Money

Retirement is often painted as a tranquil existence of endless vacations, golf and relaxation. Yet that picture is far from the reality for most people.

AARP Vermont is urging legislators to take action in 2018 to reduce state income taxes on Social Security benefits.

In case you haven’t noticed, the holiday season arrived early this year (right after Labor Day) and once again the Grinch in the form of a con-artist is working hard to ruin your celebrations. In this two-part series, we’ll look at a number of ways criminals are working to separate you from your money.

More than 100,000 Vermonters whose employers do not offer a retirement plan will be able to save for their future under the Green Mountain Secure Retirement Plan, which will start operating by January 2019.

GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR BUSINESS

From Vermont Business Magazine - 5/19/17:

As we head into the busy holiday season, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. But, fraudsters see the season of giving as a season for scams.

Utility regulation in Vermont can be a very complicated process and one that most citizens do not fully understand. AARP Vermont is working hard to shed light on some of the problems with the current approach to regulating electric and natural gas utility companies -- especially as it relates to the rates you pay. A new, independent report just released by AARP Vermont (attached below) shows how Vermont Gas Systems (VGS) has been operating under what is known as an alternative regulation plan created about 10 years ago. While the goal of this form of ratemaking regulation was to best serve Vermont consumers and ratepayers, the actual experience over the past decade has been just the opposite!

The CommYOUnity Tech Talk is a free event co-hosted by AARP Vermont, Small Dog Electronics, and Technology for Tomorrow that will provide community members with free tech training.

“Everything is OK.” That seems to be the conclusion of the recent report and testimony by the Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS) in responding to a legislative order to study whether its advocacy unit is best representing ratepayers. Unfortunately, everything is not OK, and both their report and public comments, while defending the status quo, actually prove how they are failing at that mission. It shows that the DPS does not serve, in any fashion, as a ratepayer advocate. In fact, it sees its mission as being focused on promoting the “public good” rather than “ratepayer interests,” particularly residential and small commercial customer interests. When our public advocate backs the utility companies time after time, something is clearly wrong