Back in 1935 when Social Security made its debut, the government had to all but force older Americans to claim their benefits. Today, the situation couldn’t be more different. Baby Boomers reaching retirement age can’t wait to get their hands on this benefit. It seems that everyone knows the earliest you can claim Social Security is age 62. But, is that the best … [Read more...] about Social Security: It’s a Big Financial Decision
Social Security
Social Security: Lightly Toasted, Not Burnt (my latest book)
aka: It’s Still Not Going Bankrupt This has been a tough year for Social Security. After the year started out on such a bright note with the repeal of WEP and GPO, things quickly soured. The new administration unleashed the doughgie boys (DOGE) into the gears of Social Security. And they wreaked havoc. Layers and layers of new identification rules make it difficult for … [Read more...] about Social Security: Lightly Toasted, Not Burnt (my latest book)
Social Security for Divorced Individuals
Information and a checklist Too many myths and misconceptions swirl around Social Security. It’s frankly amazing how much people think they know about the program…and how wrong they can be. One of the most common misunderstandings concerns Social Security for divorced individuals. It can be quite a surprise when divorced women discover they can claim benefits based on their … [Read more...] about Social Security for Divorced Individuals
Social Security for Married Couples – Part 2
Example Cases to Check out Social Security decisions for married couples are best approached step-by-step. Then the rules make more sense. There are several “behind-the-scenes” calculations that you don’t see on your statements. Different options are compared to see if either spouse will be eligible for a spousal benefit. At the end of the process, each spouse will receive … [Read more...] about Social Security for Married Couples – Part 2
Social Security for Married Couples
Key information and a checklist before you claim Are you happily married today? You’ll probably need to keep that in mind when you sit down to figure out your Social Security claiming strategy. There may be a healthy debate over who will claim first. And it may be hard to consider how your decision could affect your spouse after you die. Not such a pleasant topic. But super … [Read more...] about Social Security for Married Couples
2025 Social Security Trustees Report—Impact of a 23% Cut in Your Benefits
On June 18, 2025, the new troop of Social Security trustees released the 2025 Social Security Trustees Report. This annual requirement reports the health of four critical social safety net trust funds managed by the trustees. The four are OASI, DI, HI, and SMI. For retirement, the most important trust fund is OASI—Old Age and Survivors Insurance. This year’s report projects the … [Read more...] about 2025 Social Security Trustees Report—Impact of a 23% Cut in Your Benefits
