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Another Attempt to Kill the “Politicians Raided Social Security” Rumor
It’s been around for a long time, and many of you have probably heard friends and neighbors lament the saga of all the money being “stolen,” pilfered,” “raided,” (supply your own verb) from Social Security by politicians over the years.…
Social Security’s Place in Your Five-Year Plan
If you’re in your late-50s or early 60s, you’ve probably begun to sense the pages on the calendar turning faster each day. And as a result, you may be starting to focus attention some basic financial planning steps. Many folks at…
The Impact of Stopping Work Before Claiming Benefits
In a Q&A post on forbes.com, contributor Larry Kotlikoff answers a question from a reader who left the workforce at age 63 but has not yet filed for benefits. His question dealt with the impact that this early exit from the…
Don’t Let Reports of Social Security’s Demise Guide You
The long-term solvency of Social Security has been in the news quite a bit lately. Attention on the issue ramps up with each year’s publication of the Social Trustees Report and the dire warnings contained in it–forecasts of the program’s…
Providing Medicare and Medicaid home health benefits stabilize care costs for older beneficiaries
According to a new analysis from the Commonwealth Fund providing extended home health benefits for dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries is likely to stabilize care costs for public payer programs. The researchers reviewed healthcare costs and outcomes for Maryland’s Medicaid…
Couples: Retirement Planning is a Joint Responsibility
Many couples seem to be uncomfortable with “the talk” (about retirement finances), or perhaps unsure of how to actually focus on “the talk,” and that could be devastating to their long-term future. But the need to focus on savings, Social…
Long Term Care: The Potential Impact on Retirement Finances
InvestmentNews contributing editor Mary Beth Franklin, one of the leading voices in retirement planning, has assembled an insightful article concerning the issue of Long-Term Care financing and the financial impact this can have on one’s retirement finances. Although written as…
Limited Retirement Income? Here are some off-shore options.
It might be a growing trend, this interest in leaving the U.S. to enjoy areas where those with limited retirement incomes can live comfortably. CNBC reporter Annie Nova takes a look at “the five best places to retire and coast on…
Summary: Important Factors that Affect Your Social Security Benefit
The good folks at Timberline Financial have prepared a basic primer on some of the key factors that influence how much of a monthly payment you receive from Social Security. It begins, of course, with your date of birth, and addresses…
Examples of the “When to File” Decision
Phil Moeller, author of “Get What’s Yours for Medicare: Maximize Your Coverage, Minimize Your Costs,” Examines a series of questions related to the persistent question of when one should file for Social Security. One case deals with a situation where…