Latest News
Medicare Unveils ‘Skeletal’ Site For Hospice Comparison Shopping
(By Melissa Bailey for Kaiser Health News) Medicare launched a website aimed at helping families choose a hospice — but experts say it doesn’t help very much. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this week released Hospice Compare, a consumer-focused…
The Real Upside of Saving for Retirement
Challenging the projections put forth in the 2017 Social Security Trustees Report as being “wildly optimistic,” Simon Black of Soverignman.com calls the program’s impending insolvency “biggest financial crises in US history.” His opinion is based on the 75-year shortfall, magnified by…
Can I Keep This Benefit Payment?
(Source: Social Security Administration) Social Security is with you through life’s journey, securing today and tomorrow for millions of people. We know that reliability and dependability is an important part of your financial security. We use the same throughout the month eligibility…
Retirement Planing and The Million Dollar Myth
How many times have you heard, “You’ll need at least a million dollars to retire”? And if you’re close to retirement and the hope of accumulating that million is drifting away, is it causing you stress? Well, you aren’t alone…many…
Getting set to retire…some first steps
OK…you’re just about to pull the plug and grab the brass ring called retirement. What’s your first step as you get ready? Certified Financial Planner Marc Hebert provides some suggestions for you in a post on www.wmur.com. Read it here… Notice:…
Social Security Benefits…the Impact of Waiting in a Graph
In case you had any doubts, this post by T. Rowe Price provides a visual representation of the impact delaying your Social Security benefits can have. Delaying from age 62 to age 70 can produce an increase of 86%. Check…
HSAs Might Be a Way to Augment Your Retirement Savings
If you qualify for a Health Savings Account, you might want to examine the potential benefits the concept offers. They’re tax-deductible, the earnings are tax-deferred, and the distributions may be tax-exempt if used for qualified medical expenses. In a post…
Mistakes do happen… so it’s good to check your Social Security information
Social Security Administration claims 99.9% accuracy in its determination of individual benefits. That’s pretty good…unless you’re the one in a thousand that isn’t receiving the correct amount. Regardless of where the fault might lie, it’s a good idea for beneficiaries…
Starting your Social Security benefits…timing is important
Beyond the strategic issue of whether to file early and get a reduced benefit or let Social Security’s delayed benefit credits accumulate, the actual mechanics of scheduling the arrival of your payments can cause confusion. Tom Margenau, in a post…
Faith in Social Security on the Rebound
This quick statistical summary by Lee Barney posted on www.planadviser.com hints at a rebound in those who have faith in the longevity of Social Security. In fact, a surprising conclusion Barney draws is that “the percentage of Americans of all ages who…