Category: Social Security

The Social Security Administration has announced a big Social Security benefit increase for 2022. Beginning next January, Social Security paychecks will show a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 5.9%. This is a huge bump over the modest 1.3% increase that was awarded in 2021. In 2021, the average retired Social Security benefit was $1,565.…

What’s the highest Social Security benefit? Will you qualify? Get easy answers for a wealthier retirement.

Do Social Security benefits increase if you stop working? Or decrease?” Learn more and see what applies to your own situation.

Social Security and working: believe it or not, the two are more or less completely compatible with each other. You can absolutely get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time. However, there are a few things that you do need to know. Social Security Work Penalties Determined by Your Age There are…

Mary Beth Franklin is a nationally recognized expert in Social Security claiming strategies, she is also a frequent public speaker. And, she literally wrote the book (Maximizing Your Clients’ Social Security Retirement Benefits) that retirement planning experts use to advise clients on Social Security. She offers you her Social Security expertise with six insider tips…

You need to make a lot of choices in retirement.  Many people tout the benefits of investing in real estate.  However, there is a less glamorous way to use your money for better returns.  Delay collecting Social Security and your finances will win big. Money Spent to Delay Social Security Beats Buying Real Estate There…

For many women, Social Security benefits are not nearly what they could be. Too many women are making a big mistake by claiming early. Why are women’s Social Security benefits typically lower than men’s? There are a few issues. Women tend to start Social Security earlier than men — lowering their monthly paycheck. The longer…

An important study from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research has found that husbands ignore (maybe overlook or under think) their wife’s retirement income needs when making decisions about when to start Social Security benefits. Widows (and widowers) are entitled to switch to Social Security Survivor benefits and receive their spouse’s full benefit amount…

Most of us count down the days, months and even years in anticipation of starting Social Security. In fact, besides qualifying for Medicare, perhaps the retirement event we most look forward to is the day we can start receiving these benefits — after sleeping in of course. Carly Simon’s lyrics come to mind: Anticipation Anticipay…

You have a lot of decisions to make about retirement. And, if you are married, you have nearly twice the number of choices – plus the complications of competing priorities and sometimes differing goals and expectations.Your Social Security decisions can profoundly impact your spouse today, tomorrow and long after you are gone.The good news is…

Social Security 2017: You might want to keep your eye on the money. While President Trump promised on the campaign trail that Social Security would not change if he achieved victory, many pundits are worried that this is one promise he will not be able to keep. Most experts have assumed that Social Security would…

It is no secret that delaying the start of your Social Security benefits will probably pay off big in the long run.  However, most retirees eschew the advice and start getting Social Security paychecks almost as soon as they are eligible. According to a report by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, 90%…