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Social Security…A Bit f History
This excerpt from Murray Rothbard’s The Progressive Era, Patrick Newman, ed. (Auburn, Al.: Mises Institute, 2016), chap. 11.] provides a historical glimpse of some of the early logistical days leading up to Social Security’s implementation in the 1930s. It’s an interesting…
Yet Another Study: Millennials Deficient in Saving for Retirement
A new study by National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) manager of research, Jennifer Brown, suggests that “Most Millennials have nothing saved for retirement, and those who are saving aren’t saving nearly enough.” Her report on the study, titled “Millennials and Retirement:…
Understanding Annual Contribution Limits
Forbes contributor Kelly Phillips Erb opens her 2018 “Taxes from A to Z” series with an explanation of the annual contribution limits for certain retirement plans recently announced by the IRS. In addition to providing direct links to relevant sections of the…
Another Look at Spousal Benefits
TheStreet’s Anne Stanley, in a “Ask Bob” post today on www.thestreet.com, takes a look at a specific situation in which a high-earning couple examines their options to maximum eventual spousal benefits under current Social Security rules. The answer to this question sheds light…
What SSA Doesn’t Tell You Can Hurt You
It’s been the subject of quite a few news reports in the past, and here it is again…the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) just released an audit showing poor performance in notifying widows and widowers about their retirement benefit…
The Complications of Divorce and Spousal Benefits
Filing for spousal benefits can be straightforward, except in some cases. That’s pretty much a standard answer for many Social Security rules and strategies, but when it comes to divorce situations, it gets even murkier. Investment News contributing editor Mary…
National Consumer Protection Week
(Source: Social Security Administration) Looking to protect yourself from fraud, identity theft, and scams? This week, March 4-10, is National Consumer Protection Week, when we join the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help consumers understand their rights and make well-informed…
Continuing Leadership Focus Needed to Modernize How SSA Does Business
(Source: Government Accountability Office) What GAO Found GAO’s prior work and Social Security Administration’s (SSA) strategic plan for fiscal years 2018-2022 highlight significant demographic and technological challenges facing the agency. For example, SSA’s workloads are increasing due to 80 million…
New Medicare cards coming soon
(Source: Federal Trade Commission) New Medicare cards are coming soon. Here’s what you need to know about your new card. Plus, how to avoid related scams. Starting in April 2018, Medicare will begin mailing new cards to everyone who gets…
Retirement Uncertainty and the Impact on Women
Recent research by research Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS) reports that “only 12 percent of women indicated being “very confident” they will someday retire comfortably.” This sentiment, coupled with frequent news accounts of generally lower benefit levels and longer lifespans for women,…