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Understanding the benefits of a Roth IRA
The decision to forego the benefit of a current year tax reduction in favor of a Roth IRA can be a difficult one to make. But if you go that route, you’ll thank yourself when you get in to your…
Social Security Makes the Top 10 List of News Items
InvestmentNews reports in a recent post that Social Security issues are among the Top 10 news items that were most popular with their readers in 2019. Specifically, the issue of deferring filing until age 70 to take advantage of deferred…
Seniors and Vulnerability
Fraud situations affecting older Americans and Social Security recipients is rampant these days, and the Office of the Inspector General is alerting folks to the importance of staying alert to the scammers and their tricks. This post by Social Security…
Attention Women: Thoughts on the Retirement Savings Problem
In an article posted on forbes.com, contributor David Kudla tackles the issue of challenges women face in saving for retirement. He also provides an analysis of how this problem is typically more severe for women than for men, and offers sage…
Turning 62 in 2020? 3 Things to Know
Everyone seems to know what a magic number 62 is when it comes to retirement. But it may be past time to re-think that as the age to begin Social Security benefits. As Maurie Backman notes in this piece, someone…
Are You Entitled to More Social Security Benefits?
Katie Brockman’s piece here helps folks maximize their Social Security benefits. There’s more to it than delaying to age 70 and working a full 35 years, as those are the golden rules for retirement benefits. But there is also survivor’s,…
3 Harmless Things That Can Hurt Your Soc Sec Checks
Katie Brockman cites a survey from Nationwide that revealed 91% of workers age 50+ do not know how their benefit amount is calculated. With this in mind, her article here focuses on three mistakes she implores people not make: 1. not working a full…
What’s the Maximum Social Security Tax One May Owe in 2020?
Newsflash: you don’t pay Social Security tax on every nickel you earn. The wage cap will be $137,700 starting in 2020. Social Security taxes are 6.2% of your total salary, or 12.4% of your earnings if you’re self-employed. This means…
Should You Claim Social Security at 70?
It’s the maximum age one can claim benefits to get the highest possible monthly amount to which one is entitled based on one’s highest 35 years of lifetime earnings. So should everyone wait until age 70 to start Social Security…
Soc Sec Max Benefits & Spousal Benefits Explained
Boston University Economics Professor Laurence Kotlikoff explains the issue of maximum Social Security benefits. He highlights the fact that it can differ for two people with the exact same lifetime earnings if birth year is different. The author also explains…