Mar 24 Using economic magic to pull retirement money out of a hat By Laurence Kotlikoff Larry Kotlikoff demonstrates how to increase your standard of living for retirement -- in this case, by 15 percent -- by correctly timing your Social Security, 401(k) and Roth IRA withdrawals. Continue reading
Mar 17 What is Obama trying to cut from Social Security? By Laurence Kotlikoff Seizing on an ambiguous clause about Social Security in President Obama's 2015 budget, Larry Kotlikoff argues that the administration should be doing a lot more to reform our nation's retirement system. Continue reading
Mar 10 How one call to Social Security could doom your financial future By Laurence Kotlikoff Don't assume your or your spouse's Social Security benefits will be low just because a phone call to Social Security confirms your suspicions. They may be wrong. Continue reading
Mar 03 Yes, you can cash in on multiple exes’ Social Security benefits By Laurence Kotlikoff Larry Kotlikoff exposes yet another peculiarity of our nation's Social Security system that allows a spouse to live off the largest benefits package of multiple ex-spouses. Continue reading
Feb 24 You’re in love: Now how do you maximize your Social Security? By Laurence Kotlikoff Is getting married the best way to maximize your Social Security? Maybe. But what if your new love has an ex already collecting his or her spousal benefits? You can collect them too. Larry Kotlikoff explains when tying the knot… Continue reading
Feb 20 New Obama budget proposal abandons Social Security cuts By Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press The White House says President Barack Obama's upcoming budget proposal will not include his past offer to accept lowered cost-of-living increases in Social Security and other benefit programs. Those had been a central component of his long-term debt-reduction strategy. Officials… Continue reading
Feb 10 How Social Security could affect your eligibility for food stamps or other public assistance By Laurence Kotlikoff Public assistance recipients are required to apply for all other types of benefits for which they may be eligible, including Social Security. If their Social Security benefits exceed a certain amount, that could affect their eligibility for other forms of… Continue reading
Feb 03 To triple-dip the Social Security system, get divorced By Laurence Kotlikoff You can double-dip the Social Security system, says Larry Kotlikoff, but not triple-dip -- unless you are divorced. Continue reading
Jan 27 Even if your unemployment checks have stopped, think twice about taking Social Security early By Laurence Kotlikoff Taking your Social Security checks early might close the gap in your finances in the short term, but if you can tide yourself over, you'll be better off in the long term if you wait. Continue reading
Jan 20 Avoid the Social Security nightmare that doomed this couple By Laurence Kotlikoff This fictitious horror story about a couple who was misled about their benefit collection strategy is a cautionary tale. Continue reading