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Online Scam Surge Hits 73% of Adults, President Trump Advances 401(k) Shift - and More
If you felt like the financial world threw a lot at you this week…you’re right. Online scammers upped their game, travel budgets kept stretching, healthcare costs ticked higher, and Social Security’s long-term math hasn’t magically fixed itself. Below, we connect the dots and give you a simple action plan for each headline.
By RetirementRedFlags.com
August 15th, 2025
Act on these updates now to guard against scams, rein in rising costs, and make smarter moves for a secure retirement.
1. Online scams have reached almost everyone
A new survey highlighted by the L.A. Times found about 73% of U.S. adults have experienced at least one online scam or attack, with 32% hit in just the last year. The latest tricks include bogus calendar invites, multi-factor authentication (MFA) “fatigue” prompts, and emails with malicious HTML attachments. Older adults aren’t the only targets—Gen Z through Gen X were actually more likely than 60+ adults to report losses in an earlier FTC review.
Action Steps:
✔ Remove auto-added calendar invites (Google/Outlook settings) so junk never lands on your calendar.
✔ Use code-based MFA (numbers in an app) instead of tap-to-approve push prompts.
✔ Never open unfamiliar .htm/.html attachments; go to the site directly instead.
✔ Turn on bank and credit alerts; consider freezes at the credit bureaus.
2. Are Boomers overspending on travel—or just buying comfort?
Kiplinger reports Boomers lead all generations in travel spending; 25% say they spend more than $6,000 per trip, versus 17% of millennials and 16% of Gen X. Millennials are far more likely to cap trips at $1,000 or less (32%)—a reminder that “value” often beats “luxury” in long retirement timelines. This means that longer, more comfortable, multi-generational trips add up fast—and can quietly stress a 20–30-year plan. Something to keep in mind...
Action Steps:
✔ Pre-price total trip cost per travel day (air, lodging, insurance, incidentals) and set a per-day cap.
✔ Use off-peak windows and loyalty points for big savings; book refundable options when possible.
✔ If you gift travel to kids/grandkids, set a clear budget upfront (housing you cover; extras they cover).
3. Healthcare costs: still climbing with age and by state
Another Kiplinger breakdown shows that average ACA Silver benchmark premiums climbed again in 2025, with costs hitting about $1,319 per month for a 60-year-old and $1,458 for those aged 64 and up. The national benchmark average now stands at $621—a roughly 7% year-over-year increase—but rates vary widely by state. For retirees, this means that health insurance premiums alone can rival a mortgage payment in some areas, even before factoring in co-pays, deductibles, and prescription costs.
And with adults aged 55 and older accounting for 56% of all U.S. health spending despite representing just 31% of the population, chronic conditions can quickly push total out-of-pocket expenses much higher.
Action Steps:
✔ If retiring pre-65, model ACA premiums and premium tax credits carefully; compare Silver vs. Gold after subsidies.
✔ At 65, optimize Medicare (Medigap vs. Advantage) based on your doctors, travel, and meds—don’t default.
✔ Build a healthcare “sinking fund” line item (premiums + average OOP) into your retirement budget.
4. Trump takes the next step toward putting alternatives in 401(k)s
On August 7th, former President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order directing federal agencies to create a path for private equity, crypto, and other alternative assets to be included in 401(k) investment options. This is no longer just a talking point—policy wheels are turning. If your plan adds these investments in the coming years, they’ll likely appear inside target-date or “diversified” funds you already hold.
Action Steps:
✔ Read the summary prospectus if a fund adds an alternative sleeve—focus on fees, redemption terms, and valuation methods.
5. Social Security: 2033 still looms
Investopedia recapped the latest worry: without changes, the trust fund is projected to be depleted by 2033, after which payroll taxes would cover about 77% of scheduled benefits. For many retirees, Social Security provides a large share of income. A benefit haircut is what current law implies if Congress does nothing. Planning with a reduced-benefit scenario is prudent.
Action Steps:
✔ Run your plan with –20% Social Security and verify you still meet spending needs.
✔ Consider delaying claiming (where health/longevity allow) to lock in higher checks.
✔ Strengthen non-SS income: in-plan Roth conversions, laddered CDs/Treasuries, dividends—balanced to your tax bracket and risk.
If you have any questions about the headlines that hit the news this week, we are answering questions in our free Facebook group The Retirement Red Flags Community. Click below and we will make sure you get added.