I’ll be doing a free 30-minute webinar on planning for retirement in the new economy on May 16th for National Seminars, the online training company. The webinar will feature key findings from The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security, and my ongoing work as a columnist for Reuters, Morningstar and WealthManagement.com.

I recently spoke with Lori McAlister of National Seminar about my work and The Hard Times Guide.

Great company indeed! The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security was named this week to Chris Farrell’s list of the top seven books for money and careers at NextAvenue.org. Other authors on the list include Peter L. Bernstein, Burton G. Malkiel and Marc Freedman.

Chris is economics editor for American Public Media’s Marketplace Money, radio program, and author
 of three books, including The New Frugality: How to Consume Less, Save More and Live Better. About the Hard Times Guide, Chris wrote:

I’m a fan of syndicated columnist Miller’s roll-up-the-sleeves approach to retirement planning. His book had breadth. It covers topics ranging from investing for retirement to understanding Social Security to the benefits of lifelong learning.

About a third of the Hard Times Guide deals with advice on working during the traditional retirement years. Since retirement could last 20 years or more, Miller writes, “working for even a few additional years can pay a surprisingly large bonus.”

Gotta admit, it’s a bit of a mutual admiration society; read what I had to say about The New Frugality here.

Premiums for many popular Medicare prescription drug plans will soar next year – but seniors don’t have to take the rate hikes lying down.

The annual plan enrollment period for Medicare Part D starts October 15 and runs through December 7, so seniors have time to shop around. Seven of the top 10 plans will have double-digit percentage increases next year. More than 80 percent of Part D beneficiaries are in these plans; that means 5.9 million will pay double-digit increases next year if they don’t switch. That’s a whopping 29 percent of all Part D enrollees.

The double-digit premium hikes are surprising because prescription drug costs have fallen sharply due to widespread expansion of generic medications – not to mention that many seniors had been expecting their costs to go down since healthcare reform closed the so-called donut hole gap in coverage.

Learn more at Reuters Money. More on how to shop for a Part D prescription drug plan at RetirementRevised.com.

I publish a free e-newsletter over at RetirementRevised.com, which delivers links to all my regular columns for Reuters, Morningstar and WealthManagement.com to your in box. The newsletter generally is published every other week, or as inspiration strikes.

Click here to learn more, sign up for free or view a sample edition.

Applications for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) have increased in recent years. What does this increase imply for the program overall, and particularly for its funding over the long term?

I moderated a panel discussion recently on the future of SSDI, sponsored by the National Academy of Social Insurance. The forum, held at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C. , was carried live by CSPAN; learn more here.

Join me for an online discussion of the key findings of The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security on October 25th.

This webinar is sponsored by the International Mature Marketing Network, which graciously is waiving its usual registration fee and is opening the event to all comers at no charge. Click here for registration info; or, visit this page to learn more about IMMN.

My first article for AARP Magazine is in the September-October issue.

Titled “It’s Time to Protect Social Security,” the story is a primer on how Social Security works, why there’s a long-term imbalance and how that can be fixed. If you don’t subscribe, read the online version here.

I talked with Forbes.com blogger Kerry Hannon recently about my concerns that Social Security could become the victim of deficit reduction efforts in Washington — and why the program doesn’t belong on the chopping block.

Read the interview here.

I spoke recently about The Hard Times Guide with journalist Jane Adler, who contributes to the Chicago Tribune on retirement and aging matters. The resulting Q&A interview covers the redefinition of the concept of retirement and retirement security, the importance of working longer, longevity risk and the special retirement challenges facing women.