Social Security
Things you can do to ensure you get your maximum Social Security benefit
The Social Security Trust Fund reserves are estimated to become depleted in 2033; at that time, Social Security income would be sufficient to pay 77 percent of scheduled benefits. Of course, the government can step in before 2033 and correct…
What is the latest estimate on 2024 COLA
The Department of Labor released The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) numbers for May 2023, with inflation falling to 4%; this was the smallest 12-month increase since the period ending March 2021. So, what will this mean…
How to achieve more than the average benefit amount
Social Security beneficiaries, 37 percent of men and 42 percent of women, receive 50 percent or more of their income from Social Security. Also, among the elderly Social Security beneficiaries, 12 percent of men and 15 percent of women rely…
How to fix Social Security before benefits are cut
Many Americans think since Congress resolved the debt limit crisis by suspending it until 2025, all is well with the federal funding of government programs. That is not the case. For the past thirteen years, the Social Security program has…
Other sources of retirement income
When you start your retirement planning, most of us overlook other sources of retirement income besides our 401(k)s or IRAs. What are those other sources of retirement income? A bond ladder may be an option for you. Do you have…
Lower inflation means lower COLA
2023 saw one of the highest Cost-of-living-adjustments increases since 1981. But will Social Security beneficiaries receive another significant increase in 2024? Although it is too early to calculate the 2024 COLA amount, Keith Speights suggests that retirees are better off…
Ask Rusty – Will Work Earnings Affect My Social Security at Age 80?
Dear Rusty: I am 80 years old, and I receive monthly Social Security benefits, but I’m thinking about returning to work. At this age, am I limited in how much income I generate without affecting my benefit? If so, how…
Don’t wait until you’re 70 to take Social Security
Financial planners say to wait until 70 to file for your Social Security benefits. If you wait until age 70, your monthly payments will be 24 – 32 percent higher than the benefits you would have received at your full…
Social Security break-even calculation
Your Social Security break-even age can help you decide whether it is better to start collecting Social Security early or wait until later when you can receive a larger monthly payment. It is the point at which the value of…
How grey divorce affects women’s Social Security benefits.
According to the Pew Research Center, the divorce rate for those 50 and older has roughly doubled since 1990, far more than any other age group; research conducted by the Social Security Office of Retirement and Disability Policy; found “around…