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Sometimes taking Social Security early is the smart move
Complementing another article on this webpage about waiting until age 70 to apply for Social Security, this article offers some reasons on why applying for benefits early can be exactly the right move for some. It all comes down to…
Is waiting until age 70 for Social Security a smart move?
If you are a person who reads articles on Social Security on a regular basis, you will often see suggestions that you should wait until you are 70 years old to collect. This speaks to the most frequently asked question advisors receive:…
The Social Security number: it’s becoming obsolete
Although it has well served its original purpose of existing for “Social Security and tax purposes only”, the Social Security number today is fast becoming obsolete as a technologically modern way of identifying people. With fingerprint reading, iris scanning and…
The August numbers are in; COLA increase for 2018 fairly certain
A COLA, the annual cost of living adjustment to Social Security benefit payments, is starting to look like it will definitely happen for 2018. With the August Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers now on the books, even assuming a flat…
Filling the income gap while delaying Social Security
The concept is really quite simple: Delaying Social Security benefits means your benefit amount will be bigger when you finally apply. But delaying benefits might also mean that you’ll need to find another source of income while you wait for…
What is the real Social Security maximum benefit?
Most times, when you ask what the maximum Social Security benefit amount available might be, the answer you get will be whatever amount is set as the maximum monthly full retirement age benefit in any given year ($2,687 in 2017).…
When to give your Social Security number, and when not to
Despite its not being originally intended as an identification method, your Social Security number has evolved over the years to become the de facto method of identifying yourself. As a consumer, it’s not at all unusual for your utility company,…
Health Savings Accounts–A Rapidly Growing Retirement Savings Strategy
Called “one of the most attractive investment vehicles available in the marketplace,” Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are rapidly becoming a major force in the retirement planning industry. Citing a trifecta of benefits (tax conductible contributions, tax deferral of earnings, and tax-free…
2018 COLA Watch…It’s Now Looking Like a Range of 1.5% to 2%
Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for August point toward the strong potential for a Social Security cost of living adjustment between 1.5% and 2% for 2018, according to a post today by The Motley Fool’s Dan Caplinger. With just one…
The Upside of Filing for Social Security Early
So much has been written in the financial press about the benefits of waiting to file for Social Security–and therefore receiving a larger monthly amount–that folks who have filed early are often led to believe they’ve made a crucial mistake.…