Latest News
700,000 U.S. Seniors Owe $18 Billion in Student Debt; Fed Taps Retirees’ Social Security Checks
(Source – www.allgov.com) Hundreds of thousands of seniors are having their already-small Social Security checks reduced because they owe money on student loans. Among the 41 million people making student loan payments, there are 706,000 households headed by someone 65 or older…
A retirement storm is coming. Are you prepared?
(By – Michelle Singletary, www.washingtonpost.com) As with a Category 5 hurricane, Americans are in for catastrophe if we fail to address the looming retirement crisis. Retirement planning cannot be shoved down on your to-do list. If you’re in your 20s, start thinking about it now,…
Social Security is based on sound principles
(By – William L. Holahan and Charles O. Kroncke, www.placead.tampabay.com) In announcing his presidential candidacy, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had some strong criticism of the Social Security program, especially its solvency. He claims that those who defend the system are…
How to plug Social Security tax drain and keep more money
(By – Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic) Deciding when to start taking Social Security benefits depends on many factors, including how long you expect to live and the amount of financial resources at your disposal. Income taxes and withdrawals from other retirement…
Money Matters: Several options available for spouse inheriting an IRA
(By – HOLLY NICHOLSON, www.newsobserver.com) Last week’s column concerning the options available to a non-spouse beneficiary when inheriting an IRA prompted questions about options a spouse has when inheriting an IRA. There was also some confusion concerning the five-year rule and…
What has the 114th Congress accomplished so far and what comes next?
(By – AMANDA OTA , kutv.com) What has the 114th Congress accomplished? “Thus far they’ve had a few accomplishments, but not very many,” Congressman Lee H. Hamilton, the Director of The Center on Congress at Indiana University said. Joshua Huder, a Senior Fellow…
Medicare at 50: Looking back, and looking forward
(By – Greg Sargent, www.washingtonpost.com) Fifty years ago this week, Lyndon Johnson signed into law Medicare, the first truly ambitious realization of the long-harbored liberal goal of securing a role for the federal government in providing health care to the poor and…
An Unexpected Spike for Medicare Premiums?
(By – ANNE TERGESEN, www.wsj.com) Unless the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services intervenes, some Medicare beneficiaries will face a steep increase in their 2016 premiums, even as the vast majority of Medicare recipients pay no increase at all. Medicare’s trustees projected…
Social Security’s future
(Source – www.ellsworthamerican.com) Within weeks of taking office, the next president of the United States must begin fitting his or her promises and plans for the nation’s economy into a budget proposal. It is likely that no challenge will be greater…
Couple Convicted Of Scheme To Defraud Social Security Out Of Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars
(Source – www.wchstv.com) Prosecutors said a Boyd County couple has been convicted in connection to defrauding Social Security out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. On Wednesday, Diana Lynn Ball, 57, of Ashland was convicted of one count of Supplemental Security Income…