seniors
Ten Tips for Retirement Planning
Although it is sometimes difficult to think about a retirement far into the future, doing so is an important decision, and the earlier you plan, the better your retirement outcome will be. Still, it’s hard to predict how to balance…
Ask Rusty – Will My Social Security Increase if I Keep Working After Applying?
Dear Rusty: I am going to be 67 in a few weeks & I plan on working for another year or two. According to Social Security, they count the best 35 years to come up with your benefit. I currently…
What to do when the Stock Market declines
If you’re been watching the stock market at all these days, you are already aware of the quite severe decline which has occurred as a result of President Trump’s tariff announcements. Any decline in the market can be stressful for…
Who is enrolling in Medicare Advantage?
The creation of Medicare Advantage health plans was part of the 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Medicare Advantage grew from almost zero in 1998 to 33.8 million subscribers in 2024, or 55 percent of Medicare recipients. One reason Medicare recipients enroll…
Medicare penalties
Medicare Penalty refers to the additional costs imposed for not enrolling in Medicare or its components (like Part D) during the designated enrollment periods. Understanding how these penalties are calculated and how long they last is essential to managing your…
Turning 70 this year?
Are you turning 70 this year and have not started your Social Security benefits? You should sign up for your benefits since you will stop earning delayed retirement credits. Delayed retirement credits result in an increased monthly benefit amount of…
RMDs start in the year you turn 73
Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and traditional IRAs give you a tax break by lowering your taxable income; however, withdrawals are subject to taxation. Yes, the year you turn age 73, you are required to make withdrawals. If you don’t, it…
Social Security Administration’s moves from old programming language sparks fears
Some experts feel that DOGE’s effect in eliminating fraud at the Social Security Administration is misplaced. This concern stems from new reports that the Social Security Administration plans to migrate from an old COBOL computer programming language to a more…
Social Security insolvency is fixable
Not a day goes by that we don’t see some media posts about Social Security going bankrupt. Yes, the Social Security Trust fund is facing an insolvency issue in the coming years; however, it is fixable. One fixable item is…
Medicare’s efforts to root out improper payments, fraud, waste and abuse
The Medicare program covers 68 million people and represents 15 percent of all federal spending. There are 1.4 million healthcare providers and almost a dozen different payment systems; improper payments and fraud have occurred. Despite actions over the years to reduce…