Social Security
Four Social Security Myths That Need to Die
Social Security is an important federal program for everyone who contributes and/or receives benefits. Yet, as Kailey Fralick writes in this piece, misconceptions still abound. Four in particular are these, all of which are incorrect: First, you get your full Social Security…
Record High Reliance on Social Security
Social Security has been wildly successful as an anti-poverty program, but it was never intended to become a primary source of income for older Americans. The program only replaces about 40 percent of pre-retirement income. The Gallup Organization’s new survey, however,…
It’s never too early to begin planning for retirement
Planning for retirement takes decades. As Kailey Fralick reports here, everyone regardless of age should take these three steps. First is creating a retirement plan, which includes estimating both life expectancy and living expenses. Fralick details how to do this with estimating…
How to Fund Social Security for 75 to 150 years
Bernice Napach’s article here in ThinkAdvisor summarizes new research from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College that declares any proposal to close Social Security’s financing gap should consider the creation of a trust fund capable of earning enough interest to…
Boost Your Social Security Benefits for Life
Articles abound on how to get the most of and how to maximize Social Security. Mauire Backman says extend your career, meaning it’s important to have a full 35 years of earnings history, as that is how one’s benefit is…
Using a Life Expectancy Calculator with a Retirement Plan
Kailey Fralick’s piece here notes one of the most difficult parts of planning for retirement is estimating how long you’re going to live. She explains the dangers of underestimating your life expectancy and how to adjust your retirement plan accordingly. …
Losing Social Security benefits to the tax man is likely inevitable
The age when one starts to claim Social Security benefits along with one’s lifetime earnings are main determinants of monthly Social Security income, and this can be planned for by creating an on-line account with the Social Security Administration. However, income…
Working While Receiving Social Security
Those that have not reached full retirement age and are collecting Social Security benefits are subject to an earnings limit of $1,470 per month or $17,640 per year in 2019. Once you have reached your full retirement age, there is no limit on how…
The New Crisis Brewing in Social Security – Customer Service
Even casual followers of anything related to Social Security are likely aware of the program’s long term funding challenges due to changing demographics. But as Mark Miller of Reuters reports in this article, customer service is the newest flash point. Three…
Social Security and paid parental leave explained
Social Security’s long term financial health is in peril without congressional reform. Some might find it curious then that lawmakers, including GOP Senators Marco Rubio, Mitt Romney, and Joni Ernst are lobbying for a paid-leave plan, which would allow working parents…