Headlines
How a bank levy could affect your Social Security benefits
U.S. Census researchers have found that about 14 percent of Americans 65 and older rely on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their income. Given the importance of these funds, private debt collectors cannot garnish them; however, there…
Old beneficiary forms can override your final wishes
Many Americans assume that their wills or trusts control all aspects of their financial legacy; however, an outdated beneficiary form can override those instructions. Under federal law governing employer-sponsored plans (ERISA), beneficiary designations operate under contract law, which means the…
The latest 2027 COLA estimates
Social Security’s Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is a snapshot comparison of Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) measurements from the previous year’s third quarter to the same period in the current year. Since the…
Break-even is not the only factor you should consider
You can apply for Social Security benefits as early as age 62. However, you will receive full benefits only when you file for your benefit at your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits until age 70, your…
Social Security’s Full Retirement Age (FRA)
Once upon a time, there was no mystery about Social Security’s full retirement age – everyone received their full benefit if they claimed at 65 years of age, the age set when the program was first enacted in 1935. But way back in…
The Role of Life Expectancy in Retirement Decisions
Right now is a good time to focus on an important question which affects your future – When should I take my Social Security benefits? While there are a number of factors to consider when making that decision, don’t overlook…
The Clock is Ticking for Social Security Solvency
Lest we forget, this article provides an excellent treatise about Social Security’s looming financial issues, now forecast to come to pass in about six short years. Don’t panic! That doesn’t mean that Social Security is going away (as in “bankrupt)…
Social Security: The Mystery of Spousal Benefits
Some things appear to be a “riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma”[1], and that certainly seems an apt description of Social Security spousal benefits. Here at the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Service, questions about spousal benefits make…
Straight Talk about Social Security
Since its 2016 formation, the AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisory Service has answered thousands of questions from those seeking guidance with their Social Security options. Most of the questions have been about personal benefit options (when to claim Social Security and questions about…
Trump Executive Order Serves as a Prelude to Secure 2.0’s Saver’s Match Provision
President Trump’s April 30 Executive Order, titled “PROMOTING RETIREMENT-SAVINGS ACCESS FOR AMERICAN WORKERS BY ESTABLISHING TRUMPIRA.GOV,” has been enthusiastically received by the retirement industry, where it is recognized as a significant step forward in promoting the Saver’s Match provision set…