Retirement

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about whether filing for retirement benefits will mean an end to spousal benefits, whether filing for divorced spousal benefits at 62 would affect retirement benefits and what happens to the money a person paid into Social Security when they die. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics

Thus far, the risk pooling discussion has focused on annuities. Another form of risk pooling for longevity is available through life insurance, and this chapter* explores the ways that life insurance can potentially be incorporated into lifetime financial planning. This discussion is mostly about whole life insurance in comparison to term life insurance, but other

getty With the markets reacting to the recent Presidential election, now might be the perfect time to explore the option of rolling your current or former employers’ 401(k), 403(b), or profit sharing retirement plan to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). There can be some major benefits to rolling your 401(k) plan into your IRA, but

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Andrew Saul Andrew Saul In recent years, the Social Security Administration had a pretty lousy — and worsening — reputation for customer services. Nearly 125 of its field offices were shuttered and hold times on the agency’s 800-number line were often infuriatingly long. Then Andrew Saul was sworn in as

Holiday Zoom calls can be a great time to share lessons learned about retirement planning. getty Will you be Zooming during the holidays with your older relatives and friends instead of getting together in person? Wondering what you’ll talk about?  It can be unsettling to be face-to-face on the screen with anybody for a long

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about whether a spousal benefit should always be half the other spouse’s retirement benefit, whether the Windfall Elimination Provision applies to spousal benefit and how divorced spousal benefit rates are determined. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of

Despite CDC warnings urging us not to travel, millions of people will still be visiting with their families this Thanksgiving. Yes, it’s high risk. Yes, aging parents are more likely to get seriously ill if exposed to Covid-19 from a family member who carries the virus without feeling any symptoms. Nonetheless, families may choose to

getty This year is a key one for taxpayers who are charitable inclined. It’s filled with some expanded tax benefits, but there’s also a long time trap you could fall into. The IRS and the Tax Court regularly deny deductions for charitable contribution deductions though acknowledging the contributions really were made. With some tax deductions,

The Ohio Retired Teachers Association (ORTA) recently voted to raise funds for a forensic audit of … [+] the $80 billion State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio. getty The Board of Directors of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association (ORTA) recently voted to raise funds for a forensic audit of the $80 billion State Teachers Retirement

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 20: President Trump looks on as Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers … [+] for Medicare & Medicaid Services, makes an announcement on prescription drug prices. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Getty Images Late last week, President Trump announced two new rules that he said would save Medicare enrollees billions of

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about when it’s possible to file for spousal benefits, who can still file restricted applications for spousal benefits only, divorced spousal benefits after early retirement benefits and eligibility for disability benefits close to full retirement age. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and

getty Medicare premiums and other costs will increase in 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced. But the CMS reported earlier that premiums for the private sector version, Medicare Advantage plans, will decline for 2021. The basic monthly premium for Part B, which covers most doctor’s services and similar non-hospital care,

getty Have you seen it? It’s kind of hard to miss. The stock market has been acting “unusual” in many ways these past two weeks. It may be signaling a harbinger of things to come. There’s a significant difference between market volatility and market rotation. In the former, most recently experienced this past March, the

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Raymond Jetson Next Avenue Raymond Jetson’s passion, which led him to be a 2020 Influencer in Aging, is motivating older Black men to mentor Black youth and young adults. The pandemic’s brutal impacts on the African American community have only intensified Jetson’s efforts. “It exacerbated the inequities that we reflect

getty Year-end tax strategies are common and impactful tools to help you leverage the tax code and better plan for your future. Using concepts like Roth conversions, charitable giving, tax loss harvesting, minimizing capital gains, and making sure you maximize all possible savings to tax deferred accounts can all be helpful in maximizing your savings. This year

If you’re considering early retirement, you’re in good company. COVID-19 has been a catalyst for older Americans to leave the workforce voluntarily due to their high risk of infection. Quitting a job poses financial challenges for early retirees who suddenly have fewer years to accumulate assets and more years to live without a regular paycheck.

Many people approaching their retirement years will need to be resilient and resourceful. getty An acquaintance in her early 60s was proud that she had saved $100,000 towards her retirement. In her case, it was a terrific accomplishment, since she’s a single mom with moderate income. She asked me for suggestions to help her plan

What will retirement look like for those trying to live on just Social Security Benefits? getty There are people out there who can survive on Social Security alone. Maybe they have always been living on a small income. Perhaps they have paid off a home or have other ways to live frugally. For the rest of

If you are the parent of a college student who does not file a tax return and whom you are not claiming as a dependent on your tax return, there is an important deadline looming.  This Saturday In order to receive an Economic Impact Payment of $1,200 from the U.S. Treasury, the student needs to

I talk a lot about Roth 401(k)s and IRAs in articles, podcast episodes, and even client meetings. … [+] Generally, that message is for someone in their early 20s who is new to the corporate world and probably not making a lot of money. getty I talk a lot about Roth 401(k)s and IRAs in