Headlines
If you owe Uncle Sam money, they could take it from your Social Security check
Nearly 50% of retired couples and over 70% of single retirees depend on Social Security for about half of their retirement income, and nearly all recipients depend, to at least some degree, on their benefit to make ends meet. Be aware…
When a young worker dies, the rules for survivors benefits are less strict
Though most view Social Security as a program only for older Americans, it’s also a program for the survivors of workers who tragically die at a young age. In these cases, surviving spouses and young children can receive benefits from Social Security,…
Should you claim Social Security at 62, or not?
62 is the “magic age” when most are eligible to start collecting their Social Security benefits, but is it wise to do so? Well the answer is, “It depends”. As with many things in life you have choices, and whether…
Fixing Social Security’s financial woes
You don’t have to be a political junkie to know that the Social Security program is having some financial difficulties. The interesting thing is that both political parties have active bills in Congress that could address those issues, with varying…
Getting the most you’re entitled to from Social Security
With hundreds of claiming strategies and thousands of rules governing Social Security benefits, it’s no wonder that some folks just throw up their hands in frustration and take what seems easiest. But stepping back and doing a careful and deliberate evaluation…
Social Security’s Earnings Test: Watch the Details if You’re a Dual Income Couple
Social Security’s earnings test–the rules that govern how much you can earn in those years before attaining full-retirement age (FRA)–are one thing, but when a situation involving two wage earners together arises, it gets even more intricate. InvestmentNews contributing editor Mary…
Some Basic Questions to Help Focus Your Retirement Finance Goals
You hear quite a bit these days about the absence of adequate savings for those retirement years, and many folks are digging in and making an honest attempt shore up their long-term savings goals. If that includes you, it might…
Putting America’s “Retirement Crisis” in Perspective
MarketWatch columnist Jeff Reeves takes aim at one of today’s serious issues by providing a chilling recap of the problems facing our country’s retirement system in the years ahead. Noting the dearth of savings on the part of future retirees, the decline…
Independence and Social Security: Perfect Together!
As Americans celebrate Independence Day, it’s important to reflect on what independence actually means for those in their retirement years. It’s even more important for those planning ahead for this phase of their lives, as noted in an article by Kate…
The “Gig Economy”–An Ideal Way to Defer Social Security Filing?
It’s no secret these days that filing for Social Security at age 62 produces a substantial reduction in monthly benefits. Likewise, retiring early can mean that maintaining a desired lifestyle would require dipping into savings balances that, for many, are already insufficient for…