Social Security
The Retirement Earnings Test and the Probelms it can Cause
Social Security has quite a few nuances, many of which go unnoticed until they turn into problems for beneficiaries. The Social Security Retirement Earnings Test is one such nuance. Social Security regulations stipulate that upon beginning retirement, spousal, or survivor…
Those Darn Boomers, Again!
A GoBankingRates.com article by Gabrielle Olya titled “2 Ways Social Security and Medicare Could Unravel as Boomers Flood the System” caught my eye, maybe because “Social Security” is in the title, maybe because I am a Baby Boomer. The background…
If You’re On the Fence About Filing Early, Read This!
The constant barrage of media alarms on Social Security’s impending insolvency drives many folks aging into benefit eligibility to take the plunge before their full retirement age. While they may or may not fully understand the long-term consequences of this…
Unpacking Some Enduring Myths About Social Security
When it comes to Social Security, there are quite a few myths and misunderstandings that persist. Currently, in the wake of the publication of the 2025 Trustees Report last week, the prevailing sentiment is that the program will cease operations…
Saving for Retirement: An Uphill Battle for Many Americans
Reporting on the results of a recent national workforce survey, The Pew Charitable Trusts suggests that households without access to employer-sponsored savings plans, such as 401(k)s, face significant challenges in accumulating wealth to support their retirement years. Much has been…
Political Leadership on Policy Cited as Missing Ingredient in Social Security’s Plight
“The longer Congress waits to act, the harder solving Social Security’s financial challenge becomes, and the more retirees and taxpayers will be on the hook for lawmakers’ inaction.” That statement was lifted from the Bipartisan Policy Center’s “2025 Social Security…
Tariffs, Inflation, and Social Security’s COLAs: An Entanglement with Potential Impact on Seniors
While the tariff wars unfold on the world stage, economists are busy developing forecasts of the relationship between import/export fees and inflation, with opinions leaning toward likely increases in consumer prices. And consumer prices–the money we all spend on goods…
Thoughts on Retirement Planning: Savings Outlook for 2025’s 2nd Half
To say it’s been a bumpy road so far this year would be somewhat of an understatement, with the rate structures for savings instruments remaining a bit higher than anticipated, 401(k) and IRA account balances ending the first quarter in…
Article Paints a Bleak Picture for Social Security Beneficiaries
The issue of Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLAs) not being able to keep seniors abreast with inflation is a frequent topic of discussion in the media. The Motley Fool’s Katie Brockman adds to the rhetoric on this matter with…
A Contrasting View on Insolvency…Perhaps It’s Not as Dire as Many Believe?
Since the release of the 2025 Social Security Trustees Report last week, media accounts of the 2033 depletion of the program’s Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) cash reserves have focused on the consequences: the 23% across-the-board benefit reduction that…