Jun 11 Union: Hackers have personal data, including SS numbers, on every fed employee By Ken Dilanian, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Hackers stole personnel data and Social Security numbers for every federal employee, a government worker union said Thursday, saying that the cyber theft of U.S. employee information was more damaging than the Obama administration has acknowledged. Continue reading
Jun 08 Can you collect your late spouse’s Social Security and still work? By Laurence Kotlikoff Trying to understand how to maximize your Social Security can be a confusing process, but it doesn't have to be. Ask Larry your questions. Continue reading
Jun 06 Audit estimates Social Security overpaid on disabilities by nearly half By Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press Social Security overpaid nearly half the people receiving disability benefits over the past decade, according to a government watchdog, raising questions about the management of the cash-strapped program. Continue reading
May 31 Report: Ex-Nazis received $20 million in Social Security benefits By Richard Lardner, Associated Press A Social Security Administration watchdog found the agency paid $20.2 million in benefits to more than 130 suspected Nazi war criminals, SS guards, and others who may have participated in the Third Reich's atrocities during World War II. Continue reading
May 26 What Social Security has yet to get right: It’s your maximum age of life that matters By Laurence Kotlikoff Social Security is an insurance company. It's taking money from us and promising insurance benefits in exchange. But insurance companies don't go out of their way to encourage people to ignore risks and focus on average outcomes. Continue reading
May 18 A cautionary tale about taking retroactive Social Security benefits By Laurence Kotlikoff The more I talk to people, the more I understand how easy it is to make major mistakes in taking Social Security benefits if you don't know exactly what you're doing or, equally important, don't know exactly what Social Security… Continue reading
May 11 Playing God with Social Security fairness By Laurence Kotlikoff Our fiscal system, in general, and Social Security, in particular, is an incredibly complex maze of entangled provisions, most of which were put into place in piecemeal fashion over the years. Saying that provision X is unfair because it benefits… Continue reading
May 04 10 tricks to raise your retirement living standard By Laurence Kotlikoff Every question in personal finance begins and ends with our living standard. Here are 10 magic tricks that produce the equivalent of a couple finding hundreds of thousands of dollars on the street. Continue reading
May 01 7 ideas to help you build a great retirement By Jonathan D. Pond Everything you do in your financial life throughout your working years is geared toward one goal: Being able to retire comfortably. Here are 7 ideas that could help you achieve that goal. Continue reading
Apr 27 20 reasons why I think Social Security is sexist By Laurence Kotlikoff Times have changed, but Social Security has not. Women are still earning less than men, on average, and the system’s rules are, as a result, effectively sexist despite their nominal sex neutrality. … Continue reading