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Social Security – By the numbers
With so many millions of Americans dependent on Social Security for a sizable percentage of their retirement income, it should be no surprise that annual benefit payments total about $918 billion dollars. But there are a lot of other interesting…
Don’t forget your Required Minimum Distribution
If you’ve arrived at the ripe young age of 70 1/2 this year, it’s the time you’ll probably have to start tapping into your retirement nest egg. This is the age that the IRS says we must start withdrawing a…
No matter your age, careful retirement planning is crucial
Although many people don’t think very much about retirement until they see it on their immediate horizon, the best time to start your retirement planning is when you’re younger. From how much savings you’ll need to where and how Social Security…
Social Security mistakes you should avoid making
For most people Social Security will comprise a very significant piece of their retirement income, so it makes a lot of sense to put careful thought into how you will approach your decisions about this big part of your future.…
Tips on how to prepare for your disability interview
Dealing with a new disability can be stressful enough, without the anxiety over your upcoming interview with Social Security for your SSDI application. This article by Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications at the Social Security Administration gives you…
The difference between, an IRA, Roth IRA, and 401(k), explained.
The traditional IRA, the Roth IRA and the 401(k) are three of the most often used retirement investment and tax savings vehicles available, but do you really understand the differences between them? This article by Forbes staffer Katheryne Thayer explains how…
Are you ready to retire? Look at these things first
In a recent survey, nearly 60% of those approaching retirement within 20 years said they felt they were prepared, but in that same survey only about 1/3rd had enough actual savings to match their expectations. And this is a great…
The retirement landscape is changing. Here’s how.
Baby boomers are entering retirement at a rate of about 10,000 per day, but many don’t understand that retirement today isn’t what it used to be. In today’s world, 60 is the new 40, and 70 is the new 50,…
Some Social Security planning information
We all know that we can claim Social Security at age 62, but what’s the financial penalty for doing that. And how about spousal benefits and survivor’s benefits? This article by Gary Boatman appears in the Uniontown (PA) Herald-Standard and…
A few facts to consider about your retirement
Don’t leave your retirement to chance when, with a little planning, you can be prepared for the inevitable surprises that can crop up along the way. It may not be comforting, but surveys show that most people don’t feel confident…