Retirement

Ask Larry Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about potential effects of survivor’s benefits from public pensions, how the earnings test might be applied when someone reaches full retirement age in January and which month to apply to ensure full age 70 benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University

WASHINGTON, D.C. – APRIL 14: Attendees rally on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol building with … [+] Teamsters Union retirees who traveled from across the country to voice their opposition to deep cuts to their pension benefits on April 14, 2016, in Washington, D.C. Thousands are facing massive pension cuts because of a

For anyone with aging parents, the question of getting help for your elders is likely to come up eventually. At some point, most families want to find someone to help a parent or grandparent remain safely at home. The effort to get a caregiver often starts out casually. You ask around. Someone refers you to

As we begin the post-Covid process of thinking beyond survival, retirement planning is once more an area of focus. And the retirement prospects for Americans are scary. Few are prepared. The SECURE Act, passed shortly before the pandemic, was Congress’s first attempt in years at encouraging retirement savings. Much of that encouragement comes through provisions

Dollar-holders have enjoyed increasing buying power abroad every year since 2013, with each year’s dollar advantage eclipsing the last. Those considering diversifying into real estate overseas but procrastinating on a purchase have been rewarded as they’ve watched properties in key markets become cheaper in dollar terms year after year. Until 2020. Last year, the dollar

Ask Larry Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about what an ex drawing divorced spousal benefits might mean for other benefits drawn on a worker’s record, whether it’s better to file a few months before turning 70 and what difference filing at 65 or a month earlier would make. Larry Kotlikoff is a

The pandemic is a constant reminder of the need for emergency savings – but underlying that reminder is the need for financial know-how to make the best decisions in a most challenging world. For the workers who need it most, however, the trick is getting them vital financial help and info. This article has morphed

By Nancy Collamer, Next Avenue “Recalculating” author Lindsey Pollak has timely advice for career shifting Lindsey Pollak “Since the beginning of 2020, every single person around the world has experienced a collective, unplanned, unwanted disruption — far worse for some than others — and it has changed every single one of our career trajectories in

By Erin Flynn Jay, Next Avenue Amy Renz got a PPP loan but thought she wouldn’t qualify this time Amy Renz The Biden administration is offering a lifeline to small-business owners who’ve been struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic and the aid can be especially helpful to some with home businesses. The need is

More getty The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) was implemented to provide businesses, and individuals having trades or businesses, with financial assistance in order to keep their businesses open and their payroll intact.  Many businesses and individuals who had no need or limited need for a PPP Loan applied and received one anyway, notwithstanding limited vocal

I had it all wrong. Early in my career as a financial advisor, my goal, even more than gaining clients, was to gain knowledge. I was operating under the assumption that bringing knowledge where it is lacking is an advisor’s primary value. But while a certain degree of knowledge is a prerequisite, of course, I

Image of Joe Biden signing an executive order in the oval office. AFP via Getty Images Change is in the air. With newly elected president Joe Biden finally in place, we can expect his administration to enact several changes throughout 2021. Because this will be a busy year for the new President, he probably won’t

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Managing Editor getty Every tax-filing season seems full of complexities and consternation. But the one we’re now in is especially fraught, due to the pandemic: Stimulus checks. Unemployment benefits. Working from home tax issues. New Covid-19 rules for 401(k) and Individual Retirement Account (IRA) hardship withdrawals and loans. Frankly, it’s

By Chris Farrell, Next Avenue John and Mary Benbow, 67, and 68, respectively, of La Jolla, shown holding his finger over his … [+] social security number on his Medicare card (Photo by Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Even as America’s balkanized health care system struggles

View of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at Wall Street (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo by … [+] ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Investors reacted positively to the job’s numbers this morning. At 4:00 pm the S&P closed up and peppy at a 2% increase while the 8:30

By Kerry Hannon, Next Avenue getty A small-business credit card can be hugely helpful when you’re launching a business or have one up and running. But new investigations into potentially aggressive and misleading sales practices of American Express AXP ‘ card for entrepreneurs made me think this is an apt time to share advice on

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stated this week that he does not plan on taking any action to reverse the recent course of accommodative monetary policy until inflation rises to a significant and sustained level. He said that although he does anticipate inflation rising as the economy opens up, he views this as a short

Student Loans getty The new Interim Final Rule issued by the SBA on March 3, 2021, reverses the prior rules by indicating that independent contractors and employers who were otherwise eligible to receive PPP loans may do so regardless of whether the borrower or a 20% or more owner is in default under Federal Student

This article is part of a series. Click here to read the previous articles. The next potential use for whole life insurance in lifetime financial planning is using the cash value as a volatility buffer asset to help manage the sequence-of-returns risk for investment portfolio distributions. Retirement spending can be sourced to the cash value after

ERC getty On Monday, March 1st, the IRS released 102 pages of well-written and reasoned guidance on the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) in the form of Notice 2021-20. While further guidance will be forthcoming as to the application of these rules for 2021, the provisions of the Notice provide considerable guidance in a number of