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According to the polls, more people say they’ll rely on Social Security
A recent Gallup poll has revealed that an increasing number of both younger and older people believe that they will need to rely on Social Security for their retirement. This is attributed to, among other things, the demise of most…
Retirement myths you should avoid
Retirement planning is something that all working people should focus on at some point in their career, if they want to live their “golden years” in relative comfort. But when doing that planning, be sure not to fall for some…
Think before you file for Social Security benefits
When you file for Social Security benefits has a very big impact upon how much your benefit will be. If you claim benefits at your full retirement age (somewhere between 66 and 67, depending on when you were born) you…
Give your retirement plan a tune up now to protect it from market volatility
Despite some recent volatility in the stock market, we’re still in a bull market phase that yields some pretty good returns for smart investors. And now, while the market is up, is the right time to give your retirement portfolio…
Income isn’t the only important thing in retirement
Sure, without income there is no retirement, but income alone isn’t the only thing that will make your retirement comfortable. As this Kiplinger article by David Braun explains, there are actually four pillars of retirement which any good retirement planning…
Ten years after OMB guidance, most agencies still overusing Social Security numbers
It’s been about a decade since the Government’s Office of Management & Budget issued guidance to all Federal agencies to cut back on their use of Social Security numbers as a means of identification. Although some progress has been made,…
Social Security Administration agents often wrong
Although agents at the Social Security Administration aren’t allowed to give advice on claiming strategies, they can sometimes steer you wrong. Social Security is an extremely complex topic, and SSA’s front line agents – the ones you will deal with…
Older parents may want to consider applying for Social Security earlier
Most advisors encourage people to delay applying for Social Security beyond the date they are first eligible at 62 years of age, often suggesting they wait until at least their full retirement age or even age 70 to enjoy the…
Getting the most out of Social Security
Complicated advice abounds on when to apply for Social Security but a few relatively simple strategies can often result in a substantially higher benefit check. And waiting until later to start benefits isn’t always the best way to make your…
Social Security isn’t just retirement benefits; it protects survivors too
Social Security is not only a retirement program, but also an insurance program, a fact too often overlooked in discussions about how it fits into your future. Survivor’s benefits can be paid to widows and widowers, even if the deceased was…