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 […]
3 Ways Married Couples Can Maximize Their Social Security Benefits
When it comes to retirement planning, being married has its advantages, such as having another person who can help you save for your goals. But it brings challenges, too. You’re no longer planning for just yourself. You also have to think about what your partner wants, and sometimes that requires compromise. Where to invest $1,000 […]
Short on Savings? 3 Alternatives to Working in Retirement.
It’s pretty much a known thing that retiring on just Social Security means retiring on very little money. That’s why American workers are often encouraged to save for retirement as well as they can. But sometimes, life gets in the way. When you don’t earn a particularly large paycheck, it can be very hard to […]
5 Social Security Tasks You Probably Didn’t Know You Could Do Online
There have been a lot of Social Security changes so far in 2025, and that can leave you feeling pretty nervous if you depend on your checks to cover your basic expenses. Some of the changes have sent people flooding the Social Security Administration’s phone lines. As a result, average call wait times are now […]
Late to Retirement Planning? 5 Strategies to Help You Catch Up to Your Peers
There are an endless number of reasons you might be late to retirement planning. Whether it’s unexpected medical bills, supporting family members, student debt, living in a high-cost-of-living area, or simply not earning enough, saving for retirement is sometimes put on a back burner. There’s no shame in being late to the party. The point […]
The Biggest Reason You Can’t Retire Only on Social Security (It’s Not Benefit Cuts)
There are a good number of retired Americans today who effectively live on Social Security alone. And many people with savings still get the overwhelming majority of their retirement income from the monthly checks Social Security sends them. But if that’s your plan for retirement, I’m here to tell you that it’s not a great […]
Here’s What Experts Say It Will Take to Fix Social Security
The Social Security Board of Trustees expects the program to become insolvent in the next decade, which would result in a sizable cut to benefits. Those who count on Social Security to pay bills are naturally anxious. They want to know if someone is actively working on a solution, and if so, what that solution […]
These Social Security Beneficiaries Could Get 3 Checks in May 2025
While most retirees are grateful to have their Social Security checks, many often feel they’re not enough. It would be great to have more than one monthly benefit coming in, though that’s not possible for most people. A small group of seniors does get multiple checks each month, though. This month, they’ll actually receive three. […]
