Headlines
Be Alert for Social Security Scams
If you receive a text, e-mail, or phone call saying it is someone from Social Security, odds are it’s a scam. Social Security will not initiate contact with you in these ways. Authentic Social Security Administration (SSA) contacts are almost…
Check Your Social Security Earnings Record Every Year
It is essential to review your Social Security earnings record annually. Your Social Security benefit amount is based on your 35 highest-earning years. Social Security averages your highest 35 years of earnings to calculate your monthly benefit, so it is…
Social Security Changes in 2026
You will see your monthly Social Security payments increase by 2.8% due to the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). However, you need to factor in that the cost of Medicare Part B has increased to $202.90 for 2026, up from $185 in…
The Secure 2.0 Act Made Changes to RMDs and Roth 401(k)s Withdrawals
The primary goal of the Secure 2.0 Act is to encourage more people to save for retirement. Some of the primary changes were that the mandatory age for RMD withdrawals has increased, penalties for late withdrawals have been reduced, and…
Social Security and Federal Debt: An Ongoing Debate
Pew Research Center recently observed1 that the U.S. federal debt is a growing concern among the American public, with now more than half of the sampled population considering it a top priority. At this writing, the “debt clock” shows our…
Demystifying When to Claim Social Security Retirement Benefits
Claiming Window is 8 Years Long Perched high on our list of Frequently Asked Questions is this: “When should I claim my Social Security retirement benefits?” That’s not surprising, since there is an 8 year window, starting at age 62…
The Office of Inspector General’s latest report
The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for protecting taxpayer dollars. Their statutory mission is to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse, and to strengthen the Social Security programs and operations. They do this…
The Claiming Age Clarity Act
The Claiming Age Clarity Act (H.R. 5284) passed the House on Monday and was sent to the Senate for consideration. The bill aims to simplify Social Security terminology to help retirees better understand their benefits and make informed claiming decisions.…
The contribution limits are increasing
Social Security is a federal government program funded through payroll taxes that provides a basic level of retirement income. However, Social Security is only designed to replace about 40 percent of your pre-retirement income, not all of it. Over 70…
Retirement Security for Couples
We encourage Americans to focus on saving for their co-called “golden years.” Saving for retirement is, of course, important, but equally important is how Social Security income fits into each couple’s retirement future. After all, statistics show that, savings aside,…