Headlines
Procrastination and Misunderstanding Are Having an Impact on Retirement Readiness
Fidelity Investments’ first-ever Retirement IQ Survey produced some startling conclusions, one of the most significant of which is the persistent underestimation of how much is needed in the way of savings for a comfortable retirement. This, coupled with an overall failing…
Divorce, Remarriage, and Spousal Benefits…Yes, it’s Complicated!
Our Social Security system consists of over 2,700 rules, many of which cover exceptions to other rules. And one of the areas where these exceptions tend to make things a bit murky is the subject of spousal benefits and how…
Is 2017 Your Retirement Year?
If so, congratulations and please accept our wishes for a long, healthy, and truly enjoyable life phase. You’ve no doubt given the whole “retirement thing” a lot of study in the years leading up to now, both logistically and financially, but…
Tax Reform: Understanding the Basics of Income and Outflow
One of the major areas of focus for the Trump Administration is the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Simplification Act” and its mission of overhauling the country’s tax code to spur economic growth and achieve a more straightforward process for financing…
The Key Question: When to File?
As most people reaching age 60 are aware, their Social Security eligibility has all of a sudden become a near-term reality. So, do I file as early as possible, wait until my full retirement age (FRA) and avoid the reduction,…
Divorcing? Remember to tie up all the loose ends.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding a late-in-life divorce situation, there are a few key “loose ends” that sometimes get overlooked in the emotion of the moment. Whether it’s asset division, Social Security spousal benefit assessment, beneficiary updates, or fundamental financial…
Not Everybody Qualifies for Social Security–But Planning is Critical for Those Who Do!
Personal Finance Reporter Alessandra Malito, in a post on www.marketwatch.com, itemizes the 3% of elderly Americans who do not receive Social Security benefits, and also explains the importance for those aging into the program of understanding Social Security and having…
Planning for Longevity in Retirement
Forget the actuarial averages when planning your finances in retirement, says Reuters columnist and Morningstar contributor Mark Miller. With the improved health that so many are enjoying these days, the mortality rates typically used to assess adequacy in an income stream…
Target-Date Funds: Are They Still the Right Choice for You
When you quit working, you may want to take a closer look at those one-stop portfolios (a.k.a. target-date funds.) While they may be good options for retirement savers who are building their nest egg, that purpose may change for those…
Timing is Everything Especially When Filing for Your Social Security Benefits
With most things in life, timing is everything and that is especially true when it comes to filing for your Social Security benefits. Jane Bennett Clark, Senior Editor for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, outlines in her column six reasons your…