Advice Library

Clear guidance for the decisions that shape aging well.

A curated reading room for healthspan, medication safety, retirement healthcare costs, and the financial choices that support independence.

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For readers planning ahead

  • HealthspanPrevention, mobility, cognition, and day-to-day function.
  • Medication safetySide effects, burden, and better questions for care visits.
  • WealthspanRetirement readiness, healthcare costs, and financial resilience.

Easy-access infographic

Start with the Longevity Ladder.

See how prevention, exercise, recovery, adaptation, and connection work together to support healthspan, then open the readings connected to each rung.

Explore the Longevity Ladder
  1. 1Know your baseline
  2. 2Prevention
  3. 3Move & exercise
  4. 4Sleep, nutrition & recovery
  5. 5Adapt to change
  6. 6Connection & purpose

Easy-access infographic

See the full Wealthspan Wheel.

Connect day-to-day cash flow with resilience, protection, retirement income, health care, and legacy, then open the readings related to each segment.

Explore the Wealthspan Wheel

Start with what matters now

Choose a practical lens.

Medication safety Review medicines with independence in mind. Healthcare costs Plan for the expenses that can change retirement. Healthspan check-in See where daily habits and planning may need attention. Personal planning Bring the questions into a focused conversation.
Infographic showing that global life expectancy increased faster than healthy life expectancy from 1990 to 2023, widening the average years lived in poor health.

Featured reading

The Healthspan Gap Is Getting Wider. Here Is What That Should Change.

July 27, 2026 / Matters Most + Multicomplexity

A July 2026 Lancet Public Health analysis found that people are living longer but spending more years in poor health. Here is what the healthspan gap means and what to track.

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Latest articles

Recent Healthspan and Wealthspan essays.

Evidence-aware, practical articles written for adults and families making care, planning, and aging decisions.

Infographic explaining that retirement health-care costs should be planned in separate buckets: Medicare premiums, out-of-pocket care, prescription drugs, coverage tradeoffs, and long-term care.

Matters Most + Multicomplexity

July 23, 2026

The Retirement Health-Cost Is Not One Number

Recent Milliman, EBRI, Fidelity, KFF, and Schwab data show why retirement health care planning should separate premiums, out-of-pocket costs, prescription drugs, coverage tradeo...

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Editorial infographic titled "A New Cholesterol Pill and Your Healthspan," summarizing the FDA approval of oral enlicitide, its LDL-lowering trial results, the missing outcomes-data caveat, and a practical cholesterol check-in.

Medication

July 19, 2026

A New Cholesterol Pill Is a Healthspan Prevention Story

The FDA approved the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor for LDL cholesterol. Here is what the evidence shows, what remains unproven, and why it matters for healthy aging.

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Branded Medicine Check infographic titled "Financial Education Is a Wealthspan Tool," showing three steps: learn workplace benefit rules, turn knowledge into financial habits, and protect future flexibility before retirement.

Matters Most

July 16, 2026

Financial Education Is a Wealthspan Tool

New EBRI research links workplace financial education with stronger financial capability.

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Editorial infographic showing an older adult walking briskly, with sections linking walking speed to mobility, brain health, and independence.

Mobility + Mentation + Matters Most

July 12, 2026

Walking Speed Is a Healthspan Signal, Not Just a Fitness Stat

A new Neurology study links unusually fast walking speed in adults 80+ with better cognitive aging.

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Editorial infographic titled "Every Job Change Is a Wealthspan Checkpoint," showing four checkpoints for retirement-plan access, contribution rate and match, old account decisions, and health benefits, with The Medicine Check branding.

Matters Most

July 2, 2026

Every Job Change Is a Wealthspan Check-in

New EBRI research shows job changes can affect retirement-plan eligibility. Learn how to use career transitions as Wealthspan checkpoints for savings, benefits, and future flexi...

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Editorial infographic about diet quality and dementia risk, showing an older adult with whole foods and callouts for adults 60 and older, long follow-up, and association rather than proof of causation.

Mentation + Matters Most

June 28, 2026

A Brain-Healthy Diet May Still Matter After Risk Markers Appear

A new study links higher diet quality with lower dementia risk in older adults, including some with elevated Alzheimer-related blood biomarkers.

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Infographic for The Medicine Check showing the 2026 Social Security and Medicare Trustees report dates, the 83% payable-benefits figure, and a four-part Wealthspan review of income, health costs, savings, and regular planning.

Matters Most + Multicomplexity

June 25, 2026

Policy Risk Is a Wealthspan Checkup Signal

The 2026 Social Security and Medicare Trustees reports are a practical Wealthspan prompt. Review retirement income, health costs, savings levers, and flexibility without panic.

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Infographic explaining that a 21-year Diabetes Prevention Program follow-up linked intensive lifestyle intervention with lower long-term multimorbidity risk in adults with prediabetes.

Matters Most + Mobility

June 21, 2026

Lifestyle Is a Healthspan Lever

A new JAMA follow-up of adults with prediabetes found lower long-term multimorbidity risk after intensive lifestyle intervention. Here is what it means for healthspan.

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Square Medicine Check infographic titled "The 2026 Catch-Up Window Is a Planning Tool, Not a Race," showing three planning tiles for knowing contribution limits, checking cash flow, and protecting health-cost reserves.

Matters Most + Multicomplexity

June 18, 2026

The 2026 Catch-Up Contribution Window Is a Planning Tool, Not a Race

The 2026 catch-up contribution rules create more room for eligible savers, but they work best when paired with cash-flow and health-cost planning.

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Editorial infographic titled "Track the Capacities That Protect Independence," showing five healthspan domains around an older adult walking, with three annual-review reminders for preserving independence.

Mobility + Medication + Mentation + Matters Most

June 14, 2026

Measure What Keeps You Independent

A new Lancet Healthy Longevity study links intrinsic capacity with disability near the end of life. Here is what the evidence means for healthspan and what to track.

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Square infographic titled "Retirement Benchmarks Are a Dashboard, Not a Verdict," showing three dashboard tiles for savings rate, age benchmark, and health-cost cushion, with a calm Wealthspan planning message.

Multicomplexity + Matters Most

June 11, 2026

Retirement Savings Benchmarks Are a Dashboard, Not a Verdict

Fidelity's Q1 2026 retirement data offer a timely Wealthspan check-in on savings benchmarks, health costs, and long-term flexibility.

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Editorial infographic explaining that semaglutide shifted some DNA methylation aging markers in a small exploratory HIV-associated lipohypertrophy study, while emphasizing that markers are not the same as proven healthspan outcomes.

Medication + Matters Most

June 7, 2026

Semaglutide and Aging Markers: What the New Study Really Shows

A new study found that semaglutide changed several epigenetic aging markers in adults with HIV-associated lipohypertrophy.

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Infographic summarizing health-care affordability as a Wealthspan risk, with callouts from AARP and KFF on financial insecurity, retirement worry, Medicare affordability expectations, and health-care spending in Medicare households.

Multicomplexity + Matters Most

June 4, 2026

Health Costs Are Becoming a Wealthspan Risk

New AARP and KFF data show why health-care affordability belongs in retirement planning. Learn how Medicare costs, savings, and prevention connect to Wealthspan.

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Editorial infographic titled Blood Pressure Medication Tolerability, showing a blood pressure cuff, medication calendar, and walking figure with three takeaways about different side effects, not stopping medication alone, and discussing dose, timing, combinations, and monitoring.

Medication

May 31, 2026

Blood Pressure Medication Side Effects Are Not All the Same

Blood pressure medication side effects vary by drug class and regimen. A new JAMA analysis explains why tolerability, monitoring, and shared decisions matter for healthy aging.

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Editorial infographic for The Medicine Check summarizing a May 18, 2026 JAMA Neurology study showing that wearable sleep-wake and activity patterns modestly improved dementia risk prediction in older adults.

Advice

May 24, 2026

Your Wearable Might Catch Dementia Risk Clues Earlier Than You Think

A new May 18, 2026 JAMA Neurology study found that wearable sleep-wake and activity patterns modestly improved dementia risk prediction in older adults.

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The importance of an emergency fund

Matters Most

May 17, 2026

Emergency Funds: How Much Is Enough? Do You Always Need to Rebuild It Immediately?

How much should you keep in an emergency fund? A personal reflection on financial security, health crises, wealthspan, and when rebuilding savings may not need to happen immedia...

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Graphic showing the difference in expected returns based on starting saving and investing earlier (age 25 vs 35 vs 45).

Matters Most + Multicomplexity

May 10, 2026

How Much Should You Really Be Saving for Retirement?

How much should you save for retirement? Learn why starting early, saving consistently, and balancing wealthspan with healthspan matters.

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Pay yourself first infographic.

Advice

April 19, 2026

Pay Yourself First. But Don't Forget to Live

Learn how to "pay yourself first" while still enjoying life today. A personal story on balancing retirement savings with meaningful experiences.

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An infographic describing HSAs and the importance of financial preparation for medical costs.

Matters Most + Multicomplexity

April 12, 2026

The Financial Side of Illness Nobody Talks About

A physician's perspective on the financial impact of illness. Learn key health insurance terms, real-world costs, and how preparation can reduce stress during medical uncertainty.

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Infographic describing the challenges of the time between an initial diagnosis and recovery.

Matters Most

April 5, 2026

From Diagnosis to Recovery: What Surgery Teaches You About Healing

A physician's perspective on preparing for major surgery and recovery. Learn practical tips, emotional insights, and how to navigate the uncertainty between diagnosis and healing.

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Infographic describing the path my partner experienced from symptoms to diagnosis.

Matters Most

March 29, 2026

When Health Interrupts Life: Why The Medicine Check Went Quiet

When Health Interrupts Life: A Physician's Personal Experience with Ovarian Tumor Diagnosis

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