retirement
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…
About the Annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
Although you may have seen early predictions, it is too soon to know for sure how next year’s Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) will increase your monthly Social Security payment. That news will actually be revealed in mid-October, after completion…
Paper Social Security Checks Are Changing to Electronic Payments Soon
The Social Security Administration is changing how benefits are paid for about half a million beneficiaries. About 520,000 people, who now receive their monthly Social Security payment by a paper check received in the mail, will need to switch to…
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 Quick Summary of the Insolvency Problem
Social Security’s steadily deteriorating financial situation receives considerable attention in the press, with pundits continually assessing the causes, assigning blame, and discussing the potential implications. At this point, the vast majority of folks receiving Social Security benefits or aging into…
Is delaying retirement becoming the norm?
According to a survey by F&G Annuities & Life, Inc., the trend toward early retirement appears to be in a period of reversal. In a post on prnewswire.com, F&G’s editorial staff reports that “More than two-thirds (70%) of pre-retirees over…
Big Tax Breaks Ahead for Seniors Thanks to One Big Beautiful Bill — Here’s What You Need to Know
(This article originally appeared on AMAC Newsline 7/14/2025) Americans are set to see meaningful tax relief starting in 2025, thanks to a sweeping new law the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This legislation delivers real savings for retirees and working seniors alike and…
Dealing with inflation in retirement–COLAs are likely not the answer
The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2025 was 2.5%, and it appears likely to be in that same range for 2026. Recent media accounts of CPI changes suggest a slight upswing, but that remains to be seen after the…
Can you improve retirement security through a Bridge Strategy?
Using a “bridge strategy” for retirement planning may sound complex, but it’s actually quite straightforward. In simple terms, the concept involves using other financial assets (such as savings or low-yield investments) to cover current living expenses and defer claiming Social…