Headlines
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…
A Primer on Claiming Strategies for Married Couples
One of the more mystical areas of Social Security law has been the file-and-suspend, restricted application rules previously available to married couples. Although these rules were substantially altered with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, there are still some strategic moves…
A Tool to Assess the Strength of Your Retirement Savings
The Motley Fool’s Maurie Backman, in a post today on fool.com, introduces a tool designed to help future retirees understand how well their accumulated savings will meet their spending needs in those later years. Her article addresses recent survey results…