Latest News
Another Push to Re-open Social Security Offices
Citing the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and the inadequacy of a “top-down, one-size-fits-all approach to federal office reopening plans,” a contingent of congressional representatives led by Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security Ranking Member Tom Reed …
Some Perspectives on Reverse Mortgages
It’s commonly known that many folks rely heavily on Social Security benefits to get by in their retirement years. After all, the average monthly payment of $1543 doesn’t go a long way toward cover food, housing, medical costs, etc. so…
Spousal and Survivor Benefits…It’s Complicated, Folks!
As we note frequently on this site, the AMAC Foundation operates a free Social Security Advisory Service…a service that since its launch in 2016 has counseled nearly 18,000 American’s in how to apply the program’s considerable complexities to their individual circumstances.…
Short on Retirement Savings? Don’t Give Up! Here are some thoughts…
It’s certainly not uncommon to hear that a large percentage of future retirees are lamenting the fact that they may not have a large enough nest egg set aside to give them the type of retirement lifestyle they’d like. Some…
Sen. Grassley Comments on Saul Firing
In a Q&A interview Sunday on kiow.com radio, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) offers commentary on President Biden’s recent firing of Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul. Grassley noted that despite Saul’s “overwhelming approval,” it appears that the basis for this termination…
Comments on proposed Office of the Retirement Savings Lost and Found
Mark J. Warshawsky, American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Senior Fellow, recently took an in-depth look at a specific component of H.R. 2954 passed in May by the House Ways and Means Committee–the proposed formation of an “Office of the Retirement Savings Lost and…
Clarifying the Importance of “Special Needs Trusts”
In a recent post on the San Diego Union Tribune website (click here to read), Certified Financial Planner® and personal finance columnist Liz Weston clarifies a misunderstanding about Social Security Disability benefits for the developmentally disabled, and provides an explanation of…
Claimed SS Too Early? You Might Be Able to Correct That
Life’s circumstances (such as a pandemic) may have forced you to claim your Social Security earlier than you planned or wanted. Though the age at which you claim permanently sets your benefit amount, if you find that you don’t actually…
Redesigned Social Security Statement Being Rolled Out Slowly
Back in May of this year, Social Security started a “soft launch” of a new and improved Social Security statement. The new statement is available now only on a very limited basis to selected near-retirees, but early reports are that…
Rethinking Social Security Because of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the American economy, causing many to lose their jobs, join the unemployment rolls, and dig into their retirement savings prematurely. It also forced some, who thought their Social Security claiming strategy was set, to reevaluate their plan and…