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Understanding Social Security’s “COVID-19 Notch”
The American economy’s devastation at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic has created an extraordinarily negative situation for some working families, says The Hill opinion contributor Nancy Altman. This situation has been labeled the “COVID-19 notch” and basically is the…
Filing for Benefits At Age 65 Might be a Compromise
The decision of when to file for Social Security benefits–as early as possible (age 62) or as late as practical (age 70)–is a tough one for many folks. Each end of the spectrum has its good and bad points, like…
Questioning a Retirement “Rule of Thumb”
You’ve probably seen it somewhere in your research: You’ll need 70% to 80% of your pre-retirement income to live comfortably (however you define that term) in your “golden years.” While that may be true, the reality is, according to conclusions…
The Importance of Compromise in Resolving Social Security’s Financial Dilemma
So much has been circulated in the media for so long regarding Social Security’s solvency issue that one has to wonder why a solution is so illusory. In a post today on their website, The Motley Fool’s Sean Williams summarizes…
The Retirement Savings Scene–At Last Some Positive Signs
Quite a bit has been written about the inadequate levels of retirement savings in the financial plans for future retirees. The predictions have been dire, with the popular notion that current workers are just not taking heed of the warnings…
Wondering About This Year’s Social Security COLA Calculation?
Many folks are well aware that the July-September Consumer Price Index figures determine the cost-of-living adjustment that finds its way into their Social Security benefit payment if, of course, the calculation yields a positive result. With the coronavirus wreaking havoc…
Social Security and COVID-19’s “Second Wave”
Well, statistics seem to support the notion that the second wave of COVID-19 infections is upon us. While most financial advisors do not normally advocate for an early claiming of Social Security benefits, it’s clear that we’re in anything but…
Attention Women: Social Security and Your Financial Future
In response to a concern expressed by a MarketWatch reader, retirement reporter Alessandra Malito presents a case for alleviating concerns expressed by a stay-at-home mom in planning for her future retirement. “It’s not too late. You got this!” says Malito, backing this…
Retirement Security in the Wake of COVID-19
It’s becoming clearer and clearer as the coronavirus pandemic tightens its grip on the world, and as the economic turmoil continues to rattle financial markets. Most notably, unemployment is being more widely recognized as a source of retirement planning anxiety,…
Social Security Pre-Application Steps to Think About
While the process of actually applying for Social Security benefits has been made fairly easy these days via online services, there are still some significant points to consider before embarking on that process. The Motley Fool’s Katie Brockman, in a post…