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Should You Take a Lump Sum Pension Distribution?
Many employers offer those contemplating retirement an option to take their retirement benefits as a lump-sum, rather than choosing the lifetime monthly payout option. Getting this large lump-sum distribution can be very tempting to those about to enter retirement, but…
How To Lose Social Security Benefits
Most people believe that when they claim their Social Security benefit, the amount they receive is sacrosanct and unaffected by outside forces. But you may be surprised to find that your Social Security benefits can, indeed, be affected in what…
Alzheimer’s Disease and Medicare
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), almost 6 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, nearly all of whom are age 65 or older. That’s a staggering statistic, but fortunately Medicare provides coverage for most Alzheimer’s-related medical care –…
Inflation’s Devastating Impact on Social Security Benefits
The release of another month of terrible inflation news has prompted a steady deluge of news reports and pundit forecasts about what the 2023 COLA calculation might bring for those drawing Social Security benefits. But there’s another side to this…
New Social Security Filers: Some Thoughts on Approach
If you are now on your final approach to the Social Security, but haven’t made the big decision on when to begin your benefits, there are some important things you should consider at this point. The Motley Fool’s Maurie Backman,…
Retirement Requires More than Social Security
Social Security is designed to help you in retirement, but not to necessarily to meet all your financial needs during that phase of your life. In fact, by its very design, Social Security retirement benefits are generally intended to replace…
Retirement Pre-Planning 101: Some Basic Items to Consider
Thinking about retiring? If you’re in that frame of mind, now’s the time to consider some strategic points while you still have time. EFC Wealth Management’s Corey Chapman, in a post today on Kiplinger’s Retirement page, lays out five key…
SOCIAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON STRENGTHENING SOCIAL SECURITY’S CUSTOMER SERVICE
A post by Stephen Silver today on nationalinterest.org reports that the House Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a formal hearing on complaints about the quality of Social Security’s customer service. The hearing appears ready to delve into the SSA’s…
The Importance of Considering Survivor Benefits When Claiming
When discussing the spousal benefit consequences of the when-to-file decision, many folks tend to overlook the potential impact on survivor benefits. This post by The Motley Fool’s Maurie Backman, appearing today on wfmz.com, provides an analysis of why “…spousal benefits…
The Intersection of Social Security and Medicare Can be Confusing
Those who have already sailed through the process of signing up for Social Security and Medicare already know this, but there are some points of confusion surrounding when and how to sign up for what. And for those just beginning…