Headlines
Social Security to enhance customer service by shifting around funds
There’s a new sheriff in town, and he’s hiring people to work at Social Security, as Mark Miller, a journalist and author specializing in retirement and aging, writes in this piece in MarketWatch. Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul, who was sworn in last…
Recent Retirees Wish They’d Been Better Prepared for Taxes
Taxes. Kailey Hagen’s article here notes that 34% of recent retirees say they wish they’d been better prepared for taxes than they were, according to a recent Nationwide survey. Hagen’s piece takes a closer look at how the government taxes retirement savings…
Should the U.S. follow France and up the retirement age?
Social Security’s full retirement age has only ever been changed one time in 1983, and by just two years. Proposals to increase it further are often discussed, but they seem to go nowhere, despite the program’s financial troubles and looming…
Providing yourself with a nest egg in retirement is essential
With longer life spans and lower interest rates, financial experts are recommending you save about 15 percent of your annual income for retirement. However, many people–almost 40 million–struggle to save anything for retirement. So, figuring out a way to boost…
In some situations, filing for benefits sooner rather than later can really pay off
The financial experts often tell us that we should wait to file for our Social Security benefits at our full retirement age, but the Social Security Administration won’t force you to wait. Actually, you are allowed to file as early…
The financial and lifestyle disadvantages to early retirement
More than one-third of workers over the age of 64 who previously retired and then later went back to work found the traditional, work-free retirement lifestyle disappointing. According to a survey by the RAND Corporation, the decision to unretire is…
Know Your Social Security Act aims to reinstate mailing Social Security statements
The Social Security Administration used to mail workers annual paper statements, but that tradition stopped in 2011. Now, paper statements are mailed only to individuals ages 60 and up who have not created an online account. A bipartisan bill was…
Are you at risk of reducing your Social Security benefits?
For many Americans the single most important source of income in retirement is their Social Security benefits. Social Security is essential for most retirees to maintain their standard of living; however, many people inadvertently do things that reduce the amount of…
Social Security tips for the new year
The more you know about Social Security, the more likely it is that you’ll make an informed decision on when to claim your benefits. Interestingly, a majority of people claim benefits before they have reached their full retirement age (FRA)…
Debunking persistent Social Security myths
In this MarketWatch article, highly respected Social Security expert Devin Carroll takes on seven of the most persistent myths about America’s most important senior benefit program. These myths are frequently seen on social media or in chain emails decrying how the government has…