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Moody’s upgrades US credit rating to stable
WASHINGTON (AP) — Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the outlook for U.S. government debt to ‘stable’ from “negative” and affirmed the United States’ blue chip Aaa rating. The rating agency cited a surprising drop in the federal deficit — the difference between…
Social Security rules can wreak havoc on divorce plans
I always say that when it comes to claiming Social Security benefits, timing is everything. And when an older couple is considering a divorce, it can lead to some difficult choices. Jessica Ness, a certified financial planner with Glassman Wealth Services, e-mailed…
10-minute tweaks to save your retirement
Add longer life spans (and longer retirements) to the mix, and the financial landscape of your golden years may appear bleak at best. Though the prospect of running out of money is indeed terrifying, don’t despair. Guaranteeing sufficient income in retirement…
Expert: Social Security disability program ‘backdoor welfare’
With record numbers of people collecting benefits through a Social Security program for disabled workers, there are concerns that some might be abusing the system. And even if not, the system might not be sustainable at current levels. Tad DeHaven, a research associate with…
Retiring Soon? Don’t Forget Tax Implications
If your retirement is not far off, you’ve probably already started to estimate what your living expenses will be after the regular paychecks stop. Most would-be retirees remember to include routine expenses like housing (rent or mortgage), medical bills and…
Your retirement journey
In cartoons, “the end is near” is an almost surefire laugh line. Just picturing a doomsday prophet standing on Wall Street holding his apocalyptic placard is, for cartoonists, money in the bank. But as America ages and an average of…
Boskin: Social Security Disability Insurance Fund May Implode in 2016
One of the major problems facing the Social Security system is its Disability Insurance Fund (SSDI), says Stanford University economist Michael Boskin. It’s “the ticking time bomb of entitlement reform,” he writes in The Wall Street Journal. “According to the…
Working women and their impact on Social Security benefits
Here’s a stunning statement: While an increase in women’s workforce participation and average earnings has boosted the income of many American families, it has also reduced household retirement income replacement rates from Social Security. Read more… Notice: The link provided…
Dollars and Sense: Concerns about relying on Social Security
Over the past few weeks I have been writing about various aspects of the Social Security program. In this article, I would like to give you an update on the fiscal soundness both the Social Security and Medicare programs. Read…
Santa Claus, the Trust Fund and the Tooth Fairy
What do Santa Claus, the Social Security Trust Fund and the Tooth Fairy have in common? They are all myths, which people want so much to believe that they try to convince themselves they’re real, despite the evidence to the…