You can claim as early as age 62 or at any time up to age 70, the latest age for delaying. Why delay? Your benefit increases about 8% each year that you wait. How to decide? If you have very good reason to think you are going to die young, then claim at 62. However,…
Month: March 2017
5 Times an Annuity Makes Sense for Retirement
Jeff Rose explains “how to decide whether an annuity should be a part of your retirement plan.”1. You want guaranteed income for life.2. You hope to secure guaranteed income for a spouse.3. You want a low-risk portfolio above all else.4. You want to create your own pension.5. You want to protect your retirement assets from…
Three Ways to Protect Your 401(k) If Trump Kills the Fiduciary Rule
“A new move by President Donald Trump may mean higher costs for individual investors and retirement plans, especially 401(k)s offered by small businesses. The good news, though, is that you can protect yourself against his order, which delays and reconsiders the so-called fiduciary rule, if you ask the right questions.”“Brokers often get incentives to steer clients into…
Debt Collection help from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
“In the United States today, debt collection is a $13.7 billion dollar industry with more than 6,000 debt collection firms operating in the United States. The CFPB estimates that about one in three consumers, more than 70 million people, were contacted by a creditor or collector seeking to collect a debt within the past year.…
How to select a continuing care retirement community
“By combining independent living with a continuum of care, CCRCs offer a viable solution for older adults who are healthy today but seek the peace of mind of having care services readily available in the future.” While this blog post is written for financial advisers, it provides an excellent over view of CCRCs to help…
How to figure taxes on Social Security Benefits
Are My Social Security Benefits Taxable? How to Understand Form SSA-1099 and Determine whether You Owe Taxes “Depending on the amount of alternate income that you have in retirement and your filing status, you could owe taxes on up to 85% of your Social Security benefits.” When you receive Social Security income, “you will also…
Hidden benefit of saving more
Workers who increase their savings will not only have more money in retirement, but when you save more, you also spend less! This means you won’t need as much money to maintain your current level of living when you retire. So ratchet up your retirement investing by 1% today and each subsequent year. Nerd’s Eye…
Feed the Pig’s Tips Help Millenials Save
Feed the Pig, a public service campaign sponsored by the American Institute of CPAs and the Ad Council, encourages Americans ages 25 to 34 to take control of personal finances. Free resources, financial tips and daily social posts help millennials save and budget regularly and wisely. http://www.feedthepig.org/ Source: Financial Planning for Women
Test your Retirement Knowledge and Readiness
“How much do you know about planning for a long, financially secure retirement? Fidelity Investments recently prepared a two-part quiz that can help you answer that question. The first part concerns retirement savings and asks three key questions about how to put enough money away for a secure future.”“The second part of the quiz includes…
Get Dental Work Before You Retire
The Squared Away Blog, an excellent source of information, explains that many retirees lose dental insurance provided by their employer when they retire. Medicare doesn’t cover most dental care (except for some Medicare Advantage plans). On average seniors pay about $1,100 for dental work. Many low-income seniors go without care while some use the option…