip: Don’t store medications in the bathroom because there is often too much heat and humidity from the shower.

6. Inactive ingredients

For most people, the inactive ingredients are harmless, but they are crucial to know for those with allergies to dyes, gluten, or preservatives.

“One of the biggest areas of confusion I see is understanding active versus inactive ingredients,” Ojageer says.

For people with diabetes, this section is incredibly important when looking for OTC medicines that may contain added sugar. While are specifically formulated without added sugar or alcohol that can spike your , be sure to check inactive ingredients to avoid these ingredients for good measure.

7. Questions or comments?

Find out how to contact the manufacturer for questions that aren’t addressed on the label, although your doctor or pharmacist should always be your go-to for medical guidance.

[READ: ]

3 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even if you think you understand everything on the medication label, there are some additional safety factors to know when using OTC drugs to avoid some common mistakes.

“It’s not intentional, but comes down to not fully understanding how to read the label (or labels) as a whole,” Ojageer says.

1. The “same ingredient” trap

If you’re taking multiple OTC medications, one easy mistake to make is taking two different brands of drugs with the same active ingredient, known as “double dosing,” which many people don’t realize can be dangerous with OTC drugs.

For example, you might think about taking a multi-symptom cold medicine and a headache pill — not realizing both contain acetaminophen, which can lead to liver toxicity.

“The most concerning mistake I see is unintentional overdosing, especially with commonly used ingredients like ,” Ojageer says. “Most patients focus on the brand name or what the product is marketed to treat, but they don’t always realize that different products can contain the same active ingredient.”

This can happen even if you follow the directions on each product because the active ingredients may overlap.

“The information is there on the label, but unless you know exactly what to look for, it can be easy to overlook,” Ojageer says.

Avoid taking multiple medications with the same active ingredients; or ask the pharmacist which are safe to take together so you don’t exceed the maximum dose.

Active Ingredient Overlap: A Quick Safety Check

[CHART]

2. Ignoring expiration dates

Although sometimes the is hard to find, it’s often stamped on the bottom or crimped edge of the box or bottle.

The medication is guaranteed to be safe and effective up to that date, based on stability data from the manufacturer.

“In many cases, medications do not suddenly become harmful after they expire, but they can gradually lose potency,” Ojageer says.

It is possible for some old medications to degrade in a way that can affect you, so it’s best to use medicines within their expiration date.

3. Assuming “natural” means safe

Even if a supplement or herbal product is marketed as “natural,” it’s still important to read the label. That’s because the FDA does not regulate or test these products for safety and efficacy the same way it does drugs.

“There is a common belief that ‘natural’ means safer, but that is not always true,” Ojageer says. “I always tell patients to approach natural products the same way they would any medication: Read the label carefully and check with a health care professional before using them.”

Supplements may:

— Cause side effects

— or affect how another medication works

— Sometimes affect or blood sugar

[READ: ]

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It mostly comes down to two realities: cost and clinical needs. When older adults need just a few hours of care a week, is often the simplest and most affordable option. But as medical needs and care hours escalate, the equation shifts. distribute the cost of higher-level care across many residents, often making 24/7 care more budget-friendly than .

To ensure their loved ones receive the care they need, families need to:

— Determine which place of care can keep up with their loved one’s needs

— Stay within the budget

— Understand the many other tradeoffs between the two

Read on to learn more about home health care vs. nursing home care and the costs of home health care in 2026.

[READ: ]

What Is the Difference Between Home Health Care and a Nursing Home?

and both provide medical and personal care to older adults who need support. The difference between the two lies in the scope of services.

— Home health care allows individuals to receive care in their residences. Medical professionals, such as therapists, nurses or unlicensed assistive personnel, visit to provide treatments or personal care.

— Nursing homes are residential communities that provide round-the-clock care. Communities are specifically designed for individuals who have difficulty caring for themselves or who have significant physical or cognitive impairments.

[READ ]

Comparison: Home Health Care vs. Skilled Nursing Facility

Below are the key differences between home health care and . (The terms “skilled nursing facility,” or SNF, and “nursing home” are often used interchangeably, but SNFs may focus specifically on care, such as short-term .)

Staffing shortages: What to expect in 2026

Both home health care and nursing homes are impacted by national caregiving and nursing shortages. Home health agencies and SNFs each have long waiting lists, ranging from weeks to months, sometimes even years, the . Planning is the best strategy for timely or SNF placement in 2026. Joining multiple waitlists early ensures that you or your loved one receives placement for the right care at the right time.

Even after placement, the staffing shortage and high turnover rates of home health care agencies and SNFs mean caregivers change frequently.

The mental health angle: Isolation vs. community

Home is where the heart is, but as mobility declines, home can become a cage.

[READ: ]

Cost Comparison: Home Care vs. Long-Term Care Facilities

For many families, the care journey doesn’t begin with a nursing home; it begins with limited, part?time help at home, says Samir Shah, New York City-based CEO of CareScout Services, a service that helps families navigate longer-term care planning and finances.

Early on, families might use a small number of hours each week for home care, including help with meals, transportation, housekeeping or personal care. As care needs become more complex, the care hours, and therefore the cost, increase. The national median hourly rate for a nonmedical caregiver is about $35, according to .

“As a practical benchmark, home care generally begins to exceed once weekly care approaches the equivalent of full?time coverage (roughly 60 to 65 hours per week at standard agency rates), and the gap widens significantly at 24/7 levels of care,” Shah adds. “By contrast, nursing home costs are higher from the outset and less gradual. While nursing homes provide a higher level of clinical oversight, they represent an increase in cost compared to early or mid?stage home care.”

Source: CareScout

The “Hospital at Home” Movement: A New Middle Ground

Hospital at home helps families care for someone at home with more support, more guidance and less fear, says Nikki Patton, a San Antonio-based hospice speaker, author of “Sacred Conversations” and educator.

“The team sees what is really happening in the home, the medications, the , the , the symptoms and the hard families avoid,” she explains.

Who is hospital at home best for? Hospital at home works best when a patient is sick enough to need hospital-level care but stable enough to receive care at home safely, Patton says.

“The individual needs a clear diagnosis, reliable monitoring, a safe home setup and a care plan that includes what happens if they decline,” she adds.

2026 Tech: How AI & Monitoring Make Aging in Place Safer

In 2026, and monitoring can make aging in place safer for your loved ones. Ask your loved one’s medical provider about which or technology would help them age in place. Some options available include:

— Ambient , which uses sensors to identify a fall instantly, without the individual needing to wear a traditional personal emergency response system

— Smart management, which uses automated dispensers and alerts to ensure older adults follow their medication schedules on time

— Vital signs monitoring, which tracks heart rate, breathing and sleep patterns to detect changes or early signs of illness

— Voice-activated emergency response systems, which allow a person to call for help from anywhere, even if they cannot reach a phone

How to Choose: Which Level of Care Is Right for Your Family?

Ultimately, there should be no debate between home care and a nursing home, says Evan Farr, a certified and retirement planner at Farr Law Firm P.C. in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

“Rather, the focus should be on ensuring that the being received is consistent with the medical realities of the individual, while developing a strategy to ensure the family’s financial well-being,” he notes.

Follow these steps to make the right choice:

1. Schedule a medical assessment with your loved one’s health care provider to determine if medical complexity makes home care unsafe. For instance, if your loved one has multiple chronic conditions that need close supervision, or if they have a physical or cognitive impairment that makes living at home risky, then a nursing home may be a better fit.

2. Evaluate financial assets long-term with a financial planner to determine whether home health care or nursing home care makes more sense.

3. Submit inquiries and get on waitlists for desired home health care agencies or nursing homes, take if applicable and ask questions to ensure it is the right fit for your loved one.

Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care or Nursing Homes?

does sometimes or nursing homes but only under specific circumstances.

short-term skilled nursing care in either home care or nursing home settings. This could include post-hospital IV antibiotics, for example. However, Medicare does not cover custodial or personal care, regardless of whether that care was provided at home or in a nursing home.

Nursing home care can be more financially feasible for families seeking high-level, long-term care due to reimbursement, Farr adds.

Medicaid covers long-term custodial care under the following circumstances, which vary by state:

— You meet the Medicaid income requirements set by your state’s Medicaid program.

— Your countable assets are within your state’s Medicaid limit.

— You need help with , such as showering, getting dressed or eating.

— You meet the requirements of your state’s Home and Community-Based Services waiver or personal care services benefit within your Medicaid plan. For a quick way to see waivers and benefits available in your state, visit .

There are various forms of home-based Medicaid programs, Farr says.

“However, they tend to be either limited (requiring ) or subject to availability restrictions. All require a lengthy and complex application process,” he explains. “Thus, middle-class families find themselves with little alternative but to purchase private home care services until they exhaust their means. Families earning mid-range incomes (and tending to accumulate middle-class wealth) are particularly at-risk because they can afford to pay for care for only so long — until they have lost a large amount of their life savings — but cannot pay for it long enough to resolve the problem.”

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Combined, these two assets represent about 70% of total global crypto market capitalization. Bitcoin leads by a wide margin with a market value of $1.6 trillion. Ethereum is a distant second at roughly $290 billion.

[]

Although new challengers could emerge in the future, Bitcoin and Ethereum remain the most obvious options for investors today. However, before deciding which crypto is a better fit for your portfolio, it’s important to understand how they differ. Bitcoin and Ethereum each serve a unique purpose and play a distinct role within the broader .

— What is Bitcoin?

— What is Ethereum?

— What are the differences between Bitcoin and Ethereum?

— Bitcoin and Ethereum performance.

— How to invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum.

What Is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin was the . It is a blockchain-based, decentralized digital currency powered by a network of users that allows financial transactions without relying on a central authority or intermediary.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies serve as alternatives to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, which are issued by governments and supported by central banks. Instead of relying on centralized institutions, Bitcoin uses cryptography to secure its network. Transactions are verified through a , where participants compete to solve complex mathematical problems using powerful computers. This system is known as proof of work (PoW), and it ensures network integrity. All transactions are recorded on a public ledger that is designed to be highly resistant to alteration or tampering.

If a Bitcoin miner successfully adds a block of verified transactions to the blockchain, they will receive a reward of newly minted Bitcoins. That reward is currently 3.125 BTC per block, but the reward is every time 210,000 blocks are added to the blockchain. Unlike fiat currencies, Bitcoin has a hard cap of 21 million BTC that cannot be exceeded. This cap limits Bitcoin supply and prevents inflation, characteristics that Bitcoin investors believe will make the crypto an effective store of value in the long term.

What Is Ethereum?

Ethereum is a blockchain-based platform designed to support smart contracts and secure digital transactions. Its native cryptocurrency is Ether.

Smart contracts are programs that execute automatically when predefined conditions are met, enabling decentralized applications, or dApps, to function seamlessly.

The Ethereum network hosts a wide range of dApps for gaming, social networking, decentralized finance (DeFi) and other purposes. A large share of nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are also built on Ethereum.

The Ethereum network is decentralized and operates on a network of thousands of computers around the world. In 2022, the Ethereum network transitioned from an energy-intensive PoW verification system to a , or PoS, model. Instead of validators competing to solve mathematical puzzles, Ethereum’s PoS system selects validators via an algorithm. To qualify as a potential validator, traders must “stake” some of their cryptocurrency as collateral. The more crypto they stake, the higher the likelihood they will be chosen to validate a block and receive a reward.

Ether does not have a fixed supply cap, but its issuance is moderated via a mechanism called “burning.” Every time a transaction occurs on the Ethereum network, users pay a “gas fee.” A portion of this fee is permanently removed from circulation, effectively reducing the total supply of ETH. This process has periodically made Ethereum deflationary, destroying more ETH than was being issued at the time. However, the Dencun upgrade in March 2024 lowered transaction fees and reduced the burn rate, and Ethereum has tended to be slightly inflationary in recent periods.

What Are the Differences Between Bitcoin and Ethereum?

Both Bitcoin and Ethereum are popular cryptocurrencies that operate on decentralized blockchain networks, but beyond that there are not as many similarities between the two investments as it may seem. Here are some of the many differences between Bitcoin and Ethereum:

— Bitcoin’s network operates on a PoW verification system, while Ethereum uses a less energy-intensive PoS consensus verification system.

— Bitcoin’s primary purpose is to be a digital currency, a store of value and an alternative payment system to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar. Ethereum’s primary purpose is to serve as a platform to run smart contracts and other dApps, and ETH is simply the native cryptocurrency used to facilitate transactions.

— Bitcoin has a finite supply capped at 21 million, while Ethereum has a theoretically infinite supply. Ethereum has actually been deflationary at times, but its supply has increased since fees were significantly reduced in March 2024.

— Bitcoin’s future price will likely hinge on its adoption as a global currency and its appeal as an inflation hedge and store of value. Ethereum’s price outlook is more closely tied to the growth of its network, particularly the popularity of decentralized applications and smart contract usage.

— Ethereum’s average transaction fee is currently 46 cents compared to an average fee of 36 cents per transaction for Bitcoin.

[See: ]

Bitcoin and Ethereum Performance

Both Bitcoin and Ethereum have been exceptional long-term investments, but both are prone to extreme price volatility. Buying either crypto requires a high risk tolerance.

Looking at past performance, it’s difficult to choose a winner between Bitcoin and Ethereum because their relative returns fluctuate depending on the time frame. In the past year, Ethereum prices are up 47% compared to a 13% decline for Bitcoin. In a three-year time frame, Bitcoin prices are up 180%, while Ethereum prices are up just 26%. If you look back over the past five years, Bitcoin prices have risen about 42%, while Ethereum prices are down about 2%.

Bitcoin has been the better long-term investment over the past five years, but that trend has reversed in the past year. The reason for the recent underperformance is unclear, but some experts have pointed to a slowdown in Bitcoin user network growth and a decline in BTC volumes as contributing factors. Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future results, and it’s extremely difficult for even professional analysts to accurately predict crypto market movements.

How to Invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum

Investors can buy Bitcoin and Ethereum directly on popular , such as Coinbase, Gemini and eToro. They can also buy both cryptocurrencies via a brokerage account with Robinhood, Interactive Brokers or other platforms that support crypto trading. They can even buy Bitcoin or Ethereum in their PayPal or Venmo accounts.

Both Bitcoin and Ethereum have futures contracts that trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. While futures trading is somewhat advanced for the average investor, there are several that hold futures contracts. The ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (ticker: ) and the Valkyrie Bitcoin and Ether Strategy ETF () are two examples of crypto futures ETFs.

Bitcoin investors can also buy that hold the cryptocurrency itself rather than futures contracts, including the following:

— ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF ()

— Bitwise Bitcoin ETF ()

— Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund ()

— Franklin Bitcoin ETF ()

— Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF ()

— Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF ()

— Hashdex Bitcoin ETF ()

— Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF ()

— iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF ()

— Coinshares Bitcoin ETF ()

— VanEck Bitcoin Trust ()

— WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund ()

In 2024, the SEC also approved spot Ethereum ETFs. U.S. investors now have easy access to the following funds:

— iShares Ethereum Trust ETF ()

— Fidelity Ethereum Fund ()

— Bitwise Ethereum ETF ()

— VanEck Ethereum ETF ()

— Franklin Ethereum ETF ()

— Invesco Galaxy Ethereum ETF ()

— 21Shares Ethereum ETF ()

— Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF ()

— Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF ()

Bottom Line

Bitcoin and Ethereum are similar at first glance, but the Bitcoin investment thesis and the Ethereum investment thesis are actually somewhat different. Bitcoin’s biggest challenge in the future may be scalability given its energy-intensive PoW consensus mechanism. Ethereum’s biggest challenge may be fending off competition from so-called “Ethereum killer” blockchains that often have faster transaction speeds and lower gas fees, such as Solana (SOL) and Avalanche (AVAX).

It’s difficult to say if Bitcoin or Ethereum will be the better long-term investment moving forward. However, if the cryptocurrency market resumes its long-term rally in 2026 and beyond, investors will be happy owning either one.

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It sounds straightforward, but exactly when and how you withdraw that money can make a big difference in the amount you pay in taxes and fees.

Here are seven things you should know before pulling money from your traditional IRA:

— You could pay a penalty if you withdraw money too early.

— You could miss a window for tax savings if you withdraw too late.

— You are required to make minimum withdrawals from traditional IRAs once you reach age 73.

— You can reduce taxes by sending required minimum distributions to a charity.

— Your IRA withdrawals could affect your Medicare premiums.

— Your income from an IRA could result in more of your Social Security being taxed.

— You may be able to avoid an early withdrawal penalty in certain circumstances.

You Could Pay a Penalty if You Withdraw Money Too Early

The trade-off for the on traditional IRA contributions is a restriction on when you can take from the account.

“You generally can take money from an IRA at any time,” says Katherine Tierney, senior retirement strategist with Edward Jones in St. Louis, Missouri. However, you will pay a price if you do so too early.

To discourage people from tapping into their accounts before retirement, the government imposes a 10% tax penalty on money withdrawn before age 59 1/2. The early withdrawal penalty is on top of income taxes that need to be paid. For someone in the , that could mean nearly a quarter of the amount withdrawn will be eaten up by taxes and the penalty.

You Could Miss a Window for Tax Savings if You Withdraw Too Late

While you don’t want to pull money from your IRA too early, waiting too long to start disbursements can also be a mistake.

“Everything that comes out is 100% taxable,” says Cary Carbonaro, a senior vice president and director of the Women and Wealth division at financial firm ACM Wealth.

That means you ideally want to withdraw your money in low-income years when you’ll be in a lower tax bracket. For many people, the first years of retirement mean a drop in income and are a prime time to withdraw funds or convert money from a . You will pay taxes on the money you convert, but a will allow the fund to continue growing tax-free.

“It’s nice to have some of your money in Roth (accounts) as a planning strategy,” says Joelle Spear, financial advisor and partner with Canby Financial Advisors in Framingham, Massachusetts.

She suggests ages 55 to 65 as the sweet spot for conversions. That’s when children may be grown and out of the house, and taxpayers may have additional funds to cover any taxes due on the converted amount.

Another reason to withdraw money from an IRA earlier rather than later is to . You get an 8% increase in benefits for every year you wait to claim from your full retirement age until age 70. By withdrawing money from an IRA before age 70, you could delay the start of Social Security and maximize those benefits.

Minimum Withdrawals From Traditional IRAs Required at 73

Regardless of whether you withdrew money from your IRA earlier, everyone with a traditional IRA must begin taking , or RMDs, at age 73. Money in a traditional IRA hasn’t been taxed yet, and by requiring RMDs, the government ensures that this cash is not tax-deferred indefinitely.

“For the longest time, the rule was 70 1/2 when you had to take money out of an IRA,” Carbonaro says.

That age was increased to 72 with the passage of the SECURE Act at the end of 2019. Then, the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 bumped the required minimum distribution age to 73. It will continue to increase until it reaches 75 in 2033. Failure to take these annual distributions results in a tax penalty equal to 25% of the required distribution amount.

The RMD is another reason why it makes sense to convert or withdraw money from a traditional IRA during a low-income period early in retirement. The more money converted or withdrawn prior to age 73, the lower RMDs will be later in life. That lower RMD could then translate to reduced taxes. However, be aware that money converted to a Roth account cannot be considered an RMD.

[READ: ]

You Can Reduce Taxes by Sending RMDs to a Charity

Thanks to government rules regarding RMDs, “You really can’t avoid withdrawals forever,” Tierney says. But you may be able to avoid paying taxes on that money if you are charitably inclined.

Those who are at least 70 1/2 can make — known as QCDs — from their IRA instead of taking an RMD. Up to $100,000 can be withdrawn in this way, and money must be sent directly from an IRA to a qualified charity to be eligible for tax exemption.

“The benefit of a QCD is that it satisfies your RMD requirement, and it can help reduce your tax bill,” Tierney explains.

IRA Withdrawals Could Affect Your Medicare Premiums

In addition to taxes, the RMD and other IRA withdrawals can affect Medicare payments. While the for 2024 is $174.70 a month, those with higher incomes could pay significantly more.

In 2024, people who have modified adjusted gross incomes greater than $103,000 start paying additional premiums for Medicare Part B and prescription drug coverage. Married couples filing jointly with modified adjusted gross incomes of $206,000 or more will also have additional premiums. The government goes back two years when determining your income level. For example, in 2024, data from tax year 2022 is used for calculating Medicare premium payments.

These higher premiums start at $244.60 per month and go to as much as $594 a month for single taxpayers with incomes of $500,000 or more.

Income From an IRA Could Result in More of Your Social Security Being Taxed

IRA withdrawals could increase how much of your are taxable as well.

“Every $100 you take from an IRA is like you earned $100,” Spear says.

The Social Security Administration uses a figure known as combined income to determine if and how Social Security benefits are taxable. This number is calculated by adding together a person’s adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest and half their Social Security benefits.

Once a single taxpayer’s combined income exceeds $25,000, up to 50% of their Social Security benefits could be taxed. At incomes of $34,000 or more, single taxpayers could see income tax on up to 85% of their benefits. For married couples filing jointly, these thresholds are $32,000 and $44,000, respectively.

[READ: ]

You May Be Able to Avoid an Early Withdrawal Penalty

Although money in a traditional IRA is meant to be preserved for retirement, the government does allow workers to tap into the fund without penalty for certain purposes.

“The big one is for first-time homebuyers,” Spear says. Up to $10,000 can be withdrawn penalty-free for a qualified first-time home purchase.

Other exceptions include the following:

— A disability leaving you unable to work indefinitely

— Terminal illness

— Medical expenses

— Tax payments

— Higher education expenses

— Health insurance during periods of unemployment

— Qualified birth and adoption expenses up to $5,000

“None of them allow you to avoid taxation,” Tierney notes. You will still pay income tax on the money, but a qualified early withdrawal will allow you to skip the 10% penalty.

Another option for avoiding the early withdrawal penalty is to take substantially equal periodic payments as allowed under IRS rule 72(t). That’s a route taken by one of Carbonaro’s clients.

“However, once you set it, you cannot change it until you’re 59 1/2 or five years, whichever is longer,” she says.

Since modifying a payment plan after its start can result in retroactive penalties, it is best to attempt 72(t) distributions only under the guidance of a finance professional.

The decision to raid a retirement fund should not be taken lightly. A understand if you’re eligible to withdraw money without penalty and, if so, how that may affect your ability to retire comfortably in the years ahead.

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La mujer de 28 a帽os, cuya identidad y nacionalidad no se han revelado p煤blicamente, se subi贸 a la Fuente de Neptuno en la Piazza della Signoria el s谩bado, inform贸 el Ayuntamiento de Florencia en un comunicado esta semana.

La Fuente de Neptuno fue encargada en 1559 por Cosimo I de Medici, duque de Florencia, para conmemorar la boda de su hijo Francesco y la gran duquesa Juana de Austria.

La fuente presenta una estatua del dios romano del mar, Neptuno, sobre una carroza con forma de concha tirada por caballos.

La mujer fue inmediatamente detectada por la Polic铆a, que le orden贸 que bajara de la fuente, seg煤n informaron las autoridades en un comunicado el martes.

La mujer declar贸 a los agentes que hab铆a entrado en la fuente trepando por encima de una barandilla y el borde del estanque, y luego sobre las patas de la figura de un caballo para evitar caer al agua.

鈥淪u intenci贸n era 鈥榯ocar鈥� las partes 铆ntimas de la estatua como una especie de reto preboda鈥�, reza el comunicado.

Los investigadores descubrieron posteriormente que la mujer hab铆a causado 鈥渄a帽os peque帽os pero significativos鈥� a las patas de los caballos sobre los que hab铆a caminado, as铆 como 鈥渁 un friso al que se hab铆a agarrado para no resbalar鈥�, cuya reparaci贸n costar谩 5.000 euros (US$ 5.845), seg煤n el comunicado.

鈥淟a joven fue denunciada ante la Autoridad Judicial por vandalismo contra un bien art铆stico y arquitect贸nico鈥�, a帽ade el comunicado.

Las autoridades a帽adieron que la mujer 鈥渟er谩 considerada inocente hasta que la Autoridad Judicial dicte sentencia definitiva鈥�.

Esta no es la primera vez que turistas con mal comportamiento se ven relacionados con da帽os a la fuente.

tras subirse a ella mientras dos amigos le tomaban fotos.

La estatua ya hab铆a sufrido da帽os en 2005, cuando alguien se subi贸 a ella y le rompi贸 la mano a Neptuno. Esto llev贸 a las autoridades a instalar c谩maras de seguridad.

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Per a preliminary vote count on Thursday, the overwhelming majority of Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted in support of selling the entire business to Paramount for $31 a share, the company said. Including debt, the deal is valued at nearly $111 billion.

Paramount wants to buy all of Warner. That means HBO Max, cult-favorite titles like 鈥淗arry Potter鈥� and could soon find themselves under the same roof with CBS, 鈥淭op Gun鈥� and the Paramount+ streaming service. A greenlight from company shareholders increases the likelihood of that becoming a reality.

But it’s not a done deal quite yet. The acquisition still faces ongoing . Warner has said it expects to close sometime in the third fiscal quarter.

Meanwhile, Warner shareholders rejected a separate measure Thursday that outlined post-merger payments for company executives.

Paramount鈥檚 quest for Warner has been far from smooth sailing. And while Warner’s board now endorses the Paramount merger, it wasn鈥檛 always eager to enter this particular marriage.

Late last year, Warner rebuffed Paramount鈥檚 overtures to instead strike a with Netflix. Paramount, meanwhile, went directly to shareholders with to take over the whole company, including the cable business that Netflix did not want.

All three companies spent months fighting publicly over who had the better offer on the table. Warner鈥檚 board Netflix鈥檚 bid. But eventually, Paramount offered and Netflix of the race rather than prolonging the fight.

That corporate drama may now be over, but the implications remain. Thousands of actors, directors, writers and other industry professionals have voiced 鈥渦nequivocal opposition鈥� to the deal, arguing that further consolidation will lead to job losses and fewer choices for filmmakers and movie goers.

Jane Fonda鈥檚 Committee for the First Amendment called Warner shareholders’ vote to advance the merger a 鈥渟erious setback鈥� on Thursday 鈥� but maintained the 鈥渇ight is far from over.鈥� In a statement, the advocacy group pointed to past efforts to challenge consolidation and maintained 鈥渁 handful of powerful decision-makers should not be allowed to quietly reshape American media, culture, and creative life without accountability.鈥�

Some lawmakers have also sounded the alarm. In a 鈥渟potlight鈥� hearing on the merger held in Washington last week, Democratic Sen. Cory Booker said that 鈥渘ot just a corporate deal鈥� was at stake 鈥� 鈥渂ut who controls news, who controls entertainment, who controls storytelling.鈥�

The merger would bring together two of Hollywood鈥檚 remaining five legacy studios. It would also join two major streaming platforms 鈥� Paramount+ and HBO Max 鈥� and two big names in America’s TV news landscape 鈥� CBS and 鈥� as well as a heap of other brands and entertainment networks.

Company executives argue this will be good news for consumers, who they say will have access to bigger content libraries, particularly if HBO Max and Paramount+ become one streaming service. And Paramount CEO David Ellison has with a 45-day theatrical window guarantee and goal to release 30 movies a year between Paramount and Warner, which he’s said will remain under a combined company.

鈥淚 love cinema and I love film,鈥� Ellison said last week. “You can count on our complete commitment.鈥�

But the new owner will also be looking to cut costs. Regulatory filings have already indicated that would include layoffs and downsizing some overlapping operations. And critics are skeptical about consumer benefits 鈥� warning of higher prices that could arise when it comes to streaming, and potentially less diversity in content down the road.

Then there鈥檚 the news. Since less than a year ago, Paramount-owned CBS has already seen significant editorial shifts, notably with the installation of Free Press founder Bari Weiss as . If the Warner takeover goes through, many are expecting , which has long .

Other questions of political influence have piled up. The Justice Department and company leadership have maintained politics will not play a role in the regulatory process 鈥� but Trump himself has Warner鈥檚 future at times, despite backpedaling on what he once suggested his personal role would be. Trump also has a close relationship with the Ellison family, particularly billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who is putting to back the bid for his son鈥檚 company.

Meanwhile, Paramount has secured money from several sovereign investment funds 鈥� including Saudi Arabia鈥檚 Public Investment Fund, as well as funds from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, per . But such investors will not have voting rights in a future Paramount-Warner combo, the filings noted. Paramount has not publicly specified how much they鈥檙e contributing.

Other countries, including European regulators, are looking the deal 鈥� and states could try to challenge it, too. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has been particularly vocal about the transaction, and said his state is investigating it.

Shares of Paramount slid more than 4% on the results of the vote Thursday, and Warner Bros. slipped as well.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) 鈥� President Donald Trump said Thursday he has ordered the U.S. military to 鈥渟hoot and kill鈥� small Iranian boats that deploy mines to choke traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump鈥檚 post on social media came shortly after the U.S. military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratcheting up a standoff with Tehran over the strait through which 20% of all crude oil and natural gas traded passes.

鈥淚 have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be…that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,鈥� Trump posted. 鈥淭here is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine 鈥榮weepers鈥� are clearing the Strait right now.鈥�

鈥淚 am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!鈥� Trump added.

He also said the military is intensifying mine clearing operations in the critical waterway.

The move comes a day after Iran鈥檚 paramilitary Revolutionary Guards attacked three cargo ships in the strait, capturing two of them.

The Defense Department released video footage earlier on Thursday of U.S. forces on the deck of the Guinea-flagged oil tanker Majestic X, which was seized in the Indian Ocean.

鈥淲e will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,鈥� a Pentagon statement said.

Trump claims leadership rift in Iran

Ship-tracking data showed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, roughly the same location as the oil tanker Tifani, earlier seized by American forces. It had been bound for Zhoushan, China.

The vessel previously had been named Phonix and had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in contravention of U.S. sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

There was no immediate response from Iran on the news of the seizure.

Trump this week to give the battered Iranian leadership more time to come with a 鈥渦nified proposal鈥� on ending the war, while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports.

There was no immediate sign whether peace talks, previously hosted by Pakistan, would resume anytime soon.

Trump, in a separate post on Thursday, claimed a leadership rift between moderates and hardliners was confounding Iran.

鈥淚ran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don鈥檛 know!鈥� Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly said over the course of the ceasefire that began on April 8 that his team is dealing with Iranian officials who want to make a deal, while acknowledging his decision to kill several top leaders has come with some complications.

Fragile ceasefire

Elsewhere on the diplomatic track, Lebanon and Israel were set to to discuss the possibility of extending between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.

The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah started two days after Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on Iran, after the Tehran-backed militants fired rockets into northern Israel.

In a new show of fragility of the ceasefire that went into effect Friday in Lebanon, Hezbollah says it attacked Israeli positions in southern Lebanon, targeting Israeli soldiers in the village of Taybeh.

Both sides have accused the other of breaching the 10-day ceasefire.

The standoff between the U.S. and Iran has choked off nearly all exports with no end in sight.

On Thursday, Iran鈥檚 exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was as he left a building after a news conference in Berlin. The alleged perpetrator was immediately detained by police.

During the event, Pahlavi criticized the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, arguing that the agreement assumes the Iranian government鈥檚 behavior will change and 鈥測ou鈥檙e going to deal with people who all of a sudden have become pragmatists.鈥�

Pahlavi, 65, has been in . His father, Iran鈥檚 shah, was so widely hated that millions took to the streets in 1979, forcing him from power. Nevertheless, Pahlavi is trying to position himself as a player in his country鈥檚 future.

Threat to Strait of Hormuz shipping

Since the Feb. 28 start of the war between Iran, Israel and the United States, over 30 ships have come under attack in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

The threat of attack, rising insurance premiums and other fears have stopped traffic from moving through the strait. Iran鈥檚 ability to through the strait, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, has proved a major strategic advantage.

The ceasefire has been strained by dueling U.S. attacks on Iranian ships and those by Iran on commercial vessels. It also remains unclear when, or if, the two sides will meet again in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, where officials say they are still trying to bring the countries together to reach a diplomatic deal.

The conflict already has sent far beyond the region and raised the cost of food and . Officials around the world have warned the impact to businesses, consumers and economies could be long-lasting.

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Madhani reported from Washington and Keaten reported from Geneva.

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The designs for the 134-former golf course, which closed in 2019, with the land being purchased by the county, will include three miles of trails and two pavilions, a restroom, as well as parking areas.

After the board’s finance committee was briefed on the project last month, nearby residents raised concerns about noise from the disc golf course.

During the public comment portion of Wednesday’s meeting, resident Karen Pantas repeatedly demonstrated the sound generated by a plastic disc hitting the basket chains that serve as a hole on a disc golf course.

“I bought a chain basket to see if my worries about noise were overblown,” said Pantas, striking the chains with the disc. “This is worse than I imagined.”

Pantas and other neighbors said Loudoun County has other disc golf courses in other parts of the county, but the proposed course would be located in a quiet, residential area.

“It is surrounded by people’s homes, their lives, their peace,” said Pantas. “I don’t want to have to live with this,” she said, as the chain basket jangled from being struck with the disc.

“This is an activity that is inherently noisy, shatters the quiet that wakes children from their naps, that frightens anxious dogs,” Pantas said. “It will be the ghost of Scrooge on every windy day.”

Leesburg District Supervisor Kristen Umstattd said new changes to the plans will help mitigate the noise, including ensuring that no basket is within 100 feet of a home, and that additional plant buffers will be built to muffle the sound.

Board Chair Phyllis Randall empathized with the neighbors, saying that in considering projects, “Sometimes my final decision is ‘would I want this at my house?’ And the answer is no.”

Despite enthusiasm for the park from board members and developers, “They don’t live there,” said Randall. “I don’t think we had one person living there that said yes.”

Still, Randall added a friendly amendment to the proposal, saying she would support Umstattd’s improvements: “Let’s see if we can get quieter baskets.”

Randall and other supervisors voted 8-0 to approve the project, including the disc golf course.

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The Gettysburg, Pennsylvania-based bank said it had earnings of $1.32 per share.

The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.26 per share.

The bank posted revenue of $50.5 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $40.8 million, also surpassing Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $40.1 million.

ACNB shares have increased roughly 3% since the beginning of the year. The stock has risen 20% in the last 12 months.

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Beef was lower and pork was lower on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Apr. live cattle was down 0.88 cent at $2.46 a pound. Apr. feeder cattle fell by 0.78 cent at $3.66 a pound. May. hogs fell by 0.05 cent at $.95 a pound.

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On a per-share basis, the Midvale, Utah-based company said it had profit of 82 cents.

The medical device maker posted revenue of $8.7 million in the period.

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On a per-share basis, the North Liberty, Iowa-based company said it had a loss of 6 cents.

The trucking and logistics company posted revenue of $176.3 million in the period.

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The New York-based company said it had profit of 2 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and non-recurring costs, came to 22 cents per share.

The results met Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of 22 cents per share.

The commercial real estate mortgage origination and finance company posted revenue of $103.1 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $51.9 million.

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The Asheville, North Carolina-based bank said it had earnings of 99 cents per share.

The holding company for HomeTrust Bank posted revenue of $71.5 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $54.3 million, which beat Street forecasts.

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On a per-share basis, the Fairfield, New Jersey-based company said it had net income of 16 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to 15 cents per share.

The bank holding company posted revenue of $85.3 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $45.3 million.

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