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Having trouble saving for retirement? Here are plans that might work for you.
The good folks at Women’s Day magazine have outlined several strategies that can help you build a nest egg for the years ahead. From a 20-year Plan to a 5-year Plan, their article offers tips that can help “ensure that…
Taxation of Social Security Benefits–Why, and what’s the problem?
Having Social Security benefits subject to income tax comes as a shock to many folks entering retirement, and it’s generally viewed as a form of “double taxation,” since the benefits are actually based on earnings that you already paid taxes…
Filing at Age 62? Here’s how the numbers shake out.
Many folks contemplating filing for Social Security benefits at the earliest opportunity understand generally that their benefit will be lower than if they wait ill their full retirement age (or the three years beyond), But how much less? This article by…
More on the Shutdown’s Effect on Social Security
Essential services will continue during the shutdown, and it’s likely that it will not impact the flow on Social Security benefit payments. An MSN Business Insider post by Bob Bryan offers an explanation of how the federal government’s operational hiatus will unfold.…
Strategic Hints for Married Couples
Brian Stoffel, in a post today on www.msn.com, examines a set of basic facts and strategies that all married couples approaching retirement should clearly understand. Ranging from a refresher on how one qualifies for benefits and how benefits are actually calculated…
Note to millennials: Don’t put off investing for retirement
It’s probably understandable, but the millennial generation (those born between the early 1980’s and mid-1990’s) seems skeptical about saving for retirement. Considering that they’ve lived through a depression with scant job opportunities, that shouldn’t be especially surprising. However, as this…
Can better interest rates help Social Security’s finances?
Despite all of the negative press you read about Social Security’s finances, the fact is that the Trust Fund is flush with about $2.85 trillion dollars in assets. Those assets are, in reality, special issue government bonds which yield interest,…
Social Security’s real dilemma? People are living much longer
It’s pretty well known by now that Social Security is facing a financial dilemma because it’s paying out more in benefits than it receives in payroll taxes. Everything written these days seems to focus on the aging “baby boomer” population entering…
Social Security not meant to be your primary retirement plan
When it was originally conceived and enacted back in the 1930’s, Social Security was a social program that protected only poor and low income workers from living out their older years in poverty. Then, in 1939, protection for survivor’s and…
Retirement strategies for a booming market
With the stock market riding a tidal wave of financial growth, many retirees and soon-to-be-retirees whose savings needed a boost are finding that their nest egg is now doing very well, and that they’re much better positioned for their golden years…