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Financial planners cautious when advising on Social Security
No self-respecting financial planner can ignore that Social Security will play an important role in a client’s retirement plan, but the advice given ranges from cautiously optimistic to pessimistic. This is the result of Social Security’s now well known financial…
Social Security’s “full retirement age” isn’t when you get the most you can get
For people retiring these days, “Full retirement age” as defined by Social Security is anywhere from 66 to 67, depending upon the year you were born. But the term “full” retirement age might imply that’s when your benefit will be…
Social Security’s disability program okay until 2028
In recent years, there has been massive growth in the number of beneficiaries In the “SSDI” (Social Security Disability Insurance) program, which has placed considerable strain on the program’s finances. The recently released Social Security Trustees’ annual report projects that the SSDI program’s…
What does that letter on your Medicare card mean?
At least until it’s changed in coming years , the identification number on your Medicare card is your Social Security number followed by a letter, such as “A”. But that trailing letter could be anything from A to W, depending upon what…
“Course corrections” should be part of your retirement planning
For most of your major long term objectives, life’s circumstances will require you to make adjustments along the way to be successful. This is especially true of retirement planning, that long term strategy for your future, which you should visit regularly to…
Social Security is a linchpin for retirement financial planning
Few would argue that Social Security isn’t an important part of nearly everyone’s retirement planning. And for most financial planners, developing a strategy for maximizing Social Security benefits is an important part of the whole financial planning process. This Northwest…
When the reality of retirement hits, here’s how to plan
For many people, the reality of retirement hits somewhere in their mid-50’s, and that’s when it’s time to really hunker down and figure out what you want your retirement to look like. Retirement is, after all, just another phase in your…
Improve your retirement with these tips
Retirement planning can seem a little onerous sometimes, but it’s important to keep a few simple things in mind as you plan for your golden years. A survey of 2000 wealthy investors reveals their thoughts on how to make your…
Some thoughts about Social Security’s finances, and the latest scam
Nationally syndicated financial columnist Michelle Singletary gets questions every day about retirement, and they almost always include concerns about Social Security’s financial problems. In this column appearing in The Washington Post, Michelle talks about Social Security’s purported “death spiral”, as…
A novel approach to Social Security’s financial woes
It’s pretty well known that Social Security’s Trust Funds are facing depletion in about 17 years, and there’s no shortage of opinions and ideas on what to do about it. But with Social Security being “the third rail” of American politics, progress…