Aug 12 Treat Social Security as Insurance Against One of Life’s Most Expensive Accidents: Failing to Die on Time By Laurence Kotlikoff By Larry Kotlikoff You should take your Social Security benefits with the expectation that you could live a very long time, and therefore, want them to be as high as possible. Photo courtesy of John Elk/Lonely Planet Images. Larry Kotlikoff's… Continue reading
Jul 29 Ask Larry: Why I Advised a Terminal Cancer Patient Not To Take Social Security Right Away By Laurence Kotlikoff If you expect to die soon, taking benefits right away to maximize return on your contributions to the Social Security system could reduce the survivor benefits your spouse receives. Photo courtesy of Steve Cole/E+ via Getty. Larry Kotlikoff's Social… Continue reading
Jul 22 Will There Be a Cost-of-Living Increase for Social Security Benefits This Year? If So, How Much? By Laurence Kotlikoff By Larry Kotlikoff Social Security recipients should receive slightly higher benefits each year based on inflation. Photo courtesty of Creative Commons Flickr user 401(K) 2012. Larry Kotlikoff's Social Security original 34 "secrets", his additional secrets, his Social… Continue reading
Jul 15 Why Can’t America’s Social Security System Be as Simple as New Zealand’s? By Laurence Kotlikoff Americans don't understand what their retirement incomes will look like. We could learn from the pension system in New Zealand, pictured above, where people have a better idea of what future benefits to expect, argues Larry Kotlikoff. Photo courtesy of… Continue reading
Jul 15 Why Can’t America’s Social Security System Be as Simple as New Zealand’s? By Laurence Kotlikoff By Larry Kotlikoff Americans don't understand what their retirement incomes will look like. We could learn from the pension system in New Zealand, pictured above, where people have a better idea of what future benefits to expect, argues Larry… Continue reading
Jul 08 What Happens to My Spouse’s Social Security Benefit If I Die? By Laurence Kotlikoff Taking survivor benefits early will reduce their value, warns Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff. Photo by Purestock via Getty Images. Larry Kotlikoff's Social Security original 34 "secrets", his additional secrets, his Social Security "mistakes" and his… Continue reading
Jul 07 What Happens to My Spouse’s Social Security Benefit If I Die? By Laurence Kotlikoff By Laurence Kotlikoff Taking survivor benefits early will reduce their value, warns Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff. Photo by Purestock via Getty Images. Larry Kotlikoff's Social Security original 34 "secrets", his additional secrets, his Social Security… Continue reading
Jul 01 Is It Worth Taking Social Security Early and Investing the Benefits? By Laurence Kotlikoff Even if you want to collect Social Security early to invest those benefits, waiting until age 70 to collect is likely a safer investment with a better return. Photo courtesy of Dan Brownsword via Getty Images. Larry Kotlikoff's Social… Continue reading
Jul 01 Is It Worth Taking Social Security Early and Investing the Benefits? By Laurence Kotlikoff By Laurence Kotlikoff Even if you want to collect Social Security early to invest those benefits, waiting until age 70 to collect is likely a safer investment with a better return. Photo courtesy of Dan Brownsword via Getty Images. Larry… Continue reading
Jun 27 The Social Security Payoff to the Supreme Court’s DOMA Decision By Laurence Kotlikoff After Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling invalidating a key section of the Defense of Marriage Act, married same-sex couples will be eligible for the same federal benefits as heterosexual married couples. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Elvert Barnes. The Supreme Court's… Continue reading