Full retirement age
Demystifying the Federal Payroll Tax

Nearly all workers pay it, but very few understand it – the Federal Payroll Tax. With few exceptions,[1] everyone who works and earns pays the federal payroll tax from their earnings – that’s about 175 million American workers. The tax, first…
Your Social Security benefit won’t be cut in 2026
If you are worried about your Social Security payment going down in 2026, you likely should not be. Your monthly benefit is based upon your lifetime earnings while working and, except for cost-of-living adjustments (increases), your monthly payment will not…
Ask Rusty – I’m Turning 70. When Should I Apply for Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I have a very simple question: I will turn 70 on September 20th and want to start my Social Security benefits in September. What month should I file my claim? Have there been delays with the reductions in…
Social Security: Once upon a time – and Today

Once upon a time, there was no real social security in the United States of America. Oh, there were a few early 19th century attempts at public programs to limit poverty, especially for the elderly. However, all of these early…
A Lack of Social Knowledge Can Create a Big Problem!
What you don’t know can hurt you, especially when it comes to Social Security decisions. That’s a simple fact that we deal with routinely at the AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisory Service. For example, being unaware of the earnings test…
Some reasons why you may want to start early
You can begin your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, if you start receiving benefits early, your benefits are reduced. But if you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to 70, your…
Thinking About Taking Social Security Benefits Early?
People appear to be rushing to take their benefits early because many fear it will not be there in the future. This is not a good reason for taking your benefits early, since Social Security will always be there at…
What age should you be to collect Social Security Benefits?
Some think the average retirement age is 65, but it is actually 63. You can take benefits as early as 62 but there is an earnings limit of $23,400.00 for 2025. If you make over that amount Social Security will…
Will Social Security Disappear?

Well, no – it will not. But there is the problem that Social Security’s annual cost is more than the income it receives from working Americans, and income taxes on SS benefits, and interest from reserves held in the Social…
Are You Really Ready for Retirement?
Suddenly pulling the plug on a decades long working career can be disconcerting at best, and traumatic at worst! So, are you really ready for that? Going from a 40 to 50 hour work week, to suddenly having nothing but…