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Turning bricks and mortar into retirement income
The baby boomer generation currently makes up most of the American retirees, and they are sitting on a record $19 trillion in real estate wealth. For some, home equity accounts for one-third of retirees’ financial assets, whereas traditional retirement savings…
Updates to Social Security to be aware of
We have all seen the media headlines announcing the 2026 Social Security COLA of 2.8 percent. The Medicare Part B premium is increasing by 9.7 percent to $202.90. However, there are more changes to Social Security in 2026 that you…
New Supplemental Security Income Improvements Team
In September 2025, Commissioner Bisignano created a new SSI Improvement Team to make SSI processing more efficient, reduce improper payments, speed up automation, and help SSI recipients comply with program requirements. Continue reading here… Notice: The link provided above connects readers…
Working a side gig to make ends meet
Are you working a side gig to supplement your income or your retirement? You are not alone. A recent survey from My Guide to Retirement reports that “44 percent of respondents said they took on an extra gig to achieve…
Will $2 million be enough for your retirement
A recent survey by BlackRock reported that the average American said they needed $2.09 million to retire comfortably. That’s an astronomical figure for many of us. Even BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, wrote. “That’s a lot and more than I was…
Stretching your Social Security benefits
Nearly 22 million seniors rely on their Social Security benefits for the entirety of their retirement income, according to a recent 2025 survey. The same survey reports that an estimated 31.8 million seniors get by on less than $2,000 a…
Timing is everything when it comes to Social Security
“Timing is everything.” — Buck Brannaman. This statement applies when it comes to when you should claim your Social Security benefits. If you take them at age 62, they will be permanently reduced by as much as 30 percent compared…
What to know before you take your first RMD
Are you turning 73 this year and facing taking your first required minimum distributions (RMDs)? If so, congratulations; if not, you may want to take notes for when it’s your turn to start taking RMDs. Maurie Backman, writing for The…
How to avoid costly mistakes in retirement
“Retirement isn’t the end of the road — it’s the reward for the path you planned.” – Unknown Planning for retirement is hard, but it is worth it. Although some of us thought we had planned well for retirement, certain…
GAO findings on sharing costs for Social Security’s Death Data
Only for the most persnickety among us, this report from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) explains that the Social Security Administration pays the various States for their “death data” (about $26 million in 2025), which is then used by…