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
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
Should you be concerned about the privacy of your Social Security data?
The experts say, “Yes!” If you’ve ever had the breath knocked out of you, you know how you’re stunned and disoriented for a few seconds. Slowly, you start to breathe again. That’s how I felt—stunned and totally disoriented—when I attended a recent webinar about the privacy of your Social Security data. But I wasn’t so sure I started breathing again during the hour-long … [Read more...] about Should you be concerned about the privacy of your Social Security data?
WEP and GPO repealed—it took Congress 23 years to act
Many retired public sector workers will finally get the Social Security benefit they earned So, how is your New Year starting out? For nearly 3.5 million retirees who earned a pension from working in the public sector, it’s starting out great. That’s because after 23 years of haranguing in Congress, both houses finally passed the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023. In an … [Read more...] about WEP and GPO repealed—it took Congress 23 years to act
