Three Key Questions to Answer Before Taking Social Security

By -
Social Security is a critical component of the retirement financial strategy for many Americans, so before you begin taking it, you should consider three important questions. The answers may affect whether you make the most of this retirement income source.
  1. When to Start? You have the choice of 1) starting benefits at age 62, 2) claiming them at your full retirement age, or 3) delaying payments until age 70. If you claim early, you can expect to receive a monthly benefit that will be lower than what you would have earned at full retirement. If you wait until age 70, you can expect to receive an even higher monthly benefit than you would have received if you had begun taking payments at your full retirement age. The decision of when to begin taking benefits may hinge on whether you need the income now or can wait, and whether you think your lifespan will be shorter or longer than the average American.
  2. Should I Continue to Work? Work provides income, personal satisfaction, and may increase your Social Security benefits. However, if you begin taking benefits prior to your full retirement age and continue to work, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 in earnings above the prevailing annual limit ($17,040 in 2018).¹ If you work during the year in which you attain full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $3 in earnings over a different annual limit ($45,360 in 2018) until the month you reach full retirement age. After you attain your full retirement age, earned income no longer reduces benefit payments.²
  3. How Can I Maximize My Benefit? The easiest way to maximize your monthly Social Security benefit is to simply wait until you turn age 70 before receiving payments. 
  1. Social Security Administration, 2018
  2. Social Security Administration, 2018

Popular posts from this blog

9 Facts About Retirement

By -
Image
Tip:  Nearly 70% of workers expect to work for pay in retirement, but only 26% of retirees actually have done so. Source: 2018 Retirement Confidence Survey, EBRI Retirement can have many meanings. For some, it will be a time to travel and spend time with family members. For others, it will be a time to start a new business or begin a charitable endeavor. Regardless of what approach you intend to take, here are nine things about retirement that might surprise you. Many consider the standard retirement age to be 65. One of the key influencers in arriving at that age was Germany, which initially set its retirement age at 70 then lowered it to age 65.¹ Every day between now and the end of the next decade, another 10,000 baby boomers will turn 65. That’s roughly one person every 8 seconds.² In 2016, the latest year for which data is available, people aged 65 and older accounted for 15% of the population in the U.S. By 2060, they are expected to represent more than one-in-fo...
Read more

Women and Financial Strategies

By -
Image
Forty-four percent of American women are the primary breadwinner in their house. 1  Yet only 10% of women feel very confident in their ability to fully retire with a comfortable lifestyle. 2 Although more women are providing for their families, when it comes to preparing for retirement, they may be leaving their future to chance. Women and College The reason behind this disparity doesn't seem to be a lack of education or independence. Today, women are more likely to go to college and graduate than men. 3 So what keeps them from taking charge of their long-term financial picture? One reason may be a lack of confidence. In one recent study, less than half of the more than 2,000 women surveyed said they felt satisfied with their knowledge of finances. 4 Women may shy away from discussing money because they don’t want to appear uneducated or naive and hesitate to ask questions as a result. Insider language Since Wall Street traditionally has been a male-dominated...
Read more

How Financial Advisors Are Compensated

By -
The fees that investors pay to financial advisors for their advice and services come in two basic forms: transaction fees and ongoing fees. While advisors may differ in what fees they charge, they are required to fully disclose them. Transaction Fees These fees are generally one-time fees assessed at the time a transaction is made. Examples of transaction fees include: Commissions Paid on the purchase and sale of a stock.¹ Mark Ups / Mark Downs Occur when a broker-dealer sells or buys an investor a position that it owns. FINRA guidelines ensure the prices paid by investors are reasonably related to the market for the security.² Sales Loads The sales charge for buying a mutual fund. They may either be front-end (charged when you buy the fund) or back-end (charged when you sell the fund).  Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and othe...
Read more