Headlines
A Financial Planner’s strategy for Social Security
Planning for your own Social Security can sometimes be a vexing exercise, so knowing which strategy a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) has adopted might be helpful, especially if you plan to continue working through your 60’s. In this article appearing at AL.com (Alabama),…
HR 2552 would eliminate income tax on Social Security benefits
Last month, Rep. Thomas Massie re-introduced H.R. 2552, which would eliminate income tax on Social Security benefits. In this article which appears in the (KY) Courier-Journal, Rep. Massie explains that taxing these benefits amounts to double taxation because FICA payroll contributions,…
Tips on applying for Social Security benefits
There are three ways to apply for your Social Security benefits – by phone, in person, or online- but the information you’ll need to provide differs depending upon what kind of benefits you are applying for. And it’s important that…
Social Security’s “greatest secrets”
Although there aren’t any real “secrets” in the Social Security program (it’s all right there at SSA.GOV), its complexity often means that some of the most common rules from which people can benefit are hidden in plain sight. From how…
You’re finally retired!! Now what?
The excitement builds to a crescendo in the months preceding when you actually retire, but what happens when that day you’ve been anticipating for so long actually arrives? This Forbes article by Robert Laura offers some very practical advice for…
Should you wait until your full retirement age to start Social Security?
Yes, I know that it’s very, very tempting to apply for your Social Security benefits “because you can”, and you may even harbor some doubt which leads you to take the money now in case it’s not there later. In…
What do you want in your retirement?
Far from the old dream of a rocking chair on the porch, today’s retirees are looking for a lot more than their predecessors. With retirement now often being 25 to 30 years of post-career living, and with longevity now much better than…
Planning for retirement in your 50’s
Age 50 is a wake up call for many people who’ve spent a lifetime thinking that retirement was something they didn’t yet need to worry about. All of a sudden, your retirement can be seen on the not too distant horizon, and…
Persistence pays off when dealing with flawed advice from Social Security offices
Although this Investment News article by Mary Beth Franklin is targeted for financial advisors, the story is an excellent example of how to overcome flawed advice from workers at your local Social Security office. Sometimes even Social Security Administration supervisors get…
The trend now seems to be waiting to collect Social Security
Only a few years ago, nearly half of people nearing retirement age said they planned to start Social Security as soon as they are eligible, but the trend now seems to be moving towards waiting. Much of this has to do with…