Latest News
Paralyzed Veterans of America Expresses Concern Over House Budget Plan in Open Letter to Congress
Today Paralyzed Veterans of America released the following open letter from Executive Director Homer Townsend, Jr., to Speaker of the House John A. Boehner in response to the House budget plan: Read more… Notice: The “Read more…” link provided…
Opinion/Editorial: SSA needs to focus on accuracy
Last week (“Errors mean your money is given away,” March 19), we addressed the problem of the Social Security Administration’s failure to maintain proper records in which some 6.5 million people who would be at least 112 years old are still listed…
How young women can bridge retirement savings gap
Saving enough money for retirement can be daunting for anyone. But a growing body of research shows that women in particular lack the confidence to plan for old age. According to the latest annual retirement survey by financial services firm Transamerica,…
Social Security ALJs in the crosshairs
In the last few years, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has been blasting administrative law judges for the way they handle claims for Social Security disability benefits. The court alleges ALJs tend to cherry-pick facts, fail to consider the…
Retirement: Smart ways to save and spend
Trying to save enough for retirement and then figuring out how to live on your nest egg can be overwhelming. Many people struggle with saving even a minimal amount. About 36% of workers have less than $1,000 in savings and investments…
Why maximizing your Social Security won’t bankrupt the system
If you’re a reader of my PBS NewsHour Social Security columns, you’ll know I’ve written a book with Paul Solman and Phil Moeller (a long-time personal finance columnist) called “Get What’s Yours — the Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social…
Is Your Social Security Safe from Debt Collectors?
With several important exceptions, your social security check is safe or “exempt” from claims of creditors. For example, if you can no longer afford to make payments on your credit cards because of illness, job loss or other reason, the…
Can achieving retirement security be easier than we think?
With traditional pensions on the wane, wages for typical workers flat-lining and many people living longer, it is no secret that Americans face an ever-increasing challenge to achieve financial security in retirement. Most are not meeting the test. The Center for…
Tips for people behind in retirement savings
Financial planners often tell stories about 50-somethings who come to them for help and have saved little or nothing for their retirement. There are millions of people like that out there. “It’s really common for people to never plan for retirement,” says…
The Growing Divide Between the Retirement Elite and Everyone Else
Americans are on track to replace 60% of income, but only one in five pre-retirees report good health. That’s likely to prove costly. There’s a growing retirement savings gap between workers with 401(k)s and those without. Overall the typical American worker…