The Neshoba County Fair is a Mississippi policymaker’s rite of passage. Every year, leaders from across our state gather to talk about what we’ve accomplished and what still lies ahead. This year was no different. Of course, what’s said at the Neshoba County Fair rarely stays at the Neshoba County Fair, so I thought it appropriate to share my message here with you today.

If I had to sum up this year’s speech in just two words, it would be this: Mississippi Firsts. For example, we became the first state in the nation to launch proactive Money Match programs focused on disaster areas. When families are dealing with the aftermath of devastating storms, the last thing they should have to worry about is tracking down missing money. Instead, we take the initiative, find the rightful owners, and return millions of dollars to Mississippians when they need it most.

We were also the first in the nation to require citizenship verification before returning unclaimed money, ensuring Mississippians come first. That innovation has become a national model, earning recognition in congressional hearings and a seat at the table with the Department of Justice and Vice President Vance’s Anti-Fraud Task Force.

Those innovations have produced real results. Alongside first-in-state-history modernizations, they helped us return nearly $200 million in unclaimed money to our citizens – the first Treasury in Mississippi history to reach such a milestone.

We also broke new ground by becoming the first Mississippi Treasurer to expand the Mississippi Affordable College Savings (MACS) program so families can use their savings for apprenticeships, workforce certifications, and career and technical education. By putting students’ needs first, our program has grown into one of the nation’s Top 6 college savings plans.

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, Mo. (KFVS) – A 10-year-old girl is seriously injured following a UTV crash on Friday, June 26.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s crash report, a 10-year-old girl from Sikeston was driving a UTV southbound on Levee Road, 11 miles east of East Prairie.

MSHP said the crash occurred around 11 a.m. as the vehicle travelled off the left side of the roadway, returned to the road and then overturned.

The girl was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Cape Girardeau for serious injuries.

Many Americans worry their retirement savings won’t last — and a new report suggests that fear may be justified in Mississippi.

Surveys have shown that Americans fear running out of money in retirement more than they fear death itself. People are living longer, which means retirement lasts longer, and retirement costs are rising. 

A new report from CareScout, the long-term care network, finds that the average American at age 65 faces a retirement shortfall of $109,000. That’s the difference between how much income they can expect, from Social Security, savings and other sources, and how much they should plan to spend on the expenses of daily life. 

American retirees are likely to outlive their savings in 41 states, according to the data.

The report draws on state-level estimates of life expectancy at age 65 (16 to 20 years, more or less, depending on the state), average retirement benefits, median net worth and expected retirement expenses. 

How likely are you to outlive your retirement savings in Mississippi? Here’s what we know about life expectancy, expenses and how much retiring here costs.

Mississippi retirees face a $160K savings gap

The average Mississippi senior can expect about $682,000 in expenses and $521,000 in income in retirement. Projected shortfall: $160,000. 

It’s the 13th-largest shortfall in the U.S.

The state has some of the most affordable food costs and home prices in the country, but overall wages are also much lower than the national average.

What’s a realistic retirement age in Mississippi?

Nasdaq studied realistic retirement numbers for each state. For Mississippi, they determined that a realistic retirement age is 61 and recommend having at least $764,676 saved.

Mississippi residents aren’t taxed on income from:

• Social Security benefits
• IRAs
• 401(k)s
• Pensions
• Military benefits

The state income tax is also being phased out.

How long Mississippians live after age 65

Mississippi ranked next-to-last for life expectancy in a CDC list of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Data from 2022 is the newest available.

The Magnolia State had an average life expectancy of 72.6 years.

For men, Mississippi ranked 51st at 69.5 years. Women ranked 50th with an average life expectancy of 75.7.

At age 65, people in Mississippi are expected to live another 16.7 years, on average. It’s about 15.3 years for men and 17.9 years for women.

Retirement may last longer than you think

American life expectancy is about 79 years. By the time you reach retirement, however, you can expect to live longer than the overall life expectancy figure suggests. A woman of 70, for example, can expect to live to 87.