seniors
Average Social Security Earnings in 2024
The average Social Security income shows why retirees need to also depend on other income, such as savings or (hopefully) a pension. Social Security as only meant to cover about 40% of post retirement expenses, as explained in this article…
Smart Ways to Save for Retirement
Information provided by Becca Stanek for The Week US published on July 8, 2024 on how much you will need in your retirement years. Several different strategies and suggestions are given depending on your own situation and age. Read here……
Need to have an honest conversation about Social Security
The presidential candidates are promising to preserve Social Security, but the reality is that if Congress does not take action by 2035, seniors will see a cut to their benefits. When discussing the Social Security insolvency issue, many myths about…
Does your state tax your benefits?
The IRS determines your federal tax bill based on your combined income, which includes your AGI, any nontaxable interest, and half of your yearly Social Security benefits. However, only a handful of states tax your Social Security benefit. What states…
SSI rules are out of date
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides monthly payments to adults and children with disabilities or blindness whose income and resources are below specific financial limits. SSI payments are also made to people aged 65 and older without disabilities who…
Long-term care insurance and Medicare supplemental insurance
As you age, you may be looking at either long-term insurance, Medicare supplemental insurance, or both. Many experts suggest that seniors get both, but do you need both? Dori Zinn explains how long-term care insurance and Medicare supplemental insurance serve…
How waiting boosts your benefit?
There is no perfect age to begin your Social Security benefits. Your choice of when to take your Social Security benefits is a personal one based on your circumstances. However, if you wait past your full retirement age to begin…
Would a national retirement plan raise savings rates?
A recent survey found only about half of Americans have retirement accounts. But what if every worker was enrolled automatically in a retirement plan? According to a recent study by researchers from Princeton University and the Treasury Department, a national…
Super savers and taxes
Are you a super saver? Are you part of the one-third of American retirees that have a plan to reduce taxes on your retirement savings? The new age for taking required minimum distributions, or RMDs, is now 73, which could…
Why is the average Social Security benefit so low?
Regarding Social Security benefits, it is not the same amount for everyone. Many factors will impact the benefits you will receive – how many years you worked, how much you made during your career, and when you decide to begin…