Latest News
The Cricality of Reforming Social Security and Medicare
It’s become a hot subject, as most who’ve studied Social Security and Medicare over the years expected it would. Now, with insolvency projected to be reached within a decade, the calls for action are becoming louder and clearer, with one…
On “Fixing” Social Security–A Segment of the Public Weighs In
In a mid-March Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll, a sampling of slightly over a thousand U.S. adults expressed opinions on what needs to be done as Social Security and Medicare hurtle toward insolvency. Not surprisingly, the majority in…
Looking Again at the “File at 62” Decision Point
Much has been written about the negative aspects of claiming Social Security benefits at the earliest age–62, with conventional wisdom leaning strongly to the merit of waiting as long as possible to maximize payouts. But is that the best way?…
The Creeping Arm of Taxation, and How Seniors Are Affected
By now, many older Americans have either filed their 2022 federal tax returns or are preparing to do so, and have come to grips with the fact that more and more of their Social Security benefit is spilling into the…
The Flip Side of Increasing the Full Retirement Age
If you’ve been tuned into the rapidly escalating debate on how to address Social Security’s solvency problem, you’ve likely seen many references to one of the suggested “fixes”–increasing the program’s full retirement age (FRA) from its current age 67 for…
Does Retirement Result in Less Stress?
Maybe, maybe not. And all this talk about the looming Social Security solvency problem and the projections for a substantial cut in benefits not too far from now certainly isn’t helping. For now, though, let’s set aside the solvency issue…
Social Security Recipients and Income Tax Obligations
If you’re a Social Security beneficiary and you haven’t yet filed your annual federal income tax return, now’s a good time to be sure you’re clear on what your legal obligation is. To help, CNET’s Nina Raemont, in a post…
Retirement Savings Trends–An Upswing In Progress
A new report by Vanguard Strategic Retirement Consulting suggests that millennial and Gen Z workers are focusing more attention on saving for their “golden years.” In fact, the report notes that automatic 401(k) enrollments are resulting in these workers “……
Assessing the Implications of an FRA Setback
If you’ve been keeping up with the rhetoric on the Social Security solvency crisis, you’re probably tuned in to the various scenarios being advanced to address the impending trust depletion situation. You probably also know that one of the most…
Headwinds Building in Opposition to a Full Retirement Age Increase
Although many pundits have weighed in on the likelihood of a further setback in the age at which newly eligible beneficiaries can claim their full benefits, a recent Quinnipiac University poll suggests that there is substantial pushback from Republican, Independent, and…