savings
Demystifying When to Claim Social Security Retirement Benefits
Claiming Window is 8 Years Long Perched high on our list of Frequently Asked Questions is this: “When should I claim my Social Security retirement benefits?” That’s not surprising, since there is an 8 year window, starting at age 62…
The Saver’s Match Begins in 2027
The Saver’s Match was introduced in the Secure Act 2.0 of 2022. Starting in 2027, it will replace the Saver’s Credit, a non-refundable tax credit that reduces the amount of taxes owed. The Saver’s Match provides a direct federal matching…
How Social Security Death Data bolstered Treasury’s Do Not Pay system
Improper payments by the federal government are not a new phenomenon. Improper payments have been a longstanding, widespread, and significant problem, costing taxpayers an estimated $2.8 trillion in the last two decades. To reduce these improper payments, a pilot program…
Turning bricks and mortar into retirement income
The baby boomer generation currently makes up most of the American retirees, and they are sitting on a record $19 trillion in real estate wealth. For some, home equity accounts for one-third of retirees’ financial assets, whereas traditional retirement savings…
Number one concern for retirees
The number one concern for retirees is not having enough money saved to maintain their desired standard of living in retirement. This concern is so prevalent that it ranks above other common worries like high medical bills, debt, or even…
Will $2 million be enough for your retirement
A recent survey by BlackRock reported that the average American said they needed $2.09 million to retire comfortably. That’s an astronomical figure for many of us. Even BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, wrote. “That’s a lot and more than I was…
GAO findings on sharing costs for Social Security’s Death Data
Only for the most persnickety among us, this report from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) explains that the Social Security Administration pays the various States for their “death data” (about $26 million in 2025), which is then used by…
The Social Security Conundrum
It should be no secret to anyone who stays abreast of the news these days, Social Security – the nation’s primary program to avoid poverty in our senior years – will soon be facing a financial crisis! According to the…
What is the Social Security Administration?
That’s not meant as a trite question – the Social Security Administration (SSA) actually does much more than you may think! The SSA handles monthly payments to well over 53 million retirees, spouses, and survivors. But did you know that…
Working More Can Mean a Higher SS Benefit
As most know, it is possible to claim Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. But did you know that doing so will mean your monthly benefit will be as much as 30% less? When to claim SS…