It may not be public enemy number one, but inflation is certainly near the top of the list. Since the beginning of 2021, prices of almost everything have gone into orbit. Energy prices are up an average of 56%. Airline tickets are up almost 25%. Used car prices have jumped more than 45%. And it seems there’s no slowdown in [...]
It’s one of the most obscure taxes in the IRS code, but it can be one of the most devastating at a time when you can least afford it. It’s called the Widow’s Penalty Tax—a stealth tax you never see coming—that can cause a widow or widower to struggle financially. When one spouse dies, the surviving spouse is now responsible [...]
There’s an old axiom that says, “All good things must come to an end.” And unless Congress makes some changes, that’s what will happen to the current level of the federal estate tax exemption. As it stands now, every individual can give away $11.7 million of their estate free of inheritance and gift taxes. Married couples have a combined exemption [...]
Customer service is mostly dead. It’s probably housed in the Smithsonian along with the T-Rex and TV rabbit ears. As technology has progressed and Millennials have come of age, we have been pushed, sometimes kicking and screaming, to conduct personal business online. The Social Security Administration is no exception. Call the SSA and you will hear, “Offices are open to [...]
Mom and Dad told us working was a good thing. It may not have seemed like it as kids when they were trying to turn us into fully functioning, responsible adults. But later in life, we discovered it was true. Working gives a sense of pride and accomplishment. It makes us independent. Many older Americans continue to work during retirement [...]
Why make it simple when difficult will do. That seems to be the motto of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, even in its title. The SECURE Act has been the law of the land since January 1, 2020, and the 125 pages of reforms were, allegedly, supposed to make saving for retirement easier and more [...]
The checklist when preparing for retirement is a long one. But you need to be aware of one item in particular if you intended to start taking Social Security before your Full Retirement Age (FRA) and continue working—the Social Security Earnings Test. It can suck Social Security dollars out of the pockets of unsuspecting retirees. To paraphrase a familiar old [...]
If your childhood was like most, when you made mistakes or something went wrong, you really wanted a do-over—another shot at making the right decision? You’re not a kid anymore, but it’s nice to know there’s still an opportunity for a do-over—a Medicare test drive. When you’re eligible to sign up for Medicare, if you choose a Medicare Advantage plan, [...]
One of the advantages of the Social Security system is the Survivor Benefit. Of the 65 million people receiving Social Security, approximately 6 million receive the Survivor Benefit because they are the widow, widower, surviving ex-spouse, minor children, or permanently disabled adult children of a deceased worker. The amount received is based on the deceased worker’s earnings history. Switching [...]
Since its beginning in 1935, Social Security has become synonymous with retirement income. But as with any government program, Social Security is a behemoth with a lengthy list of rules and hidden intricacies that can make a huge difference in the amount you receive. Collectively, Americans lose trillions of Social Security dollars because they don’t understand the system. It’s not [...]
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