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The Workforce, Demographics, and the Future of Social Security
Journalist Andrew Miller, in a post today on www.thetrumpet.com, examines the demographic projections for America’s workforce in the future, and offers conjecture on the implications for the future of Social Security benefits. At the center of Miller’s premise is the problem…
A Look at the Delays in Processing Social Disability Claims
With a shortage of Administrative Law Judges and a shortage of clerical staff at the root of the issue, compounded by “overly burdensome policies and procedures” and the overhead they bring with them, the wait time in many instances for…
The Basics of How Your Social Security Benefits are Determined
There are three fundamental aspects of the calculation to determine how much of a monthly benefit you’ll receive: How much you earned during your working years, how many years you worked, and your age when you decide to file. The…
It’s Finally Set to Happen…Medicare Cards Without Social Security Numbers
Newsitem.com reports that, beginning April 1, 2018 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin mailing out Medicare cards without Social Security Numbers on them.Instead, a random mix of numbers and letters will be used for authentication. Read more…
Understanding the Complications of Working While Collecting Social Security
It’s not as simple as it used to be, with more and more folks electing to remaining in the workforce after beginning to draw Social Security benefits. Investopedia contributor Tim Parker takes a look at the implications of this situation…
Surviving Spouse Benefits and the Importance of Planning
A well-planed retirement strategy needs to take into account the issue of survivorship, as noted in a post by MarketWatch contributor April Reed Crews. In her post on www.marketwatch.com, Ms. Crews outlines the surprises awaiting those who do not effectively…
The Fallacy of Conventional Wisdom in Planning Retirement Spending
Many folks go into their retirement years with the assumption that a 4% to 5% withdrawal rate from accumulated savings will enable their resources to last. But that may not be a realistic assumption, according to an article by Byron…
Thinking about a retirement abroad? Here’s one view of the “best” places to consider.
The number of Americans choosing to live their retirement years outside of the United States continues to grow (it jumped 17% between 2010 and 2015, according to some studies). There are several basic reason for this trend, from stretching available…
Retiring? Here’s a primer on figuring out how much money you’ll need.
The Motley Fool’s Matthew Frankel takes a look at a question many–perhaps most–people approaching retirement have on their minds: How much money will I need? Frankel’s analysis focuses on the level of sustainable income you’ll need to maintain a desired lifestyle, and…
A Refresher on Your Retirement Age
Your Full Retirement Age (FRA) is a key determinant in your Social Security benefit calculation, so understanding that that number is for you is important. For those who aren’t aware of exactly what their FRA is, this article by The…