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Congress gets tough as Social Security office services decline
In the name of operating efficiency the Social Security Administration (SSA) continues to close field offices, which translates to longer wait times and fewer staff to respond to the needs of America’s senior citizens. And since the SSA administers other…
The case for taking Social Security early
Your full retirement age (somewhere between 66 and 67, depending on when you were born) is when you’ll get 100% of the benefit you’ve earned from a lifetime of working; if you claim benefits earlier they will be reduced and…
Approaching retirement? Here are some Social Security basics
If you’re approaching that magical age of retirement, you’ll soon find that Social Security will be an important part of your financial picture, and understanding some of the program’s most basic elements will put you further ahead of the average…
Social Security’s Unknowns…It’s Important to Know the Basics
The most recent MassMutual Social Security retirement benefits survey, while showing some improvement over a similar survey in 2015, continues to illustrate a basic lack of understanding of how the program works among those aged 50 and over. Frightening, when you…
Social Security’s Math Problem
One would think that the annual cost-of-living adjustments built into the Social Security System would help ensure that the benefits would remain as dreamed about by so many future retirees. In other words, the amount of benefit available, say, two…
The “Savings Deficit,” Again
It’s not really news, but here’s yet another recap of the dismal state of wealth accumulation on the part Americans. With a reported savings cushion of less than $5,000, the USA Today Network, in a post on chicago.suntimes.com, cites what appears…
On Annuities and Other Topics
A collection of articles on retirement issues posted by writers at bic.financial-planning.com provides some food for thought in arranging finances for a solid financial future. Beginning with a cautionary note on annuities, and addressing the lack of savings on the part…
Achieving a “Retirement State of Mind”
Making the shift from a career orientation to retired life is a fairly easy transition for some, not so much for others. You’ll need to be able to cope with the lack of a rigid structure, or at least a…
Video: AMAC Town Hall Meeting Addresses the American Health Care System
On Saturday, AMAC hosted a town hall assembly to discuss American health care costs, policy changes, and the standard of patient care in the American health care system. The meeting, which took place in Souderton, Pennsylvania, was led by several…
Retirement: Knowing When to Go is Critical
“Have enough” or “have had enough”…two vastly different mindsets in the process of bringing yourself to the decision of when to leave the workforce behind. It seems that many folks opt to bail out too early, and then realize financial…