When an individual purchases an annuity, they name one or more beneficiaries who will receive the benefits if something happens to them before the contract ends. This could be due to death, disability, or another event that would cause the individual to no longer need their income from the annuity.

The ultimate beneficiary of an annuity is the individual receiving the payments; however, there can also be additional beneficiaries. These can be named by the owner or automatically assigned through the contract. It’s essential to understand who these beneficiaries are and how they will be affected by the annuity payments to best plan for retirement income needs.

Primary Beneficiary: The...

In the Ghostbusters movies, the eponymous heroes blast ghosts and otherworldly beings with their proton packs, and the ghosts explode into a mess of slimy green ghost goo. This goo is called ectoplasm. I first encountered ectoplasm through Hi-C’s companion drink, Ecto Cooler, in elementary school whenever I brought my lunch. Ultimately, Ecto Cooler couldn’t hold a candle to the greatness of Kool-Aid Blasts and Capri Suns.

The late ’80s and early ‘90s were a wild time for brown-bagging it. Of course, my kids refer to anyone born before 2000 as people “born in the 1900s.”

On the theme of “words that end in ‘-asm,’” I’d like to discuss neoplasms. While...

The Indian Health Service announced $24 million in funding to 12 tribes and tribal organizations on Feb. 20 as part of a competitive Small Ambulatory Program to invest in the construction, expansion or modernization of small ambulatory health care facilities.

“The IHS Small Ambulatory Program supports our tribal partners by expanding access to culturally appropriate, quality health care in an environment that promotes patient safety,” IHS Director Roselyn Tso said. “Small ambulatory health care facilities are a critical part of the Indian health system because they meet the diverse health care needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives.”

The tribes that received funding are...

ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed the New Mexico Voting Rights Act (HB 4) on Feb. 21. The Democratic Party of New Mexico released the following statement about House Bill 4:

“Protecting our fundamental right to vote is one of our core tenets as Democrats, which is why the Democratic Party of New Mexico is thrilled that New Mexico House Democrats passed the New Mexico Voting Rights Act. Democracy can only be as effective as we allow it, which is why this multifaceted bill is a historic step forward for voting access and security throughout New Mexico. Democrats are minimizing the hurdles people must endure to make their voices heard, empowering more New...