Latest News
2027 COLA Watch: Beware the “Trump Bump”
The recent surge in oil prices has the media aflutter with projections of a substantial increase in next year’s Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), perhaps as much as 15%. Of course, that’s a good news/bad news story, since COLA reflects…
A Reminder for Widow(ers) and Divorced Spouses in the Wake of HR 82
Last year’s passage of HR 82 (the so-called “Social Security Fairness Act of 2023“) changed the landscape for millions of current and future beneficiaries, with some of the changes affecting surviving spouses and divorcees. A recent post by NJ.com Trending…
SSI Savings and Efficiency Act of 2026
Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) introduced new legislation to change a longstanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) rule that can reduce benefits for seniors and people with disabilities simply because they receive basic help from family, friends,…
Stress-test your retirement plan regularly
Retirement planning is not set in stone; things change, such as inflation and changes in tax policy; however, some things don’t. Many retirees overlook the cost of healthcare and long-term care in retirement. Jonathan Ponciano, writing for Investopedia, asks if…
Americans retirement savings plans
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System stated in its 2025 report that “Sixty-seven percent of adults had assets that are specifically designated for producing income in retirement.” These findings are echoed by Fidelity’s 2026 State of Retirement…
You lost your Medicare Advantage Plan
In 2026, the enrollment in Medicare Advantage is projected to be approximately 35 million beneficiaries. However, due to rising medical costs and federal government oversight, insurance companies are cutting benefits and shrinking service areas, and in some areas of the…
So you made a filing mistake, now what
You can begin your Social Security benefits as early as age 62. However, you will receive a permanent reduction in your monthly benefit amount. The reduction is based on the number of months you claim benefits before reaching your full…
What to do to maximize your benefit at 62
Age 62 is the most popular age at which to claim Social Security benefits, but claiming at age 62 also means getting a much smaller benefit for the rest of your life. In 2026, the maximum Social Security benefit at…
Shifting away from saving to spending in retirement
Retirement planning is not always about hitting a specific number, but it’s about creating certainty. “For decades, retirement planning has centered on reaching a specific account balance, but as clients near retirement, that benchmark often fails to address a more…
Will the 2027 COLA be bad news for retirees
Social Security’s COLA is based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the previous year to the third quarter of the current year. It will…