Latest News
Will inflation cause you to return to work?
We see it when we go to the supermarket; we go to the gas station; we hear it in the daily news reports; the cost of products and services are rising at a record rate. The rising inflation has Americans…
Spousal and ex-spouses benefits
When a worker files for Social Security benefits, the worker’s spouse may be eligible for a Social Security benefit based on the worker’s earnings. However, there are requirements such as the spouse must be at least age 62 or have…
“Lifetime income illustration” is coming to your 401(k) statement
As a result of the SECURE Act, your quarterly 401(k) statements will look different. Your new quarterly statement will include a lifetime income illustration which shows the monthly income you would receive from your current 401(k) once you retire. The…
Other retirement plan options
A recent survey found that 47 percent of Americans are saving for retirement using a 401(k). How are the remaining 53 percent of Americans saving for retirement? Maddie Duley explains there are many retirement plans available, and it’s helpful to…
What women – or anyone – can do to boost their Social Security benefit
Social Security is neutral with respect to gender – individuals with identical earnings histories are treated the same in terms of benefits. But as of May 2022, men average about $1,848 per month while women receive just $1,494. Why? Women…
FAQs on Medicare Financing and Trust Fund Solvency
(By Juliette Cubanski and Tricia Neuman for Kaiser Family Foundation published June 17, 2022) Medicare, the federal health insurance program for 65 million people ages 65 and over and younger people with long-term disabilities, helps to pay for hospital and…
Why set-it-and-forget it retirement plan is a bad idea.
How many of us only look at our retirement accounts once a year? But achieving your retirement goals will require more work. So, where should you begin? Adam Levy outlines three things you can do to make the most of…
Should you file for Social Security when you file for Medicare?
Many people feel their retirement age is 65 when they become eligible for Medicare, but that is no longer the case. The full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954. If you were born from…
Popularity of Medicare Advantage Plans
In a report published by Better Medicare Alliance, a non-profit advocate for Medicare Advantage, a recent study reveals that selection of a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan over “original” Medicare is an increasing popular choice. Medicare Advantage plans are required to…
One Cannot Live on Social Security Alone
The Social Security program was never intended as a retiree’s sole source of income. Indeed, the program is intentionally designed to provide only about 40% of a person’s pre-retirement income, and most financial advisors will counsel retirees that they will…