retirement
Social Security, by itself, won’t be enough
The Social Security Administration states 21 percent of married couples and 45 percent of single persons rely on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their retirement income. Based on recent polls conducted by several leading financial organizations found…
The changes that will impact all future retirees
As of October 2022, over 48 million Americans received Social Security retirement benefits. However, there will be around 10,000 people (taking the total of retiring males and females) turning 65 each day for the next two decades. Although your retirement…
Millennials and the FIRE Movement: A Cautionary Tale
The thought of retirement way before conventional approaches is attractive to many younger workers desiring freedom from work life. That attractiveness has spawned the FIRE movement–“Financial independence, retire early”–and in recent past it seems to be growing n popularity. If…
One More Time: When Should I Take Social Security Benefits?
It’s not always a simple decision, and it’s one of the most frequently-encountered questions most financial planners receive from their clients. Here, in a less-than-three-minute video clip from Fox 2 St. Louis, is a summary view of points to consider…
Re-thinking the Term “Retirement” and Its Impact on Social Security and Medicare
As we’ve pointed out frequently on this website, the tempo is beginning to increase in the media regarding–finally–a serious look at correcting Social Security’s long-term financial woes. Many pundits and news sources have begun to step up their coverage of…
Understanding the Implications of Filing Early
The majority of seniors aging into Social Security eligibility opt to begin drawing benefits before reaching their full retirement age (FRA). For some, it makes sense. For others, waiting would likely produce a gain in the amount of monthly benefit…
A Summary of Bi-Partisan Suggestions for the Social Security Dilemma
As the calendar continues to advance toward commencement of the 118th Congress, we’re seeing an uptick in reports of potential changes that could be considered to address this thorny and complex problem. In a post today on wfmz.com, The Motley…
An Argument for Age 70 Full Retirement Age
As the rhetoric heats up in advance of the 118th Congress and the potential heightening of interest in finally taking a serious look at resolving the long-known financial crisis facing Social Security, we’re beginning to see more and more news…
Dealing With Social Security’s Income Tax Consequences
One of the most unpleasant issues many Social Security beneficiaries encounter is the fact that their benefit may be subject to federal income tax. Not only is it unpleasant, but it’s also often not anticipated during the retirement cash flow…
An Argument in Support of Filing for Social Security at Age 62
“Conventional wisdom,” as espoused by many financial advisors, generally calls for waiting until age 70 to begin drawing one’s monthly benefit. Yes, the monthly payment will be larger, since the claimant has avoided the discount applied to early filers and…