My Comments: The first monthly Social Security income benefit ever paid was to Ida May Fuller on January 30, 1940. Today, some 77 years later, it is a critical income source for millions of Americans. This article by Sean Williams confirms the role Social Security plays in the lives of millions of Americans, and I’m …
Continue reading A Majority of Working Americans Are Completely Wrong About Social Security
My Comments: Having health insurance is critical to maintain your financial well being, much less your long term health. Health care costs in this country are the highest in the world, and the long term outcomes are among the worst. The budget passed by the House of Representatives includes a significant cut to Medicare, if …
My Comments: You’ve heard me say that income inequality is the greatest existential threat to our society going forward. If we allow the disparity between the haves and the have nots to become wider and wider, it’s only a matter of time before chaos will reign. People want what money will buy. Companies will manufacture …
Continue reading X Marks the Spot Where Inequality Took Root: Dig Here
My Comments: In light of what happened in Las Vegas and the death of Tom Petty, my comments here are woefully inadequate. But with many millions of us still trying to function on this planet, sooner or later our thoughts will return to Social Security. While the above referenced Budget Resolution may have changed somewhat, …
My Comments: If you are already retired, don’t bother with this. If you haven’t yet retired, there may be something here for you. Waiting for retirement is like watching grass grow, or watching a car rust. You lose interest in a hurry. The problem is it’s going to happen, whether you pay attention or not. …
Continue reading Retirement Planning Strategies for Clients in Their 50s
My Comments: Today is Tuesday so today I talk about Social Security. These comments by Dan Caplinger may be old news, but for those of you just starting to think about retirement, know that Social Security is a fundamental income component for millions of people. Chances are, you'll be in that group. The sooner you …
Continue reading Are You Ready to Take Social Security Benefits?
Tuesday = Social Security comments Concern about the continued viability of our Social Security system if very justified and real. The solutions to the problem are reltively simple and if started soon, will be absorbed by the economy with relative ease. But Capitol Hill is the wildcard here. The crisis is far from dramatic. Yet. …
My Comments: If you have not already signed up for Social Security, chances are good you will draw the short straw. If you are now getting monthly benefits, chances are you have a longer straw. Me, I have no idea. What we do know is that sooner or later the crisis will become immediate and …
Continue reading Do Social Security Payroll Taxes Need to Increase?
My Comments: Putting money to work for the future is something we all try to do. Our expectations vary all over the map. If you use the past to predict the future, you’re probably going to be disappointed. This is very relevant if we have money sitting somewhere that we plan to use tomorrow to …
My Comments: Aaahh, bliss! Nothing to do but relax and watch the years roll by. You and I both know that’s not likely to happen. For one thing, it’s too easy to get bored and stressed out with not enough to do. Okay, some of us love retirement, but I’m not one of them. Being …
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