Headlines
Retirement Isn’t Cheap
The cold hard fact is that retirement isn’t cheap and it’s getting more expensive ever year. The average couple receives only $27,120 in Social Security benefits per year but the typical retired household spends about $45,000 per year. Closing the…
Five Possible Changes to Federal Retirement System
Upon request from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman, the Congressional Budget Office reviewed a variety of different options for the federal retirement system and found: “Lawmakers have expressed interest in examining the current structure of retirement benefits…
Life’s Circumstances Can Derail Your Retirement
Most financial planners will tell you the reason why your retirement plan failed was not the result of bad portfolio returns but due to some of life’s circumstances. Read how certain life’s circumstances can derail even the best retirement plan,…
Retirement Benefits Continue to Evolve
As retirement benefits continue to evolve, are you prepared to take advantage of them? While change can often be confusing and maybe a little intimidating, it can also offer opportunities. In Erik Carter’s article for Forbes, he outlines some trends…
Social Security Facts All Americans Should Know
Social Security’s guaranteed monthly income provides eligible retired workers and their families’ financial security. However, the lack of understanding of the program is one of the biggest issues facing Social Security. In Sean William’s column for The Motley Fool, he…
Helping Women Secure Today and Tomorrow
Social Security is with you through life’s journey — from when you’re born, through your working years, and into retirement. We provide information and tools that help you make better decisions about your retirement future. Women face unique challenges when…
Losing Faith In Social Security
Americans have been losing faith in Social Security’s long-term viability and 77 percent of workers said they don’t expect the program to be around once the time comes for them to retire. While much of this sentiment is based on miseducation…
Fixing Social Security’s financial woes
With Social Security’s $2.8 trillion in financial reserves projected to run out in 2034, there have been lots of suggestions on how to fix the problem and avoid cutting benefits when that happens. Various proposals have been introduced in Congress, with most proposing either…
Delaying benefits by taking a reverse mortgage not a good strategy
If you don’t really need the money right away, many advisors will suggest you delay taking your Social Security benefits in order to get a bigger check when you finally apply. Generally, that’s a good strategy as long as you…
What’s your “retirement number”?
Your “retirement number” is the amount of money you’ll need to save in order to enjoy a comfortable retirement. Knowing how much money you should save, and taking action to save it, is a crucial part of anyone’s retirement planning efforts.…