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Retirement Planning: Expect the Unexpected
Every financial planner will tell you how important it is to create a retirement plan, and to do so sooner rather than later. Indeed, the longer you wait to plan your retirement, the harder it will be realize the goals…
Social Security for a Spouse
In this article by Elaine Popejoy, Social Security’s Bloomington (IL) District Manager, the author describes how important it is for a married couple to consider Social Security benefits for both partners. That is especially important for a spouse who was…
Nervous about the Market Slump? Don’t Claim Social Security Because of it
With the financial markets free-falling as they have done in recent weeks, many people may be tempted to claim Social Security as a hedge against their market losses. But, slumps such as the financial markets are experiencing now are not…
Some States Tax Social Security Benefits Too!
Everyone who already collects Social Security surely knows that the Federal Government can collect income tax on your Social Security benefits if your income from all sources is high enough. But many are surprised to find out that, depending upon…
Claiming at Age 62 means a smaller Social Security payment for life
Boiled down to the essential, the age at which you claim Social Security has a big impact on how much your benefit will be. It all starts with what your benefit will be at your full retirement age (your “FRA),…
What is the Most Popular Age to Claim Social Security?
How much your Social Security benefit will be is determined by a complex formula which uses your lifetime earnings history, your year of birth, and the age at which you claim. And, unfortunately, most individuals have surprisingly little idea of…
Oh No! Yet Another Social Security Scam Method
Well, if nothing else, those who seek to scam you out of your money are creative. Stories abound about how scammers posing as representatives of Social Security call on the telephone to try to extract your personal information, or get…
Social Security Change Supported By All But 1 Candidate
Sean Williams explains how Social Security is and will run deficits from this year (2020) through 2035 when all project past reserves will be exhausted. Across the board cuts of 23% for all will occur without reform before then. A…
Ignoring Social Security Paints False Wealth Inequality Picture
Inequality remains a fiercely debated subject among economists and academics who seek to answer the question– does it matter? The CATO Institute is out with an academic study that concludes “that studies estimating wealth inequality without accounting for Social Security would both exaggerate the…
Be aware of Social Security myths
Edward Jones Investments has a piece out that covers four myths related to Social Security. Each of these is false and the article in The Herald Journal explains why. Myths: Always take Social Security early; When you claim Social Security won’t…