AMAC Foundation
Social Security’s Rumored Demise
“Social Security benefits will end in about a decade.” This is an ongoing, frequently reported rumor that indicates misunderstanding about how Social Security is financed. The reality is that Social Security’s trust fund reserves have, since 2021, been used to…
Social Security Administration Feeling The Heat…AMAC Foundation Is The Answer!
Amid a steady stream of backlash and criticism, Social Security Administration (SSA) officials find themselves in a defensive stance as they deal with accusations of incompetence and poor service. Whether the disparaging assertions are related to excessive telephone wait times,…
Ask Rusty – About the Fairness of “WEP” and “GPO”
Dear Rusty: I was married to my ex-husband for 30 years. For 14 of those years, I was an unemployed mom and community volunteer. After my sons were grown, I began teaching in California and earned a teacher pension. That…
Implications of a Drastic Drop in COLA
There’s been quite a bit of commentary this week regarding the 2024 expected cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries, much of it highlighting what statistically looks like a jump from projections publicized earlier this year. That’s good news, of course,…
That “Final” Benefit Check—A Source of Some Confusion
A Social Security beneficiary’s passing is generally a traumatic time for all concerned, and a variety of details and things that need to be addressed often create stress and concern on the part of the survivors. One of them is…
Getting Set For Retirement? Some Important Steps to Take
The decision to claim you Social Security benefits requires quite a bit of thought, as well as an understanding of the fundamental rules you’ll need to navigate. But before you begin to dig in earnestly, there are three very basic…
An Update on Spousal Benefits and Some Details You May Not Know
Social Security has myriad rules and regulations, and many times not knowing some of the key points can cause certain benefit opportunities to be overlooked. This is true in the case of spousal benefits, and particularly in the area of…
Pessimistic Thoughts about Retirement
Contrary to yesterday’s post about folks expressing optimism about their future retirement life, wouldn’t you know it—a counter to those hopeful thoughts popped up in today’s harvest of retirement news. Specifically, in a post today on CNN.com, reporter Matt Egan…
How & Where Does Social Security Fit in Your Retirement Plans?
This question resonates differently depending on one’s proximity to their 60s, and the closer one is to “pulling the plug” on retirement, the more they’re beginning to think seriously about Social Security. But no matter your age, this post by…
Social Security Could Be One of the 5 Costly Mistakes You Could Make
Retirement planning–especially the financial side of the equation–presents many potential pitfalls if you’re not careful. In a post on finance.yahoo.com, reporter Mark Henricks explains how “messing up Social Security” can, for example, lead to problems in the area of survivor…