retirement
Looking Ahead to Your Social Security Benefit
Whether you’re just looking at averages or have seen your forecasted benefit amount at full retirement age, you may have been surprised at the level of payment you’ll receive. The fact that Social Security is only intended, on average, to…
Grads: Social Security Will be There for You, But It Won’t Be Enough
Young folks stepping into a career aren’t likely to pay much attention to the other end of the spectrum…their retirement years. That’s a given, and besides, Social Security will be there when it’s needed, despite the hoopla about insolvency, benefit…
Social Security Uncertainty Weighing on the Minds of Seniors
Two recent media posts have cited a growing level of concern among Americans in retirement or approaching Social Security eligibility. First, a post by Fox13 Salt Lake City’s Kelly Chapman (click here) suggests that “policy changes and uncertainty about the…
Social Security’s Average Monthly Benefit Hits a New Milestone
The month of May is expected to see the average monthly benefit for retired workers reach the $2,000 level for the first time in history. For a quick comparison, the average benefit at the same point in 2015 was $1,363,…
Carrying Debt Into Retirement…a “Generational Time Bomb”
Noted entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary offers sobering thoughts on a trend emerging in the retirement world: seniors moving into that life phase with a heavy debt load. In a recent post on thestreet.com, O’Leary observes: “Nearly two-thirds of families led by…
The “Big, Beautiful Tax Bill” still needs some attention!
The House Ways & Means Committee has published it’s “one big beautiful bill” to provide government spending in the next fiscal year. And that bill does, in fact, have some very positive aspects, most notably extending the expiring 2017 tax…
About Retiring from a Long Working Career
I remember it well – my first day of retirement from over 40 years working in my chosen professional career. It was a day of both trepidation, but excitement looking forward to living my days according to my own rules,…
About Taxation of Social Security – Most States do not tax benefits
There is a lot of media attention about income tax on Social Security benefits these days, what with Congress debating the possibility of eliminating Federal income tax on SS benefits (as President Trump has asked). But in all the hoopla…
The ongoing Saga of Social Security’s “Full Retirement Age”
Although, for many years, age 65 was considered to be the normal retirement age, for Social Security purposes that changed with legislative changes made in 1983. In that year, legislation was enacted which gradually raised the age at which full…
Are you emotionally ready to retire?
Although most retirement planner focus on the financial aspects of achieving a comfortable retirement, don’t forget about the emotional aspects as well. Are you ready to go from a full day of working, along with the related stress of your…