Money

Retirement

Today's column addresses questions about potential effects of filing for early retirement benefits on a spouse's benefit, when reductions for filing early can and cannot be lifted and retirement benefit estimates on SSA's website.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 contains a new round of stimulus aimed at mitigating the continuing economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially for small businesses. PPP2 is potentially very helpful, but be quick, the deadline for applications is March 31, 2021.

Three risks that are the most likely to derail retirement plans. Fortunately, the risks can be reduced.

Economists claim the consensus opinion is that boosting the minimum wage is a net boost for the economy. But what if they're wrong?

The country is experiencing two quite different paths since it plunged into a recession in the spring of 2020. Many families struggle. In contrast, corporations and by extension stockowners are doing very well after recovering very quickly from the initial market crash.

Swap or substitution powers are commonly included in many irrevocable grantor trusts. This can provide several important tax and other benefits but you need to know how to properly use them.

Today's column addresses questions about whether to take a survivor's benefit before a retirement benefit delayed until 70, how Canadian pensions can affect US Social Security benefits and how Social Security verifies marriages.

3 tips from a mom and daughter who successfully opened theirs in the pandemic

Collectivist exchanges of money, housing and caregiving keep many families afloat. Notre Dame Anthropologist Karen Richman and Stevens Institute of Technology’s Economist Joelle Saad-Lesslers’ recent research knocks me out.

Are higher state estate taxes in your future?

Smart advice from the authors of "The Entrepreneur's Faces"

With this understanding about how life insurance is priced, I can create a simple model to consider four different potential roles for this whole life insurance policy in retirement income planning.

Today's column addresses questions about when Social Security will recognize recent high income, what happens to benefit checks received in the month a person passes away and how the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) can affect benefits.

Knowing the stock market’s rate-of-return scorecard can help you invest for retirement with confidence.

Why on earth would a pension plan that's 18% funded, be increasing participants' benefits? Because this is Illinois.

What will happen to your bitcoin when you’re gone? Do you know who will be able to access your email, social media accounts, digital subscriptions and other digital assets? Do you know the value of your online life, and have you considered addressing your digital assets in your estate plan?

What price will your children pay if you age in your large home? There are options to be considered as well as the consequences of not making changes while you can.

What two international retirement experts, out with new rankings, say

We’ve made it through the disaster of 2020. It’s a new year, which means it’s time to set our goals and resolutions for the months ahead. Here are my recommendations on what to do now to help you have a successful year financially.

The American justice system is going to be very busy in both civil and criminal courts in the coming months as a result of the Capitol riot. It stands to reason that many of the individuals who will stand trial or plea bargain for having participated in this event will claim that they were misled.