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Seeking to Shift Costs to Medicare, More Employers Move Retirees to Advantage Plans
Over the past decade, an increasing number of employers have began using the government’s Medicare Advantage program as an alternative to their existing retiree health plan and traditional Medicare coverage. This private Medicare Advantage plan is available only to retirees…
Should saving for retirement be first on your list?
The main goal of a successful retirement plan is to ensure you will have sufficient financial resources to maintain your lifestyle during your retirement years. However, there may be a few financial goals that should be higher up on the…
Sometimes it’s okay to claim your benefits early
You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits when you reach your full retirement age. If you start your Social Security benefits early, your benefits will be…
Be Careful not to Miss Out on Some Social Security Benefits
Christy Bieber notes that, while Social Security benefits aren’t sufficient to support you, missing out on some benefits could make it more difficult to achieve financial security in retirement. Claiming benefits at the wrong time is mistake #1 for most.…
Grow Those Social Security Benefits
There isn’t much you can do once you start monthly Social Security benefits to increase what you receive, other than a cost of living adjustment each successive January 1st. But you can boost your check with a second job, as…
‘Bucket’ Investment Strategies
The Wall Street Journal’s Glenn Ruffenach defines the bucket strategy—dividing your money into a handful of simple categories for an important goal—as one way to manage and tap your nest egg in your golden years. But he cautions the approach…
How to put off a Social Security Claim the right way
Christy Bieber confirms most of the literature out there advises people to put off Social Security as long as they can in order to reap a higher payment. But she reminds and cautions all that you are still forgoing income…
Social Security Strategies to Bankroll Your Golden Years
Reliance on Social Security as a key income source is common for most retirees. So it makes sense to get the highest monthly benefit one can. But too many do not plan. Christy Bieber’s piece here advises folks to work…
2 Must Knows On Social Security
It’s a complex program but near universal, as most Americans will collect a monthly check from Social Security in old age. But if there are at least two things one should understand, Maurie Backman says they are at the least…
This Social Security move allows you to ‘stick it’ to Uncle Sam
Brett Arends provides yet one more reason to wait to collect Social Security. Starting benefits at age 70 can hike your monthly pay by up to 80%. It is a better option for all but those in poor health. Arends…