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What is the Social Security Bridge option?
What is a Social Security ”bridge” option? According to Alicia H. Munnell and Gal Wettstein with the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, a bridge option within a 401(k) plan entails using those “assets to pay an amount equivalent…
What your income would be on Social Security alone
According to the Social Security Administration, Social Security benefits represent about 30 percent of the income of the elderly. Also, 37 percent of men and 42 percent of women receive 50 percent or more of their income from Social Security.…
How to calculate the Social Security early retirement penalty
When it comes to your Social Security benefits, you have a lot of choices regarding when to start getting those monthly checks. According to the Center for Retirement Research, the most popular age to claim benefits is 62, while claiming…
The current COLA formula could leave retirees in a better position
Most experts agree that Social Security benefits have not kept up with inflation and are steadily losing buying power. Why? The most commonly cited reason for this problem is the cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are based on the wrong financial index.…
One Economist Says the 401(k) is Not ‘a True Retirement Plan’
Ben Werschkul, a senior writer and producer for Yahoo Finance, takes readers through the 401k law signed by President Jimmy Carter. Over 59 million Americans are now covered by these plans, which have undergone significant changes since they began in…
Social Security’s Problems Should be Above Politics and Pandering
A plethora of bills are routinely introduced in each Congress, mostly by Democrats, promising higher benefits, whether in the form of cost of living adjustments, one-time payments, or permanent minimum benefit increases. The problem with nearly all, which are intentionally…
Lawmakers consider Social Security 2100 Act
Erika Giovanetti of Fox Business News reports on Rep. John Larson’s (D-CT) bill, The Social Security 2100 Act. All 195 signatories on the proposed legislation are Democrats, and bipartisan support seems unlikely given how the bill greatly enhances benefits but…
Millions of Americans can’t afford to retire
Michael Sainato of The Guardian writes a sobering piece here about the state of retirement in America. He notes the number of US workers aged 75 and up is expected to increase over 96% in next decade, according to the…
Can Your Social Security Payment Go Down? Yes, it can.
Steve Parrish is Co-Director of the Retirement Income Center at The American College of Financial Services, with 40 years in retirement planning issues. He describes a very real case when one’s Social Security income can decrease year over year, even…
How an Outdated Social Security Rule Means Higher Income Tax For Seniors
Levying income tax on Social Security benefits is often viewed as unfair because SS benefits are earned by contributing money already taxed. Nevertheless, Congress first enacted taxation of Social Security benefits in 1983 making half of SS benefits taxable for…