My Comments: As someone who teaches people how to maximize their social security benefits, a major fear that surfaces during a workshop is whether there is enough in the system to guarantee future benefits. The quick answer is “not without some changes to the system”, which leads to more questions about when it will run …
Tag: social security benefits
Will You Regret Taking Social Security ASAP?
My Comments: Too many people choose to take early benefits. If you need the money, hate your job, don’t have a job, plan to die soon, or simply don’t have confidence in your life, then maybe it’s OK. But it usually turns out to be a mistake. There is a do over, but you have …
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Can You Afford to Live Longer?
My Comments: Many of you know that I’ve recently started a series of workshops that focuses on how the Social Security system works. It’s an attempt to help those who will soon become eligible, or are already eligible, better understand a very complex and not user friendly institution in American life. One assumption that is …
Claiming Social Security at Full Retirement Age is Often a Mistake
My Comments: The headline above should probably read ‘Sometimes’ instead of ‘Often’. It depends to some extent on when you die. Since that date is completely unknown, the only solution is to play the odds, and my recommendation these days is to assume you will live to be 100. That’s the conservative approach. Unless you …
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The End Of The Fossil Fuel Age As We Know It
My Comments: I grew up in WW2 England, in my uncle’s house, and he had a car in the garage. My father was in the Royal Tank Regiment, doing what soldiers do in a war. My life as a small boy was relatively normal. Petrol (gasoline) was rationed but I recall going for a drive …
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How Much Will I Get From Social Security?
My Comments: Next month I start a series of workshops about Social Security. I’m somewhat fearful since this past weekend, I had questions from a couple of folks and while I thought I knew the answer, I wasn’t sure. One solution is to have you become a free member of an organization called the American …
10 Things You Must Know About Social Security
My Comments: Next month I start a new job; teaching folks about Social Security. Actually, it’s a function of my need to keep busy and an apparent ability to share 40 years of experience as a financial planner with people who need to know about this very important financial element of their lives. This article, …
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Ready to retire? Don’t rush your Social Security start date
My Comments: A major determinant for when you should start taking your Social Security benefits comes down to when you plan to die. If you plan to die soon, then start the payments as early as possible; if you plan to live to be 100, and have enough money now, then delay the start of …
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Do the recent changes in Social Security rules allow you to file and suspend?
My Comments: A critical date is fast approaching for those of you who have not yet signed up to receive your Social Security benefits, for one reason or another. This writer clearly knows his stuff and if you have questions of me, I’ll do my best to answer them. None of this may apply to …
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Can I File and Suspend My Social Security Benefits?
My Comments: This is a hot topic. No one likes to leave money laying on the table. Given the chance you will live longer than expected and don’t have the financial reserves you thought you might have, taking advantage of everything possible from the Social Security system is critical for many of us. By Dan …
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Helping Define Your Financial Future 