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Need a replacement SSA-1099? You can get it online
Especially this time of the year, you may find it necessary to get a replacement form SSA-1099, the one that you need to file your income tax and report your Social Security earnings. As this article by Jim Borland, Acting…
Are you “financially fragile”?
You may suffer from “financially fragility” if exposure to any of a multitude of stressful events would leave you in a situation where you wouldn’t be able to make ends meet. Events such as a job loss, healthcare emergency, or…
With traditional pensions fading away, millennials need to get serious about saving for retirement
Not so many years ago, traditional pension plans were fairly common, especially in larger, established companies. But all of that started to change when more and more employers started moving away from defined pension plans to alternatives such as 401(k)’s.…
Retiring later in life has some real benefits
Although upwards of 40% of American seniors still start their retirement years by claiming Social Security at age 62, the trend is actually that people are waiting longer to start those leisure times known as “the golden years”. And there…
Widows (and widowers) must meet certain requirements to collect Social Security on their deceased spouse’s record.
Surviving spouses can usually collect Social Security benefits based upon their deceased spouse’s work record, but their are some eligibility requirements that must be met, including both age and current marital status. This Newsday article by Lynn Brenner explains those…
Retirement planning is different for women.
It’s pretty well known that healthcare costs for women exceed those for men, and also that women enjoy more longevity. Combined with what’s usually called the “gender wage gap”, women are often at a disadvantage as they contemplate retirement and,…
Going to withdraw or borrow money from your retirement savings? Use caution.
You’ve been working hard to build up your nest egg for a future retirement, but then some hardship or crisis comes along that you need cash to resolve. Think long and hard about how you get that money, and how…
Three Social Security moves you should make.
There’s no shortage of articles talking about the importance of retirement planning and the financial status of the Social Security program, but what actually is the average person to do? Well, educating yourself on what benefits you are actually entitled…
Avoid these roadblocks to a comfortable retirement
No doubt you’ll face a lot of roadblocks throughout your life and navigate around them just fine. But there are some roadblocks that can have a pretty dramatic effect on your retirement and, thus, your level of comfort when you…
Don’t make these mistakes that can derail your retirement
You’ve worked hard to try to plan for that day when you’ll turn in your work badge and look forward to spending a lot more time in your recliner. But there are some pitfalls you need to make sure you…