Senior couple

“Some retirees may be surprised to learn that a portion of their Social Security benefits could be subject to federal income taxes.” Paying taxes when you aren’t working but are instead receiving income from a lifetime of working and Social Security is a harsh reality of retirement for many people. Figuring out how much of […]

Finger Pressing Button on Calculator

“Should I start collecting Social Security retirement benefits as early as possible, or hold off for longer in exchange for plus-size payments?” How much time you need to figure out the best time to take Social Security benefits can be as much of a puzzle as figuring out the actual answer, according to the recent […]

man handcuffed by police

“In February, Social Security officials calculated that a woman who was sent monthly checks for decades was 114 years old. The problem? The lifelong New Yorker died more than 40 years ago—and may never have seen a penny of her retirement checks totaling nearly a half-million dollars.” In one of the largest fraud cases of […]

fortune cookie

“Windfalls can result from fortunate events, like lottery winning, and unfortunate events, like a legal settlement. Whatever the triggering event, a big injection of cash can certainly be a life-changing event in someone’s life.” Few would complain about a financial windfall, but many people report feeling feelings of anxiety, guilt and stress about what to […]

man assisting a woman on a wheelchair

“Having a child with special needs can come with all sorts of unique challenges from a financial and estate planning standpoint. Public benefits, for example, can play a huge role in anticipating how much money your child will need down the road in your later years, as well as when you’ve passed away.” Many government […]

Happy old couple

“Assuming you have income in retirement, you will be subject to at least some income taxes in your golden years.” Once you are retired, the only tax you won’t have to pay will be—can you guess? Yes, payroll taxes. However, there are plenty of other taxes to be paid, advises Forbes in the article that […]

Senior couple

“Research shows that moving 401(k)s to after-tax contributions would boost tax returns in the short term, but leave retirees worse off.” Overhauling the retirement savings system is the subject of considerable talk in Washington these days, with the focus on how to give an immediate boost to government tax revenues. With retirement fund accounts being […]

Woman Looking to Side

“A strong long-term care plan spells out where you would like to live, how you plan to get around, and who will oversee your financial and health decisions when you’re incapacitated.” Starting to plan for elder care should happen when you are in your 50s or 60s. By the time you are 70, it may […]

question mark

“What is the size of the average retirement nest egg? It depends on what you mean by ‘average.’” It’s the question we all wonder about, but not very many of us will come out and ask. A 2019 analysis of more than 30 million retirement accounts by Fidelity Investments found that the average balance in […]

question mark

“The fantasy of being your own boss and filling your days as you wish is a powerful one. However, if you’re not careful, you could spend those golden years trying to earn more or pinching every penny.” There are just about as many ways to ruin your retirement as there are light bulbs on Broadway […]