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Retirement Savings: Improvement, but One Area Needs Work
Fidelity reports that there has been a positive swing in the rate of savings among American households, with the level of money going into defined contribution plans increasing about 12% since 2010. and with higher balances and fewer loans from…
More on the Myth of Social Security’s “Stolen” Funds
It’s an untruth that just won’t go away…that through the years, politicians have “raided” Social Security’s trust funds and redeployed workers’ deposited taxes for other purposes. As explained by The Motley Fool’s Sean Williams in a post on helenair.com, the use…
Dealing with Sub-Par COLAs
While the official announcement of 2019’s Social Security cost-of-living adjustment grinds toward its official release date, many of the pre-anouncement reports have been giddy about the possibility of a bump inching toward 3%. Not all of these reports have been…
Interested in the “FIRE Movement?” Here are some helpful thoughts.
The “financially independent, retire early” movement, also referred to as FIRE, pops up in the mainstream media from time-to-time, and it seems to be gaining some traction among younger Americans. The movement’s mantra is “with some strong resolve and a few…
A quick look at some Social Security basics
In a recorded article posted at dlshowonline.com, The David Lukas Show presents a discussion on a series of five basic Social Security rules that everyone needs to know when applying for benefits. From taxation of benefits to coordinating of spousal benefits, the 48 minute…
A Plug for 401k Plans
With only about two-thirds of those eligible to participate in a 401k plan actually doing so, it’s no surprise that so many of those aging into retirement are behind the financial planning curve. This nasdaq.com article by The Motley Fool’s Katie…
By the Numbers…Ways to Offset the Lack of Sufficient Savings
It’s no secret that many Americans face a lack of sufficient savings for their retirement years. But that’s not a reason to despair…there are steps you can take–and the sooner the better–to improve your situation so that your Social Security…
Some Preliminary Thoughts on Social Security
As the article attached to this post suggests, there are some very basic questions that folks starting to think about Social Security might be afraid to ask, even before delving into the myriad details. For example, in broad terms how…
Your Social Security Benefits Can Be Less Than You Expect
It may come as a surprise (or a shock!) to some that the dollars they expect to be winding up in their hands from Social Security may not be as great as they thought. It could be the taxation issue, or…
Was your Medicare Advantage plan discontinued? Here what to do
If you currently have a Medicare Advantage plan and have received a notice that it will be discontinued in 2019, you’re now faced with a decision on how to replace that plan with other healthcare coverage. With Medicare’s Open Enrollment…