Today’s column addresses questions about whether a number of years with no income taxed by Social Security will actually lower retirement benefits rates, whether it’s possible to be reimbursed for a gap in different types of benefits and how spousal benefit rates are determined. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and
Retirement
This is a true story about what we sometimes refer to as an “elder orphan”. These folks have no children, they are single, and they can be very vulnerable to the worst abuse. Ralph, in his late 80s had a home in an expensive part of CA. As he grew more frail with age, and
If you thought investing in your 401(k) plan was hard, just wait until the time comes when you have to start taking money out of your retirement plan. Are you ready for this? “In pre-retirement planning, the investor needs to decide three things: how much to invest, asset location and asset allocation,” says James DiLellio,
One of the most common mistakes I see people make is overestimating their tax rate in retirement. This is important for a couple of reasons. First, as Roth 401(k) and 403(b) plans become more common, estimating your future tax rate is a big factor in deciding whether you should make Roth or pre-tax contributions. Second,
You’re retired. Congratulations. Now what? For decades, during most of your working years and especially at the end of your career, it’s all been about one question. “The most common question asked by pre-retirees regarding their financial situation is ‘At what age should I plan to retire?’” says Ann Martin, Director of Operations of CreditDonkey
The ivory tower of higher ed, the U.S. government, the financial industry, the bumper sticker barrage, a healthy pinch of pride, and, yes, even our genuine love for our children have all converged to serve up a big fat guilt sandwich for parents of college-bound kids. We’ve been made to think that we’re damned if
Forensic investigations in Rhode Island, North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio reveal that gambling 30 percent or more on high-cost, high-risk, secretive alternative investments has exposed pensions to massively greater risks and reduced net returns. The time is ripe for legislators, regulators, and law enforcement to act to stop the looting. A recent New York Times NYT
There’s an old adage when it comes to building a seven-figure retirement account: “Save early and often.” Implicit in these four words lies the powerful concept of compound interest. You’ve heard the term “compounding,” you’ve probably grown numb to its true meaning. In case you need reminding, it refers to the fact that, over time,
By Rosie Wolf Williams, Next Avenue The last year changed so many things in all our lives, including how we spend. Although the recent reduction of pandemic restrictions has some people starting to splurge, COVID-19 has been a time of frugality for many Americans, especially older ones, according to a CouponFollow survey and Next Avenue interviews with consumers.
By Chris Farrell, Next Avenue Increasing numbers of people have found themselves living on low and insecure incomes for decades, including many workers 55 and older. Following the trauma of the pandemic and the social unrest after the murder of George Floyd by a former Minneapolis police officer, addressing the problem of creating a more equitable