Social Security 2026 COLA: Here’s How Much Retirees Could Get
It’s too early to know for sure what the 2026 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, might be. However, we have a revised estimate from a reliable source, and in this video, Certified Financial Planner® Matt Frankel discusses what we know, what we don’t, and when we will know more. *Stock prices used were the […]
Plan to Apply for Social Security by Phone? 3 Things You Need to Know.
There are several important decisions to make about your Social Security benefits. You decide how many years you work and which jobs you work at. You also choose when you sign up. All these choices have real consequences for the size of your checks. Next to those, small decisions like how you’re going to sign […]
Looking to Claim Social Security at 70? Here’s How to Pull That Off.
There’s a reason so many older Americans rush to claim Social Security at 62. It’s hard to avoid the temptation to take benefits the moment you’re able to. However, if you’re willing to be patient, there could be a huge payoff. Social Security will reward you financially for each month you wait to take benefits […]
Worried About Your Social Security? 4 Ways to Reduce Your Dependence on It
Social Security probably forms a key part of your retirement plan — and that’s OK. It makes sense you’d factor these benefits into your retirement budget if you know you qualify for them. You’ve earned them, after all. Where it gets tricky is when you rely heavily or exclusively on your Social Security checks. The […]
10 Medicare Myths You Should Know About
A record-breaking 4.18 million Americans are set to turn 65 this year. And even if they’re not planning on retiring anytime soon, those 4.18 million must sign up for Medicare. What’s particularly interesting about a health program impacting so many people is how much confusion surrounds it. Here, we examine 10 of the most common […]
Should Social Security Invest Its Money in the Stock Market?
Several experts have suggested that instead of investing its $2.8 trillion in reserves exclusively in Treasury securities, Social Security could invest some of its money in the stock market to boost reserves. In this video, Matt Frankel, CFP®, discusses what that might look like and what it could mean for Social Security’s financial health. Where […]
If I Were Retiring in 2025, I’d Do These 3 Things First
Based on current economic and market conditions, I’d have to call 2025 a pretty scary time to be retiring. That doesn’t mean people can’t or shouldn’t do it. But rather, things seem awfully precarious right now. Many financial experts have been sounding recession alarms since tariff policies were announced at the start of April. And […]
Here’s What This Estimate of Social Security’s 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Would Mean for the Average Check
If you’re on Social Security, all the speculation about rising costs due to tariffs is pretty unnerving. Your checks may be your primary source of retirement income, and unless you’re really lucky, you only see one benefit increase per year. The next cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) won’t take effect until 2026, but the official announcement will […]
Worried That Market Fluctuations Following President Trump’s Tariffs Will Affect Your Retirement Savings? 3 Things to Do Now
President Donald Trump’s tariffs have been a major feature of his second term so far — and a major cause of concern for many Americans. Whether you’re still working, nearing retirement, or already there, you’ve probably worked hard to save what you can for retirement. Fears that the new tariffs could hurt your investments can […]
Think Claiming Social Security at 70 Is Your Safest Bet? Here’s Why That Decision Could Backfire
It’s in your best interest to retire with some amount of money saved up. If you let yourself retire on Social Security alone, you might end up having a hard time covering your expenses. But if you’re getting closer to retirement and you aren’t happy with the amount of money you’ve saved to date, you […]
