Americans May Be Delaying Their Retirement Plans
More People Delay Claiming Social Security The average age for claiming Social Security retirement benefits has been steadily rising. Older Americans are working longer, in part because full retirement age is increasing incrementally from 66 to 67. A worker may begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits as early as age [...]
There is No Free Lunch…Until You Find One
Most people have heard the often used quote, “There is no free lunch”. The unknown origins of the phrase began almost a century ago; however, it only began to be commonly used during the 1960s and 1970s when the Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman used the term in his [...]
Getting a Larger Social Security Retirement Benefit
Many people decide to begin receiving early Social Security retirement benefits. In fact, according to the Social Security Administration, about 72% of retired workers receive benefits prior to their full retirement age (See Note 1). But waiting longer could significantly increase your monthly retirement income, so weigh your options carefully [...]
Changes to Social Security Claiming Strategies
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 included a section titled "Closure of Unintended Loopholes" that ends two Social Security claiming strategies that have become increasingly popular over the last several years. These two strategies, known as "file and suspend" and "restricted application" for a spousal benefit, have often been used [...]
Taxes, Retirement, and Timing Social Security
The advantages of tax deferral are often emphasized when it comes to saving for retirement. So it might seem like a good idea to hold off on taking taxable distributions from retirement plans for as long as possible. (Note: Required minimum distributions from non-Roth IRAs and qualified retirement plans must [...]
The Impact of Health-Care Costs on Social Security
For many retirees and their families, Social Security provides a dependable source of income. In fact, for the majority of retirees, Social Security accounts for at least half of their income (Source: Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2013). However, more of that income is being spent on health-related [...]
No Matter What Your Age, Your Social Security Statement Matters
Fifteen years ago, the Social Security Administration (SSA) launched the Social Security Statement, a tool to help Americans understand the features and benefits that Social Security offers. Since then, millions of Americans have reviewed their personalized statements to see a detailed record of their earnings, as well as estimates of [...]
Social Security: Questions and Answers
Whether you're close to retirement or years away from receiving Social Security benefits, you may not know much about the intricacies of this important program. Here are some questions and answers that can help you learn more. Will Social Security be around when you need it? You've probably heard media [...]