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The Complexities of Spousal Benefits
With spousal benefits cited by a Government Accounting Office study as an area that is continually misunderstood, it’s becoming more and more important that Social Security’s rules in this area are well-known before decisions are made early in the game. This…
Medicare or Medicaid — Where will reform efforts focus?
The Hill’s Peter Sullivan takes a look at the incoming administration’s potential strategies for health care reform, specifically with respect to comments make by Vice President-elect Mike Pence on the likelihood of block grants for Medicaid funding at the state…
Understanding what Medicare Doesn’t Pay For
Some of Medicare’s basic exclusions may come as a surprise to folks aging into the program, so it’s a good idea to be forewarned and prepared to deal with uncovered medical expenses. This Thinkadvisor article provides an overview of five…
Reflecting on 2017 Social Security Changes
The National Ledger’s Tom Margenau takes a look at what’s ahead for Social Security in 2017, from the 0.3% COLA to changes in various earnings limits. Check it out here… Notice: The link provided above connects readers to the full content…
The Reasoning Behind Early Filing for Benefits
Forbes and Next Avenue contributor Laurence Kotlikoff examines three basic schools of thought people use when electing to file for Social Security benefits at the earliest age of eligibility, 62. His analysis puts the rationales into three groups: those basically…
Social Security’s Gift to Children is Security
Source: Social Security Administration This is the season of caring. No matter your religion or belief, December is also considered a time to focus on the children we love. Whether we’re wrapping Santa’s gifts, buying Hanukkah treats, decorating the house…
A Checklist for Retiring Early
As that magical phase of life called “retirement” approaches, many give thought to the wonder of retiring early and heading out on a different path. Social Security, of course, is structured to enable you to enter this phase as early…
Picking an “in between” age for claiming Social Security benefits
Since you can claim benefits anytime between age 62 and 66/67 (as well as up to age 70 for delayed credits), this early decision point takes quite a bit of thought to select what’s best for one’s individual financial situation.…
Maximizing Retirement Via Off-Shore Living
It’s no longer your father’s retirement, that’s for sure. Becoming an ex-patriot in retirement is growing in popularity, according to an article posted at CBS Money Watch. The article discusses the driving forces behind this trend, including cost-of-living, medical care, and climate.…
A Recap of Important Social Security Details
Understanding Social Security and its extensive set of rules and regulations isn’t always easy, so it’s a good idea to keep tabs wherever you can on the basics. This article on rare.us provides a quick look at some of the fundamental aspects…