Azose Johnson & Associates

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day! 🛠️
Today, we take a moment to recognize and appreciate the hard work of individuals across the nation.

Whether you're relaxing at home or enjoying a well-deserved day off, I hope you're able to recharge and enjoy this special day.

To the builders, creators, and doers: Happy Labor Day!

09/01/2026

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men, and also one of the most treatable when it's caught early.

This September, during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we're encouraging the men in our lives, and ourselves, to make time for the conversations and checkups that matter.

A quick conversation with your doctor could make all the difference. Here's to catching it early.

08/30/2026

For decades, the focus was on accumulating. Saving, building, preparing. Retirement flips that dynamic.

Suddenly, the goal is to draw on what you’ve built, coordinate multiple income sources, and balance today’s spending with what’s ahead. Life expectancy data suggests many retirees may spend 20 or more years in this next chapter.

That’s not a footnote. It’s the whole story.

The early years of retirement are worth being intentional about. The routines you establish, the way you approach your time and your finances, tend to set the tone for what follows.

That’s something worth talking about.

Source
OECD Life Expectancy at Age 65, 2026

08/29/2026

One of the biggest changes in retirement isn’t financial. It’s social. Work provides structure, sure. But it also provides community. Colleagues, shared goals, and a reason to be somewhere at a specific time.

When that falls away, many retirees find themselves rebuilding their social lives from the ground up. Community groups, volunteer organizations, and new social circles often fill the gaps, but it takes time.

Research shows that more than one-quarter of adults age 65 and older volunteer each year. That’s not a coincidence. For many people, contributing to something larger is part of what makes retirement feel meaningful. If you’re navigating this transition, you’re not alone.

Source
AARP, May 28, 2025

08/28/2026

The first year of retirement brings a shift that’s bigger than most people expect. Your schedule opens up.

Your income sources change.

The rhythms you’ve built over decades are replaced by something new and unwritten.

For many retirees, that first year is less a finish line and more a starting point. It’s a chance to experiment with routines, revisit long-postponed interests, and figure out what this next chapter actually looks like for you.

This week, we’re breaking down what that transition often looks like in real terms. Follow along for the full picture.

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

Protecting your future is easy. Rethink life insurance today. Contact me to find out more.

08/24/2026

A new study suggests a blood test may someday help identify healthy older adults who are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s symptoms years in advance.

The test measures p-tau217, a form of tau connected to Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain.

Researchers found that symptom-free older adults with very high levels of p-tau217 had a 38% risk of developing cognitive impairment within five years. That risk rose to 78% over 10 years, though researchers noted there is less confidence in the 10-year estimate.

For now, scientists say the test may be most useful for research, including identifying people who could participate in studies of possible Alzheimer’s treatments or prevention strategies.

They also caution that the test is not yet precise enough to guide an individualized prognosis for healthy people.

The broader takeaway: medical advances can create promising new tools, but timing, accuracy, and clinical usefulness matter. For now, researchers still emphasize familiar brain-health habits, including eating well, sleeping well, exercising, and staying socially engaged.


Source:

A blood test that helps diagnose Alzheimer's might also forecast if healthy older adults will develop symptoms.

08/23/2026

A record number of U.S. adults under 35 are living with their parents, according to a recent Realtor.com study.

In 2025, 25.2 million adults under 35 lived at home, a higher share than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many are working, but wages are not always keeping up with the cost of living. Among adults ages 25 to 34 who live at home, roughly 7 in 10 have jobs.

Housing affordability is a major factor. Higher home prices, elevated mortgage rates, rent, student loan payments, car payments, and everyday expenses can make living independently harder to sustain.

For some families, moving back home may be a way to reduce expenses, rebuild savings, or create more breathing room before taking the next step.

The broader takeaway is that financial independence does not always follow a straight timeline. Cost-of-living pressures are reshaping what adulthood, housing, and household decisions look like for many families.


Source:

One woman in her mid-30s said her $60,000 annual income wasn't enough to cover all her bills after a breakup, leading her to move back home.

08/22/2026

Some hospitals and medical providers are asking patients to pay more before receiving non-emergency care.

The trend comes as deductibles, coinsurance, and other out-of-pocket costs continue to rise.

Traditionally, many patients received bills after treatment. Now, some providers are collecting preservice deposits based on their estimate of what a patient may owe.

A KFF Health News report noted that the average deductible for employer-sponsored family coverage is $3,762 per person. The average deductible for Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage rose 37% this year to $3,786.

For patients, upfront payment requests can create confusion, especially when insurance networks, deductibles, and estimated costs are unclear.

Emergency care has different rules. Hospitals that accept Medicare funding cannot demand upfront payment before stabilizing a patient who arrives at an emergency room.

For non-emergency care, it may be worth asking for an itemized estimate, confirming network status, and checking with the insurance company before making a large payment.


Source:

Hospitals and other medical providers are increasingly asking for payment before providing care, collecting more of what patients might owe.