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Social Security – Caring for our children
Children are among the the most vulnerable assets in our society, and Social Security is there for them. Social Security pays benefits to minor children of those collecting benefits, as well as disabled children, who together make up the over 4…
Medicare and Social Security – separate but connected
Although many seniors tend to think of these programs as two different parts of one program, the reality is that they are two entirely separate Government entities. The probable reason for confusion on this is that the two are closely aligned,…
Early retirement planning needs to be realistic
Sure, everyone would like to retire “early” – at whatever age “early” means to them. But those who want to actually reach that objective must take a very deep and honest look at what retirement means to them. Does it…
Does Social Security really need to be expanded?
Breaking away from the election cycle hysteria about the need to expand Social Security because it doesn’t provide enough for people to live on, this article makes a different argument – that retirees are among the richest Americans and there’s…
Want to retire early? Here’s how
Retiring early is, perhaps, the quintessential American dream. And although “early” means different things to different people, it’s a dream that often goes unfulfilled. But, it’s also a dream which may be doable if you approach that goal realistically and…
Retirement: Employers need to evolve sponsored 401(k)s to lifetime income plans
It’s pretty well known that America has a “retirement crisis,” which is exacerbated by diminished availability of “defined benefit” employer plans in favor of employer sponsored “defined contribution” plans. A defined benefit plan is one which offers a lifetime pension based upon…
Social Security for “wounded warriors”, earnings limits when working, and working while on disability
In this informative article by Social Security Claims Specialist J. Parrish appearing in the Galesburg (IN) Register-Mail, the author discusses some of the support services available to disabled veterans through Social Security’s “Wounded Warrior” website, as well as additional information…
Here’s an end of year Retirement Checklist
As we all wrap up the year 2019 and prepare for the new decade with year 2020, it’s a good time to look at your retirement plans, especially how to avoid paying more in taxes and fees than you need…
How to lose Social Security benefits
As advisors, we’re usually asked how to maximize Social Security benefits. But equally important for most people is how to avoid losing Social Security benefits, which could quite easily occur if you don’t know and understand Social Security’s myriad rules. In this…
Don’t fall victim to these retirement myths!
There are so many myths out there about Social Security and retirement, it’s hard to count them. Some are innocuous, but some can really hurt you, such as thinking you can live on Social Security benefits alone, or believing that…