retirement
Women and retirement savings
At the end of 2022, the average monthly benefit check for a retired woman was $1,638 compared to $2020 for a retired man, according to a report from the Social Security Administration. Why? Women tend to earn less than men,…
Are you nervous about retirement?
The majority of Americans are nervous about retirement, according to the latest report from Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. The results demonstrate that the stress level of retirement differs based on age, gender, economic and educational levels. Lynn Cavanaugh…
Is delaying your benefits worth it?
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…
Should couples retire together?
Married couples need to coordinate their retirement, but that does not mean both of you will retire on the same day. According to Ameriprise, only about 11 percent of couples retire at the same time, and 62 percent of couples…
What are your plans for your Social Security benefit?
In June 2024, over 67 million individuals received Social Security benefits, with an average benefit of $1,781. We know from previous studies that About 1 in 7 seniors rely on Social Security for at least 90 percent of their income.…
Is it an under-saving issue or a retirement crisis?
Do Americans have a retirement crisis or an under-saving for retirement issue? According to the Boston College Center for Retirement, their research shows almost 40 percent of working-age households cannot maintain their standard of living in retirement. However, 80 percent…
The risk of running out of money
Inflation is putting “more retirees at risk of running out of money,” according to a recent study published by Boston College. Who will be seeing this risk? Is it the wealthy retirees or the less-than-wealthy retirees? The less wealthy retirees…
Choosing the right self-employed retirement plan for you
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 16 million Americans are self-employed. There are benefits to being self-employed, including being one’s boss, but there are downsides. One is you must take control of your retirement planning. It can be…
Ask Rusty – Should I Retire at 65 or 67? And What About Earnings & Taxes?
Dear Rusty: I’m just trying to figure out how to determine whether to retire at 65 or 67 and, if I retire, approximately how much could I make outside of my Social Security without being overly taxed. Signed: Thinking About…
Should you go back to work if your Social Security benefits aren’t keeping up?
When Social Security recipients were asked in a recent survey if the most recent COLA increase was sufficient, 62 percent of respondents said no, and 44 percent said they were considering returning to work to boost their income because their…