Social Security
Social Security Fundamentals for Married Couples
Spousal benefits and survivor benefits are two of the murkier aspects of Social Security. Not having a clear understanding of the eligibility rules accompanying these areas can cause married couples to miss out on benefits that have been written into…
A Primer on Social Security’s Problems & A Solution
What’s all this talk about Social Security’s problems all of a sudden? Why not just leave the program alone? Is Social Security going bankrupt? So what can be done? Are there pros and cons to each? Why not just raise…
New COLA calculation bill in Congress
Erin Bendig of Kiplinger explains a new bill in Congress that could result in a change to Social Security cost of living adjustments (COLAs) that could benefit retirees. The Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act, proposed by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA),…
Americans Understand Neither Annuities Nor Social Security
Daniel de Visé analyzes data from two recent studies showing that Americans have poor literacy when it comes to annuities. Yet the author believes that an annuity, which is a series of fixed, predictable payments made at regular intervals over…
The election & Social Security’s future
Lorie Konish of CNBC says Social Security is on the ballot this fall. She explains the various bills in Congress on both sides of the aisle. Democrats are championing tax increases and Republicans have suggested raising the retirement age over…
Social Security & Inflation: Keeping Up or Losing Ground?
Tami Luhby of CNN writes here that Social Security is not keeping up with inflation and that many seniors may exact their ire over the issue at President Joe Biden. Two recent cost of living increases (5.9% in 2021 and…
Potential changes may call for a reassessment of Americans retirement plans.
Some things that may affect retirement plans are an increase in the cost of living and the government making changes to Social Security. A significant majority of workers expect Social Security to be a major source of retirement income. Other…
Can Annuities help with your Social Security strategy?
There are a myriad of options to consider when deciding to claim Social Security benefits. Eligibility spans eight years, from age 62 to 70. If you want to retire early and delay taking Social Security, how do you fill in…
Marriage Rates, Birth Rates, and the Future of Social Security
The U.S. taxpayer-to-beneficiary ratio has dropped dramatically since the early days of Social Security, skidding from 42:1 in 1945 to less than 3:1 today, with projections calling for a continued decline in the years ahead. Although not the only factor…
Revisiting WEP And GPO
One of the most nagging criticisms of the U.S. Social Security program is found in the persistent outcries of unfairness from the people affected by two scorned sections of the program’s massive rulebook. Anyone following legislative activities involving Social Security…