Oct 03 Twitter chat: What are the care options for older American singles? By Nora Daly While the number of single adults is growing in the U.S., the number of Americans over age 65 also is on the rise. What does long term care look like for unmarried elderly Americans, and what different options are available?… Continue reading
Sep 29 What’s the cost of returning to work after taking Social Security early? By Laurence Kotlikoff Benefit reductions from the earnings test can wreak havoc on your budget, explains Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff, because they're not pro-rated. In other words, a retiree who has gone back to work to make ends meet after taking benefits… Continue reading
Sep 22 What all remarried newlyweds need to know about Social Security By Laurence Kotlikoff Don't assume your new spouse will automatically be eligible for a spousal benefit based on your Social Security record. Larry Kotlikoff advises a recently married couple, whose previous marriages both ended in divorce, how they can maximize their benefits. Continue reading
Sep 19 Benefit hikes hike spending — but not for long By Making Sen$e Editor Washington is forever arguing over benefit increases versus tax cuts to stimulate the economy. In a paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, former Obama economic adviser Christina Romer and her husband show that tax cuts deliver a more… Continue reading
Sep 15 You need to dump your hubby and collect on your ex By Laurence Kotlikoff Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff explains why you collecting on your ex-spouse's work record can yield better Social Security benefits. Continue reading
Sep 08 You’re not the only loser when taking Social Security early By Laurence Kotlikoff Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff has long encouraged you to wait until age 70 to collect your retirement benefit. But you're not the only one who will lose by taking it early. Taking benefits before full retirement age also reduces… Continue reading
Sep 02 How one family can collect 8 different Social Security benefits By Laurence Kotlikoff Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff explains how a husband, wife and son could boost their $1 million lifetime Social Security benefits with a different collection strategy that adds one more benefit to the mix. Continue reading
Aug 25 Is my Social Security check fair? By Laurence Kotlikoff You've spent decades paying taxes on your earnings to fund your own Social Security benefit, but when your higher-earning spouse dies, you start receiving spousal benefits that wipe out your own, albeit smaller, retirement benefit. Is that a fair deal?… Continue reading
Aug 19 The easiest way to get higher Social Security benefits: keep working By Laurence Kotlikoff In many cases, getting more Social Security benefits from working longer outweighs the additional Social Security taxes you'd need to pay, says Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff. Continue reading
Aug 11 Social Security and Viagra: A case of accidental death and widows benefits By Laurence Kotlikoff There are countless rules governing Social Security benefits, and just as many exceptions to those rules, including one for "accidental death," which allows widow(er)s to receive survivor benefits even after having been married less than the requisite nine months. Larry… Continue reading