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Fewer than you think have saved $500k for retirement
Ivy Grace of Yahoo Finance has a piece here that focuses on $500,000. Who has achieved saving that much? Will it last for a typical person’s retirement? Is it enough? Do people think it’s enough? On the last point, 40%…
Challenging Conventional Wisdom on Social Security
Five members of the Board of Big Sky 55+, a group that organizes older Montanans, challenge the view the Social Security is in trouble. They note the following five points: Social Security is here for the long term; Social Security has revenue…
Why you should never say never about claiming Soc Sec at 62
Maurie Backman takes readers through why claiming Social Security benefits early at age 62 is not necessarily a bad idea. True, benefits are permanently reduced, and the strategy is not for everyone. But Backman plans to use the money for…
Whose Social Security checks get taxed?
Maurie Backman explains income taxes on Social Security benefits here. If Social Security is your sole source of retirement income, you’ll likely keep full monthly benefits. It’s when outside income gets thrown into the mix that taxes on benefits start…
A Look at Average Retiree & Spousal Checks in 2025
Kailey Hagen notes we won’t know the actual cost of living increase (COLA) for all Social Security recipients until mid October. Still, using the estimated 2.63% means roughly $24/mo to the average spousal Social Security check of $911, though some…
Changes coming to Social Security’s online services
The portal for millions of Social Security beneficiaries to access their online account is changing. People will no longer be able to sign in to their online Social Security account using their existing username and password. To access Social Security online services,…
A Quick Reminder…New Social Security Login Goes Into Effect soon
The alert has been sounded often over the past several weeks… an account access procedure is coming soon for mySSA accounts created before September 18, 2021. The details are explained in a reminder article posted today on https://www.kiplinger.com by Personal…
Beyond the Long-Term Solvency Issue, There are Other Threats Facing Social Security
America’s Social Security System has experienced some disruptive events in the recent past, several of which have caused considerable anxiety for the public and especially for future beneficiaries. Four major disturbances are described in a post on Nasdaq.com written by…
Worst-Case Scenario Planning is Becoming More Prevalent
Gallup polling some months ago suggested that almost half of non-retirees have become skeptical about the existence of Social Security in their future. Despite the unrealistic belief that the program will disappear completely, many engaged in long-range financial planning have…
Although Increasing, Inflation Remains a Serious Concern for Seniors
You’ve probably seen a range of news accounts suggesting that the cost-of-living adjustment for 2025 will be a bit lower than the increases of the past few years. That projection, of course, is the mathematical effect of the consumer price…