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HSA contributions must stop when Medicare begins
A financial advisor posed a question about the interaction between Medicare and Health Savings Accounts. His wife started collecting her full Social Security benefits at 66. He is approaching his full retirement age, so he plans to file a restricted claim…
Some Of Washington D.C.’s Biggest Terrorists Aren’t Who You Think
Terrorism achieves goals by fear. Since Washington wants more money, it threatens our society’s weakest. Two years ago, Obama played the game of “Not sure Social Security checks will go out.” This time Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew advised Congress there may not be…
Another Budget Deal Bites the Dust
The small group of Republican senators who had been meeting with the White House on budget matters called it quits on Thursday. They were known as the “Dinner Caucus.” In the end, they got less accomplished than the “Breakfast Club.” Their fate, though,…
Working while claiming early benefits
Many seniors wonder if they should take Social Security benefits early at age 62. Generally, this question cannot be answered without a detailed analysis of a person’s individual situation. Taking benefits early at age 62 in 2013, you would have…
Cybersecurity Expert Urges Congress to Consider Comprehensive …
It’s one of the most unpleasant, yet common, experiences of the digital age: notice from a company, employer, or public agency letting you know your most personal and valuable information – Social Security number, credit card information, online passwords –…
Commentary: Damaging Social Security’s credibility
President Obama’s proposal to restrict the growth of Social Security by changing annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) from the present Consumer Price Index (CPI) to a Chained Consumer Price Index represents a disingenuous departure from his earlier position to hold fast…
Fewer Americans are paying no federal income tax. Why?
The percentage of Americans who pay no federal income tax is falling, thanks to an improving economy and the expiration of temporary Great Recession-era tax cuts. In 2009, the Tax Policy Center estimated that 47 percent of households paid no federal income…
Obamacare confusion providing opening for con artists
Shortly after the Patient Protection and the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or more commonly, “Obamacare”) was signed into law in 2010, scams linked to the programs began to crop up. Obamacare scams come in a variety of forms. Consumers have…
Congress Should Reform Social Security Disability Insurance …
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, ratified 23 years ago this month, is based on what was then a radical idea: that the physical and social environment people with disabilities face is as much responsible for their inability to…
Is it ‘Jaws’ or ‘Sharknado’ for retirees?
Congress and the White House can and have blocked federal pay raises. But since January, adjustments for retirees are linked to inflation — they can’t touch the former feds! Or can they? Short answer: Yep! Of all the legislative threats facing active/retired feds,…