PLEASE NOTE: The date and time of this class has been changed from 2/12 to May 7 at 10AM. The class will explore fascism as a form of political governance characterized by ending the rule of law and building a social movement focused on scapegoats. As a case study, we will look at the rise of fascism in Germany, although the first fascist movement rose in Italy with occurrences in several other countries as well. A conundrum of fascism is whether it can ever be ended from within once it comes to power. There will be an opening presentation and plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Most retirees don’t fully understand how taxes work in retirement, yet they’re keenly aware of how much taxes impact their income each year. In this session, participants will learn how to create an effective retirement tax strategy that integrates income planning, Social Security, and Medicare. The class explores various types of taxes encountered during retirement and how these interact with Social Security benefits and Medicare premiums. We’ll also cover the four stages of retirement, outlining key tax actions for each phase and discussing complex IRA rules, Roth conversion timing, and the consequences of poor withdrawal sequencing. Participants will gain practical insights into: Reducing unexpected costs to make retirement less expensive; avoiding increased Medicare premiums from income mismanagement; coordinating tax, investment, and estate decisions for long-term efficiency.

Each year the Foreign Policy Association publishes a booklet analyzing eight topics related to foreign policy it believes offer opportunities and/or risks to the United States. This discussion course expects participants to buy the “Great Decisions 2026 Edition” briefing book ($35), read the assigned material, and come to class prepared to offer individual insights and opinions. The booklet is available from the Foreign Policy Association via its website (https://fpa.org/product/great-decisions-2026-pre-order/).