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The ‘Next America’ is Now
The political paralysis in Washington is often ascribed, depending on partisanship, to Republican obstructionism or President Obama’s arrogance. But there are deeper causes. Both parties have had a hard time creating agendas that appeal across ideological, racial and ethnic lines.…
7 Steps to a Financially Secure Retirement
Preparing financially for retirement may seem virtually impossible. How can you tuck away enough money for your later years given your limited income and never-ending expenses? It’s no wonder that a recent survey showed a third of people in the USA…
Form SSA-1099 Social Security and Taxes 2015
If you receive Social Security benefits, you may have to pay federal taxes on a fraction of their profits. These tips from the IRS will help determine whether or not to pay taxes on their benefits.These tips will also explain the…
IRS Releases Guidance on Refunds of Overcollected Social Security and Medicare Taxes
The Internal Revenue Service has released a notice that provides guidance to employers on the requirements for employee consents used by an employer to support a claim for refund of over-collected Social Security tax and Medicare tax. Notice 2015-15, which contains…
Retirement to be a Bust for Free-Spending Baby Boomers
Baby boomers are consumers, not savers, especially when it comes to funding retirement, a new report confirms. “The retirement savings shortfalls show that for those on the verge of retirement, the deficits vary from $19,304 per individual in married households, increasing…
This Is What Retiring Abroad Looks Like
Forget Florida and Arizona. When it comes to retirement, a growing number of Americans are opting to relocate abroad, to places with fabulous weather, stunning scenery, a lower cost of living and welcoming colonies of like-minded people. More than 550,000…
Retirement Milestones to Look Forward To
Retirement is a transition into a new stage of life. Retirees get the freedom to choose how to spend their time, but they also walk away from the comfort of a steady paycheck and need to make important financial decisions.…
TSP balance tops $113k: Are you smart, lucky or both?
When it comes to prepping for retirement, federal workers are doing much better than their private sector counterparts. For instance: When they retire from the government, workers are guaranteed a lifetime annuity with the option to provide a survivor benefit.…
The argument for a basic income
Earlier this year, I visited a town where residents are cut a check just for being alive. It’s not some Scandinavian utopia. It’s not part of some holdout communist state. It’s Cherokee, North Carolina, a town of 8,000 hidden away…
Take the time now to check Social Security earnings
f you haven’t looked up the earnings record that Social Security has recorded for you, there is no better time than now. Why bother? For one thing, you’ll want to check for errors. “This is important because an individual’s future benefit amount…