NEW YORK, Aug 30 (Reuters) -

This was originally published in the Reuters On the Money

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In my most recent newsletter, I shared tips for anyone

considering a move abroad during their retirement years.

I also asked readers for their advice. I heard back from Jim

Frey, who moved from Vancouver with his partner to Setubal,

Portugal, in February.

Frey says the "Bible" for understanding all that it takes to

retire in Portugal is this Facebook group. (Programming note:

The administrators are on holiday but plan to resume moderation

in September.)

When I asked Frey why he chose Portugal, he emailed a long

list. Affordability is at the top, but some other reasons

include healthcare, culture, food, safety as well as

expat-friendly policies.

"Life is GRAND," Frey says.

If you have not done it already, it is fun to fill out this

Expatsi survey which suggests places to retire overseas. My list

includes Switzerland, the Netherlands and Denmark.

SHOULD YOU FREEZE YOUR CREDIT AFTER THE LATEST DATA HACK?

Another day. Another data breach.

This time around, hackers may have gained access to the

private information of millions of people from a

background-check company called National Public Data.

And while the details are murky, your Social Security

numbers may have been leaked in the breach.

My husband, who froze his credit several years ago, urged

the rest of our family members to freeze our credit. When you

freeze your credit with the major credit bureaus (Equifax ( EFX ),

Experian ( EXPGF ) and TransUnion ( TRU )), it makes it tough to establish new

credit accounts in your name but helps prevent identity theft.

I've been dragging my feet because it seems like a royal

pain, but after reading this, I think I will do it.

Have you frozen your credit? Let me know why or why not at

[email protected].

WHAT I'M READING AND WATCHING

* US Supreme Court declines to revive Biden's

student debt

relief plan

* Can 'dumb rock' gold continue its big rally?

* Lego to replace oil in its bricks with pricier

renewable

plastic

* The end of fabulous money market rates is near

(New York

Times)

* Here's an answer to what is probably the

most-asked

question in the financial-planning world (Marketwatch)

* Hauntingly high demand for Halloween spookiness at

US

theme parks

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Lower interest rates, possible upgrades to the U.S. energy

grid and a voracious appetite for new energy amid a drive toward

EVs, AI and sustainability add up to a compelling case for

investors to look at utilities, according to Oppenheimer Asset

Management's John Stoltzfus. Watch here.

Want more personal finance news? Subscribe to On The Money

here.

THE GREAT RATE WATCH

Is the U.S. Federal Reserve telling us that they're actually

worried about the economy now?

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said last week that the

"time has come" to begin lowering interest rates - a more dovish

message than many investors believed they would hear at the

central bank's annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. That

process will likely begin next month, with a cut of 25 basis

points at the Fed's monetary policy meeting on Sept. 17-18.

Fun fact: History shows that stocks tend to perform far

better when rate cuts come against a background of resilient

growth instead of during a sharp economic slowdown. Since 1970,

the S&P 500 has climbed an average of 18% one year after the

first rate cut in non-recessionary periods, according to

Evercore ISI strategists. In recession periods, the index

climbed an average of just 2% a year following the first cut.

Are you worried about the economy or do you think it's on

the right track? Let me know your thoughts:

[email protected].

FOUR TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF HYBRID WORK ARRANGEMENTS

I know I am lucky to work for a company that offers hybrid

work options. In fact, I am currently writing this newsletter

from a breezy porch on the Jersey Shore.

It is nice to have flexibility - along with some extra

family time and fresh air - for a change.

There also is new proof that hybrid work can be a positive

force for employees as well as companies: A research paper

co-authored by Stanford University economist Nicholas Bloom,

recently published in the journal Nature.

The study - the largest of its kind, looking at the effect

of work-from-home policies - finds that the benefits are

multiple: Productivity is not harmed, promotions and career

advancement are not affected, and employee retention improves

significantly.

"There may have been a stigma about remote work

pre-pandemic, but I don't think there's a stigma anymore," Bloom

says. "Many big companies now typically have employees coming

into the office three days a week. Hybrid seems to be where it's

at."

Of course, there are potential pitfalls to working from home

part-time. Here are four tips to make the most of hybrid work

arrangements.

A$K Lauren

Do you need to refinance your mortgage? Are you in the

market for a new car? Send your money questions to

[email protected], and I'll tap my extensive source

network and braintrust for expert advice.

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