Social Security
Found 253 Articles.
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How the Social Security Lump Sum Benefit Works: Pros & Cons
Do you know there’s an option to receive up to six months of benefits in a lump sum when initiating Social Security retirement benefits? Not many people do, until they apply for benefits. While this is a nice option, too many people are surprised by it, and don’t receive the benefit package that’s best for […]
Social Security Benefits Increase for 2019
Social Security beneficiaries will receive the largest annual cost of living increase (COLA) since 2012. It’s all thanks to a higher Consumer Price Index and the Fed’s quantitative easing policy. The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax will increase to $132,000. The earnings limits for workers under full retirement age also […]
The New Rules of Social Security [Retirement Watch Fact Check]
Almost everyone has a Social Security number, and is eligible for Social Security benefits (starting at age 62). Yet, survey after survey indicates people know little about the program and its benefits. Moreover, a lot of what people think they know is wrong. Let’s take a look at some of the key misunderstandings and oversights […]
Is This The Longer Bull Market
There’s a debate over whether the current bull market will become the longest ever on August 22. The debate hinges over nuances and opinions. The problem is there isn’t a clear, accepted definition of a bear market. Those who say a bear market doesn’t begin until there’s been a 20% decline say this is the […]
Social Security: Worse Than Projected?
Social Security is in worse financial shape than reported in the Annual Report of The Trustees of Social Security and Medicare. That’s the conclusion of the Penn Wharton Budget Model of the University of Pennsylvania. The key mistake the trustees are making, according to the academics, is overlooking the effects of federal debt. The model […]
Corporate Stock Buybacks And The Market
This article argues that a surge in stock buybacks have supported the stock market and outweighed a surge in individual investor selling of stocks. It also says that support for the market is likely to continue for a while, and that individual stock selling often is a good time to buy stocks. Companies announced $433.6 […]
Diminishing Value of Social Security Benefits
This article is about a study that concludes Social Security benefits currently buy 34% less than they did in 2000. This annual study from an advocacy group purports to re-arrange the basket of goods and services that are used to compute the Consumer Price Index so that it better reflects the purchases made by seniors. […]
Investors Are Doing Better
We regularly see reports concluding that investors earn lower returns than the published returns for individual mutual funds. The reason usually given for the discrepancy is poor timing. Investors tend to buy a fund after it’s had good returns and then sell after a bad period. This article from Morningstar says investors have done better […]
