Headlines
The Social Security Earnings Test and how it could leave you strapped for cash
It may sound like a good way to boost your income: working and taking Social Security at the same time; however, this strategy can have unexpected costs. If you are under your full retirement age (FRA), the government may reduce…
What are the expenses affecting your ability to save for your retirement?
Sometimes life gets in the way preventing us from saving as much as we’d hope for retirement. A recent survey posted by Charles Schwab identifies five major expenses that thwart our best efforts to contribute to 401(k) accounts. The attached…
Rising Inequality & Social Security’s Shortfall: The link
In this interesting piece Sean Williams of The Motley Fool suggests lawmakers will have to tackle rising income inequality in order to address the solvency of the Social Security program for future generations. How are the two linked? Williams notes wealthier people…
The Unnoticed Trillion Dollar Budget Gap
In the 1980s critics of overspending pointed to record deficits (averaging $167 billion a year then) and were often met with replies from supply-siders—“Don’t worry about federal deficits. They’re big enough of take care of themselves.” President Reagan even uttered…
Retirement Reforms Could be a Reality in This Congress
The House Ways and Means Committee under the chairmanship of Richard Neal (D-MA) seems poised to tackle issues like Social Security solvency and other retirement issues this session. Indeed, one hearing on the topic has already been held this month. …
What to do if you claimed Social Security too early
People generally are aware that waiting to collect Social Security past age 62 raises one’s monthly checks permanently. Yet most people elect to begin receiving checks at or close to age 62. But what if you decide that you made…
Putting 2034 in Perspective
Quite a bit has been written over the past year or two about Social Security’s date with the depletion of its reserve funds, with 2034 positioned as the project year the Trust Fund reserves would reach zero. Contrary to popular…
Immigration and the Impact on Social Security’s Future
With border control and the focus on illegal immigration so much in the news these days, it’s easy to lose perspective on the positive role that immigration–legal immigration–plays in the current and future Social Security financing situation. With the current…
Public Interest in Social Security Reform Continues to Build
Not unexpectedly, the level of interest in Social Security and its looming solvency issues appears to be reaching new heights. The January 31 announcements surrounding the John Larson (D; Conn) Social Security 2100 Act, coupled with Bernie Sanders’ reintroduction last week…
Social Security 2100 – Another Look at the Details
In an in-depth article today on nationalreview.com, American Enterprise Institute resident scholar Andrew Biggs analyzes the long-term implications of the recently-announced Social Security 2100 Act, challenging several of the Act’s benefit assumptions. Biggs examines how the retirement picture for the poorest workers would evolve under…