Latest News
So you made a filing mistake, now what
You can begin your Social Security benefits as early as age 62. However, you will receive a permanent reduction in your monthly benefit amount. The reduction is based on the number of months you claim benefits before reaching your full…
What to do to maximize your benefit at 62
Age 62 is the most popular age at which to claim Social Security benefits, but claiming at age 62 also means getting a much smaller benefit for the rest of your life. In 2026, the maximum Social Security benefit at…
Shifting away from saving to spending in retirement
Retirement planning is not always about hitting a specific number, but it’s about creating certainty. “For decades, retirement planning has centered on reaching a specific account balance, but as clients near retirement, that benchmark often fails to address a more…
Will the 2027 COLA be bad news for retirees
Social Security’s COLA is based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the previous year to the third quarter of the current year. It will…
When to claim your Social Security matters
Claiming Social Security at age 70 allows you to receive the maximum monthly benefit, boosted by delayed retirement credits accrued after full retirement age. However, is this the right decision for you? Jennifer Taylor, writing for GOBanking Rates, explains how…
Debt relief strategies may protect your Social Security
The number of seniors in debt has been on the rise, with 97 percent of Americans aged 66 to 71 carrying an average non-housing debt of over $11,349. Carrying debt into retirement can feel overwhelming for those on a fixed…
What AI can and cannot do in retirement planning
More things are being handled by AI. Is retirement planning the next frontier? Although people have been using ChatGPT to help with retirement planning, can it truly deliver? Andrew Lo, finance professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, says…
Will inflation derail your retirement?
Twenty-five percent of the study recipients in Northwestern Mutual’s 2026 Planning & Progress Study stated that they are concerned about inflation and how it will affect their retirement. And the experts agree, “They’re right to worry, pros say. “Inflation can…
What working one more year could do
Your Social Security benefit is based on your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusted for wage growth, and calculated using a formula that produces your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is then adjusted for your claiming age. Even if you…
Estimates for the 2027 COLA increase
Based on the March’s consumer price index data, Social Security experts have issued an estimate of the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). COLA is based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers…