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When to start Social Security benefits
It’s a question very often asked of Social Security staff: “What’s the best age to start receiving retirement benefits”. And the answer is that there is no one “best age”. In this article appearing at the Everett, Washington HeraldNet website, Social Security’s…
A national dilemma: Replacing the Social Security number as an ID
By now you know that you should closely guard your Social Security number, and not give it to anyone who doesn’t absolutely need it to provide you with services. The problem with that advice is that the Social Security number…
Health and income often retirement problems
The unfortunate fact is that some people find that their so-called “golden years” don’t turn out to be so golden after all. And when that is the case, it’s usually because their health has become a problem, or their retirement…
How do criminals use stolen personal data?
In the wake of the massive Equifax data breach, you may be wondering how this information could be used by criminals bent on bilking the public out of their hard earned money. This CNN Money article by Selena Larson appears…
Saving, investing, and Social Security
You’ve probably read the news that Americans simply aren’t saving their money as they should to enjoy a comfortable future retirement. In fact, one pundit recently said that 7 in 10 Americans have less than $1,000 in savings – hardly enough…
When to apply for Social Security: Some basics
Obviously the amount of your Social Security benefit will depend on how much you earned over your working career, but it also depends upon what age you apply for benefits. Simply stated, the earlier you apply the less you’ll get…
Reverse mortgage a bad way to fund delaying Social Security benefits
When advising clients who seek to maximize their Social Security benefits, most advisors will explain that delaying those benefits and earning delayed retirement credits, even up to age 70, is the best way to get the most you can get. But,…
Social Security questions answered
Tom Margenau, noted national columnist and former Social Security Administration employee, appears regularly in several publications answering readers’ various questions about Social Security, In this tucson.com (Arizona) column, Mr Margenau answers a range of questions about benefits, penalties, documents, widow’s benefits…
What does your future self look like?
One of the most important things for anyone to visualize when planning retirement is what their “future self” will look like, compared to their present self. In other words, how do you see yourself in retirement? The answer to that…
Planning for retirement isn’t just about your finances
Financial advisors almost universally focus on helping you accumulate the money you will eventually need for retirement, but the reality is that your savings nest egg is only part of what’s really needed for a happy retirement. After toiling with work…