Mar 30 Why shouldn’t I take Social Security early so I can enjoy my retirement? By Laurence Kotlikoff One reader writes that he and his wife can start collecting Social Security earlier than age 70, as Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff discourages, with a very small downside for the long term. But today, Larry urges him to reconsider… Continue reading
Mar 23 Why maximizing your Social Security won’t bankrupt the system By Laurence Kotlikoff Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff has repeatedly warned that the Social Security system is underfunded. Why then does his new best-selling book tell readers how to collect as much as possible in benefits? Perhaps surprisingly, he explains, most of the… Continue reading
Mar 17 Watch 7:59 Between student debt and part-time work, what Millennials should do now to save for retirement By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Mar 04 Why are my health insurance premiums going up and up? By Philip Moeller A reader's insurance agent says that everyone's premiums are going up. But the reader wonders if he could be spending less. Making Sen$e Medicare Maven Phil Moeller tells him what to look for. Continue reading
Mar 02 Sen. Barbara Mikulski expected to announce her retirement By Donna Cassata, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Democratic officials say Sen. Barbara Mikulski, the longest serving woman in the history of Congress, is ready to announce her retirement. Continue reading
Feb 26 Watch 7:00 Tricks and tips for getting the most from Social Security By PBS News Hour The longer you wait before cashing in on Social Security benefits, the greater the financial reward. But many don’t wait until age 70. There’s a range of loopholes and “secrets” that can improve your benefits, a fact economics correspondent Paul… Continue watching
Feb 23 10 Social Security rules that are insane By Laurence Kotlikoff Ever feel like you need a translator to understand what the Social Security Administration is trying to tell you? You're not alone. As part of his new book, co-authored with Making Sen$e's Paul Solman and Phil Moeller, Social Security expert… Continue reading
Feb 23 White House pushing tougher rules on retirement account brokers By Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is proposing tougher restrictions on brokers who manage Americans' retirement accounts, reigniting a confrontation with the financial services industry over rules affecting trillions of dollars in 401k and other savings accounts. Continue reading
Feb 18 Today’s racial wealth gap is wider than in the 1960s By Simone Pathe Average wealth in America has grown over the past 50 years, but not at the same rate for everyone. Wealth gaps, especially between whites and non-whites, are growing. In 2013, the average white family had seven times the wealth of… Continue reading
Feb 16 How to get what’s yours from Social Security By Laurence Kotlikoff, Philip Moeller, Paul Solman One day while playing tennis, Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff informed Paul Solman about a strategy for maximizing the benefits that he and his wife were eligible to collect. They decided everyone else should know that secret, too, and are… Continue reading