Coming Soon: Changes to Your Social Security Statement

Coming Soon: Changes to Your Social Security Statement

Social Security online users will soon have to create Login.gov accounts if they don’t already have them. The Social Security Administration is transitioning all users who made their accounts before September 18, 2021, to the Login.gov platform. Any beneficiary who already has a Login.gov account doesn’t need to take any action. In a recent statement, […]

Important Birthdays Over 50

Important Birthdays Over 50

Most children stop being “and-a-half” somewhere around age 12. Kids add “and-a-half” to make sure everyone knows they’re closer to the next age than the last. When you are older, “and-a-half” birthdays start making a comeback. In fact, starting at age 50, several birthdays and “half-birthdays” are critical to understand because they have implications regarding […]

Retirement Is a Beginning

Retirement Is a Beginning

How do you know you are psychologically ready to retire? As a start, ask yourself four questions. One, is your work meaningful? If it is emotionally and psychologically fulfilling, if it gives you a strong sense of purpose and identity, then there may be a voice inside your head telling you not to retire yet. You […]

Seven Mistakes That Can Upend Your Retirement

Seven Mistakes That Can Upend Your Retirement

Pursuing your retirement dreams is challenging enough without making some common, and very avoidable, mistakes. Here are several big mistakes to steer clear of, if possible. No Strategy: Yes, the biggest mistake is having no strategy at all. Without a strategy, you may have no goals, leaving you no way of knowing how you’ll get […]

What’s New for Social Security?

What’s New for Social Security?

Whether you’re applying for Social Security in the future or currently receiving benefits, there are some important changes to earnings limits, Medicare premiums, and other differences to keep in mind. Ready to learn more? Read on. Ready for a Cost-of-Living (COLA) increase? That’s right! Due to an increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W), the […]

New Retirement Contribution Limits for 2024

New Retirement Contribution Limits for 2024

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released new limits for certain retirement accounts for the coming year. Keep in mind that this update is for informational purposes only, so please consult with an accounting or tax professional before making any changes to your 2024 tax strategy. You can also contact your financial professional, who may […]

Retirement Questions That Have Nothing to Do With Money

Retirement Questions That Have Nothing to Do With Money

Preparing for retirement is not entirely financial. Your degree of happiness in your “second act” may depend on some factors that don’t come with an obvious price tag. Here are some non-monetary factors to consider as you prepare for your retirement. What will you do with your time? Too many people retire without any idea of what […]

How Women Can Prepare For Retirement

How Women Can Prepare For Retirement

When our parents retired, living to 75 amounted to a nice long life, and Social Security was often supplemented by a pension. The Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates that today’s average 65-year-old woman will live to age 86½. Given these projections, it appears that a retirement of 20 years or longer might be in your […]

Social Security: Maximizing Benefits

Social Security: Maximizing Benefits

Most understand that waiting to claim Social Security benefits can result in higher monthly payments. However, many don’t know that there are other ways to maximize their benefits, some of which depend on their marital status. Understanding the strategies for maximizing your Social Security retirement income benefits should be prefaced with a review of the […]

When Should You Take Social Security

When Should You Take Social Security

The Social Security program allows you to start receiving benefits as soon as you reach age 62. The question is, should you? Monthly payments differ substantially depending on when you start receiving benefits. The longer you wait (up to age 70), the larger each monthly check will be. The sooner you start receiving benefits, the […]