social security

Ensuring adequate savings for a lengthy retirement stands as the paramount concern for retirees and individuals nearing retirement. Recent years of elevated inflation have diminished the buying power of cash reserves, creating additional hurdles.

The U.S. faces a $36 trillion national debt and a $1.8 trillion deficit. With most revenue tied up in mandatory spending, there’s little left for other needs. Cutting discretionary spending alone won’t balance the budget—economic growth, increased tax revenue, or reduced defense spending are needed. Efforts like DOGE help reduce waste, but long-term discipline and smart policy are essential. Like personal finance, fixing national debt requires focus and tough choices.

The Social Security Fairness Act was approved in the House in November and in the Senate early Saturday morning.

The Social Security Administration COLA The Social Security Administration is set to announce the 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The 8.7% COLA will boost the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit to $1,814 next year, up $145 per month from this year’s $1,669 average benefit. The 8.7% COLA increase is the largest adjustment to the benefit in 40 years thanks to high inflation. And to everyone’s surprise, a decreased Medicare Part B premium comes with it. First, let’s focus...

Social Security is a benefit nearly 1/5th of the country is currently receiving and the majority of working Americans pay into it. How is something that affects such a large percentage of the population so easily misunderstood and complex? The goal of this article is to deliver the fundamentals of Social Security and develop a much stronger communication with your advisor around the topic. With all that being said, let’s jump right in. What is Social Security? In the midst of the worst...

Social Security offers a 5.9% cost-of-living adjustment. What if I am delaying my benefits? The Social Security Administration officially published the 5.9% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The 5.9% COLA increase is the largest adjustment to the benefit in 39 years. So how does this affect those delaying their benefit? First, let’s start with how Social Security calculates the COLA, and then, how those both receiving the benefit and delaying the benefit are affected. COLAs have been...