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Some thoughts for those approaching retirement…
You’ve read the reports that say Americans aren’t well prepared financially for their retirement years. If that description fits your situation, this article by Maurie Backman of The Motley Fool offers some things you might want to consider. Read her…
Understanding RMDs…A Key Part of Your Retirement Financing Strategy
As you head into retirement, it’s no secret that you’ll need to make the mental shift from accumulation to distribution. And that’s where RMDs–Required Minimum Distributions–come in. Certified financial planner Herb White, in a post on www.myprimetimenews.com provides an overview of RMDs…
Three Million Boomers Heading for Off-Shore Retirement
Online business publication Travel Market Report, reports that over 3 million American Baby Boomers are planning to retire abroad. That’s a substantial jump in the number (approximately 350,000) of Social Security beneficiaries currently receiving their checks offshore. Fox Business reporter Casey Dowd…
Yet another “dearth of retirement savings” article
It’s becoming a well-worn theme, but the problem doesn’t seem to be diminishing. In fact, as this article points out, “about half of all baby boomers have less than $100,000 in retirement savings, and nearly one-third of them have less…
Understanding the Tax Implications of Being Self-Employed
When making the decision to join the ranks of the self-employed, it’s critically important ti understand the tax process and the simple fact that the self-employed are required to pay both ends of the Social Security and Medicare tax tab.…
Sen. Brown Speaks Out Against Raising Retirement Age
Speaking with local business and education leaders in Ohio yesterday, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) commented on President Trump’s tax reform efforts, suggesting that raising the rasing the eligibility age for retirement is “just wrong.” Sen. Brown’s remarks covered a number…
An argument for raising the retirement age to 70
Fortune.com reporter Jeff Bukhari takes a look at comments by former Reagan adviser Martin Feldstein suggesting that raising the full retirement age to 70 is a viable part of the future Social Security financial picture. Feldstein’s comments were publiched in the Wall Street…
The logic behind WEP and GPO
There are often misunderstood subjects–the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset–and the question frequently comes up from those who’ve worked in jobs, or for periods of time, that did not withhold Social Security taxes from their paychecks. Certified financial…
Short-term Care Policies May Offer Alternative for Some
For those who have not made arrangements for long-term care (LTC) via insurance offerings, there may be an alternative that’s worth at least looking into. Although not very well-known, many insurers have a product line that offers coverage for nursing home…
Understanding Social Security’s “Compassionate Allowances” Provision
For anyone dealing with “early onset Alzheimer’s” or other forms of advancing dementia, it’s important to know that Social Security’s disability program provides for expedited review of claims. Mark Harvey, director of information and assistance for the Olympic Area Agency on Aging,…