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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…
Retirement planning tips from the experts
Retirement planning, especially when those golden years are far into the future, is something that many people tend to put off until tomorrow. But there are some pretty basic tips that even those just entering the workforce can benefit by,…
Cutting taxes on your Social Security Income
Though the rules are pretty straightforward for when and how much your Social Security income is taxed, those with moderate or low earnings income may be able to find ways to lower their tax liability through smart investing. This Kiplinger.com…
Federal agencies trying to move away from Social Security number as ID
Though they’ve been wrestling with the problem for nearly a decade, agencies of the Federal Government are trying to find ways to find an alternative to using the Social Security Number (SSN) as a way to identify Americans, without exposing…
A simple mistake that could cost you dearly
As hard as it might be for you to imagine, the Government does occasionally make mistakes (pun intended). And considering that the Social Security Administration mistakenly declares about 14,000 people dead each year, it should come as no surprise that…