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Bankroll Retirement with These 3 Social Security Strategies
Selena Maranjian explains that Social Security keeps more than 15 million people out of poverty and provides 50% or more of retirement income for more than a third of older beneficiaries. Thus it’s best to try to get the largest monthly check…
Want More Than The Average Social Security Payment?
According to Social Security, the average monthly Social Security payment for 2022 is about $1,657 – hardly enough to live on. And who among us wouldn’t want to increase their monthly Social Security benefit? Nearly everyone, of course, would like…
Should You Claim Social Security Early?
Should you claim Social Security early (“early” meaning before your full retirement age)? Well, a majority of beneficiaries do, which may – or may not – be the right decision. Most Advisors will suggest you wait as long as possible…
Can You Get a Higher Social Security Benefit?
As Social Security Advisors, we often caution people that whenever they claim their Social Security benefit, the amount is permanent and will not change, except for Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA). That’s generally true, but there actually are several ways…
Regret Claiming Early? Here’s How to Increase Your Monthly Benefit
Claiming your Social Security benefit early (before your full retirement age) can have a pretty significant impact on the amount of your monthly check. Indeed, your benefit at age 62 can be up to 30% less than it would be…
Creating Your “my Social Security” Online Account
The Social Security Administration has, for years, been evolving many of its functions to be available online, thus reducing the need for personal visits to your local Social Security office. From applying for a replacement Social Security or Medicare card,…
Plenty of Retirement Savings? Here’s When To Claim Social Security
This somewhat esoteric article is for those fortunate enough to have accumulated a sizable retirement nest egg, and who don’t urgently need their Social Security benefit to enjoy retirement. Surely not a majority of Americans, but applicable for those who…
Claiming Early Cuts Survivor Benefits Too
An interesting reality is that most Social Security beneficiaries claim their retirement benefits early, many as soon as they are eligible at age 62. The implications of that – essentially a permanently reduced monthly benefit – are personal for those…
“Live long and prosper” – How to do both
Star Trek’s iconic Mr. Spock character offered this Vulcan greeting in nearly all of the fictional Star Trek episodes, almost certainly without thought about how the words apply to real retirement. Of course, we all want to live long in…
Saving For Your Retirement
It’s hardly new news – most Americans are facing a crisis in retirement, having saved insufficiently to attain true comfort in their golden years. As inconvenient as that fact may be, it emphasizes the need to start saving for your…