Latest News
Conflicting financial factors led to decline retirement savings
Conflicting financial factors have led to a decline in retirement confidence among Americans, according to the latest Schroders US Retirement Survey. Over half of the respondents said they will need $1.2 million to retire comfortably, but their expectations are far…
You want to become an expat
You’re considering becoming an expat; you are not alone. Over 760,000 retirees receive Social Security abroad, a number that has grown sharply in just two years. In 1974, only 10 percent of U.S. citizens expressed interest in moving abroad. By…
These expenses disappear in retirement
The majority of financial experts advise individuals to save 70 to 80 percent of their pre-retirement income to maintain their lifestyle. However, many experts may overlook certain expenses that are no longer experienced in retirement. What are those expenses? Jeff…
Workers with the highest 401(k) balances aren’t always the best savers
Instead of focusing on retirement balances, savings rates are a better indicator of retirement readiness, according to Vanguard’s annual “How America Saves” report. Yes, higher earners have higher 401(k) balances, but that does not mean they always save a larger…
Some recipients may see smaller gains in 2027
The Social Security Administration COLA is determined by comparing the average Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the third quarter of the current year to the same period in the previous year, and applying…
Will Congress Finally Get Serious about Reforming Social Securty?
We’ve covered Social Security’s forecasted financial issue in these web pages regularly, but the question still looms heavily in our collective minds - will Congress finally act in time to restore Social Security to financial solvency? After all, program insolvency…
A Changing Retirement Landscape
If you are now in your 50s, chances are you’re starting to give serious thought to your forthcoming retirement, which usually occurs somewhere in your 60s. Indeed, the nation’s most importance retirement program, Social Security, allows you to take earned…
Securing Repayments to Social Security
In its focus on reducing fraud, the Social Security Administration has announced a change in the process used to repay money owed to Social Security. No longer will SSA suggest people to remit payments by mailed checks or by supplying…
Social Security Considerations for those in “The Trades”
Skilled tradesmen are surely in a different category when it comes to deciding when to claim Social Security benefits. Fact is, the body doesn’t always hold up well for those engaged in a career as a skilled tradesman - e.g.,…
Is there a “magic age” to claim Social Security benefits?
With anxiety building over the much-reported depletion of Social Security’s Trust Funds by 2032, many are suggesting that those eligible should claim Social Security as soon as they are old enough to do so. The implication being that if Social…