Headlines
The Benefits You’re Entitled To
Social Security and Medicare go hand in hand. One of the biggest problems with the zero COLA increase for this year was the concurrent rise in Medicare premiums that many people pay with Social Security benefits. These payments are commonly taken…
Taking Early Benefits Could Cost You
There is a plethora of information regarding whether or not you should take Social Security benefits early or late. There are pros and cons to each side based on individual financial needs and lifestyles. The general consensus among suggestion givers…
The Strange Case of COLA
There was no COLA increase this year for Social Security benefits. This has left many who depend on their benefits as a sole or primary source of income disadvantaged in retirement. Many other factors exacerbated the problem and left them…
Navigating the New Social Security Rules
There are many new things to look out for with Social Security since the budget bill passed late last year. What’s worse is that most of these new rules are not laid out in an easily grokkable format, leaving each…
Paying Taxes on Social Security
Some people, mostly unaware, will have to pay taxes on their Social Security benefits. This does not affect everybody, however those who will have to pay may be taxed on up to 85% of their benefits. This is not an…
Social Security in the Current Election
Social Security should be a much bigger topic of debate than it currently is. Social Security is affecting or will affect most citizens. There are currently 75 million baby boomers, all retired or rapidly reaching retirement age. This is a…
Retirement Planning – Re-examining Some Myths
It’s fairly common to believe in myths–those legendary tales that many hold as truths–and many people tend to make decisions on the basis of myths. In some areas of life, that may be relatively harmless, but when it comes to…
The Case for Reform
Entitlement reform was a big ticket item in the last election with the talk surrounding Obamacare. Republicans were, and to a degree still are, aggressively touting alternatives to this system. Since then talk has dwindled and reform has fallen by…
Last Day for Social Security Loophole
Today is the last day to use the ‘file and suspend’ strategy for those still eligible. This strategy was targeted in a recent budget bill to be closed off for anyone not yet the age of 62 by the end…
Increasing Life Spans and Social Security
The average American is living longer now than ever before. The Social Security Administration knows this better than most, their benefit structure is built around the premise of life expectancy in individuals at certain ages. Opposite to what you may…