Headlines
When should you take Social Security? It all comes down to life expectancy
Probably the most frequently asked question from those approaching retirement is “When should I claim my Social Security benefits?”. Considering the myriad of possibilities, the answer lies in another question – “How long will you live?” Of course, no one…
Planning your retirement? Here’s a guide
Planning for your future retirement can seem like a daunting task. But if you simply take some time to do a little studying and follow the advice of an expert, a lot of the stress associated with forecasting your post-career…
A basic Social Security quiz that half of adults can’t pass
From a recent MassMutual survey, it’s a rather staggering revelation that about half of American adults can’t pass even a very basic quiz about Social Security, even though those benefits will play a crucial role in their future retirement finances.…
So, How Long is a Career, Anyway?
Staying in the workforce beyond the traditional “retirement age” is nothing new, but what about staying on the job a decade or more after passing those age 65-69 mile markers? Northwestern Mutual’s 2018 Planning & Progress Study reports that 38% of…
Pivotal Year in Social Security Approaching Rapidly
Roughly three and a half years from now–2022–will mark a major shift in cash flow in our Social Security System. That’s when the program’s Trustees project that the tides will shift such that the program will begin paying out more…
Social Security’s “Expectation Gap” and What You Can Do About It
A lack of understanding about the calculation of eventual Social Security benefits can create serious problems for seniors entering their retirement years. Studies have shown that there is a fairly substantial gap between what Social Security benefits are designed to…
Fixing Social Security: A Look at the Popular Proposals
As the calendar moves relentlessly toward 2034 and the exhaustion of Social Security’s Trust Fund reserves, there seems to be quite a bit of discussion on fundamental approaches to addressing the problem. And while discussion doesn’t appear to be translating…
Social Security Dependence: What Does the Future Hold?
Forbes contributor Andrew Biggs, American Enterprise Institute resident scholar and former Social Security Administration deputy commissioner, takes a look at research conclusions that dependency on Social Security benefits will rise for future retirees. Biggs brings into his discussion several often…
More Discussion on Social Security’s “Restricted Application” Provision
Social Security writer Tom Margenau, in a post today on tucson.com’s business page, examines the confusion that still exists concerning the former “file and suspend” and the still-in-effect “file and restrict” strategies used by married couples to maximize their benefits. “File and Suspend,”…
Filing Strategies for Couples–The Importance of Synchronization
ThankAdvisor contributors Joe Elsasser and Ron Piccinini tackle one of the more complex and dynamic subjects in Social Security…the importance (criticality, really) of appropriately optimizing the timing of both spouses in applying for benefits. With the evaporation of “file and suspend”…