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WEP and GPO–It’s important to understand the impact on your Social Security benefits
With an estimated one-third of all educators and one-fifth of public employees potentially affected by the benefit-curtailing impacts of the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset provisions built into Social Security, these portions of the program have become hot-buttons…
Some Basic Social Security No-Nos
Despite what often seems like an avalanche of advice on how to approach Social Security benefits, there are still several very basic–but also very consequential–mistakes that surface. For example, waiting to file for benefits beyond age 70 (which means your…
The Importance of Knowing Your “Break Even Point”
As you plan your retirement finances, you’ll need to weigh the consequences of filing early (as early as age 62) versus the benefits of waiting to your full retirement age (or beyond, even to age 70). Although Social Security payouts…
Social Security and Gay Couples–Things You Need to Know
The Supreme Court decision three years ago legalizing gay marriage brought with it the need for a better understanding of the rights of couples, specifically their now-legal access to spouses and survivors benefits. CNBC Personal Finance Reporter Lorie Konish takes a…
Is early retirement in your plans? If so, read on.
During the doldrums of a long career, or while enduring the pressure situations that many jobs create, it’s not uncommon to dream about jumping ship at the earliest opportunity. If that fits you mindset, great, but there are some points…
The pitfalls of remaining clueless in retirement financing
Recent publications from Bankrate.com report that more than six in ten folks surveyed indicate that they have no clue about how much of a nest egg they’ll need to accumulate for retirement. With the lack of a goal comes the…
Staying in the workforce after retiring? Things to be aware of.
Many folks are electing to remain a part of the active workforce well into their retirement years (and well past what was once considered to be the “golden age” of 65). If you fall into that grouping, there are some…
A Different View on Social Security’s Solvency Issue
Despite the news articles and blog reports surfacing again in the wake of the 2018 Trustees Report and its dire predictions, not everyone is calling for a rush to judgement. Fox Business reporter Henry Fernandez recaps remarks by Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.)…
Questions on Suspending Benefits, the Earnings Test, and Survivor’s Benefits
Forbes contributor Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics at Boston University, a Fellow of the American Academy, a Research Associate of the NBER, and President of Economic Security Planning, Inc. addresses a series of questions associated with Social Security’s complexities in a…
2018 Social Security Trustees Report: A concise summary
With the release yesterday of the 2018 Social Security Trustees’ Report, we have already seen a panoply of “news” articles analyzing the Report and offering opinions both positive and negative about the implications of this latest review of Social Security’s…