Latest News
Maximizing survivor’s benefits for both spouses and ex-spouses.
Things can get pretty complicated when Social Security retirement benefits, disability benefits and survivor benefits for both a spouse and an ex-spouse intersect. This question from a person who wants to maximize survivor benefits for his spouse, but also find…
Couples with an age gap should plan for retirement differently.
As if retirement planning isn’t complex enough when a couple is about the same age, the whole game changes if there is a wide age gap between partners in the marriage. Planning takes on a whole new perspective if you…
Think you have your retirement plan well in place? Take another look.
Although a majority of workers think they will have enough money for a comfortable retirement, the average amount of savings most Americans have today calls that opinion into question. The fact is that even if you’ve done your homework and…
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…