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Social Security alone won’t fund your future retirement
Especially for millennials, there’s a fair amount of skepticism that Social Security may not be there for them; thus many don’t count on it being a part of their retirement. And even though Social Security benefits will actually be there…
A basket full of Social Security services
As summer time approaches your thoughts may turn to picnics, and fulling your picnic basket with lots of goodies. Using this analogy, Jim Borland, the Social Security Administration’s Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications, describes the “basket full of useful offerings”…
The “4% Rule” isn’t always best for retirement withdrawals
The “4% rule”, which recommends limiting annual withdrawals to 4% of your retirement nest egg in order to preserve it for your lifetime, has long been the standard recommendation by most financial planners. But because the investment market has its…
Family Physicians Academy pleased with removing SSN from Medicare cards
It might be comforting to know that doctors who provide a majority of our healthcare services approve of the Government’s initiative to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) reports that it is…
Social Security is there for survivors
The trauma of losing a loved one can be debilitating, but rest assured that Social Security survivor benefits will be there to ease at least the financial stress of those left behind. Social Security survivor benefits may be paid to…
Re-visit your retirement plan regularly
Regardless of when you start your retirement planning, and the earlier the better, changes occur over the years. That’s why you shouldn’t think of your retirement plan as a “set it and forget it” accomplishment, but rather one that you…
Don’t run out of money in retirement
The number one worry harbored by people in or approaching retirement is that they will run out of money while they still have years of life to live. With the retirement landscape changing, savings take an increasing important role, but…
Your Social Security Number: Question why it’s needed.
Social Security numbers have become a common means of identification across America, even reaching beyond Government services to doctors, hospitals, and the like. And though the Government has had limited success reducing the use of the SSN, you have more…
The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), explained.
The Windfall Elimination Provision is an often vilified rule in the Social Security Act which reduces the benefit available to those who have worked in jobs which withheld Social Security payroll taxes, and also receive a pension from a job…
Getting married changes your benefit status
As you probably know, Social Security benefits extend to the survivors of a deceased beneficiary who was collecting retirement benefits. That includes dependent children under the age of 18 (or 19 if still in school), as well as adult unmarried…