Key Points August inflation data will come in on Sept. 11 — and retirees will want to keep a watch. This will give us the second-to-last data point we need for the 2027 COLA calculation. We will learn the official 2027 cost of living adjustment when it’s announced on Oct. 14. The $23,760 Social Security […]
Key Points Current estimates are calling for a larger Social Security COLA in 2027 than the raise that came through this year. Even if that ends up happening, that COLA may not actually keep up with real-world costs for seniors. Changing the COLA formula could help Social Security benefits avoid losing buying power. The $23,760 […]
By Ben Carlson, originally published at A Wealth of Common Sense. A reader asks: I’m 44. I lived through the Dot-com bust and 2008, which just taught me to be a machine. I don’t get defensive; I just relentlessly dollar-cost average. My secret to staying the course has been reading financial books to keep my […]
Ben Carlson
Key Points The average 40-year-old today has modest 401(k) savings. If your balance isn’t where you want it to be, there are some essential steps you can take. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › By the time you turn 40, you’ve hopefully made some progress on retirement savings. But you may […]
Key Points The average 62-year-old could get about $50 more per month with a 3.6% 2027 COLA. The actual COLA could be higher or lower, depending on what inflation does over the coming month. We’ll learn the official 2027 Social Security COLA on Oct. 14, 2026. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook […]
Key Points A 3.6% Social Security COLA could increase checks by up to $187 per month next year. The average Social Security benefit would only increase by $75 per month. The 2027 COLA isn’t locked in yet — we won’t know it until Oct. 14, 2026. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook […]
Key Points Social Security’s 2027 COLA forecast recently got a downgrade. Even if the COLA comes in higher than expected, it may not hold up well to inflation in practice. Retirees can cope by working part-time and reducing expenses. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › Many seniors on Social Security were […]
By Fritz Gilbert, originally published at The Retirement Manifesto. An old man is knocking at my door. At some point, he’ll find a way to get in. Once he enters, I know he’ll be here to stay. Until then, I’m doing everything in my power to keep him out. Today, some thoughts on that old […]
Fritz Gilbert
Key Points Switching to a survivor benefit will increase your monthly Social Security checks. Remarriage may not render you ineligible to claim a survivor benefit. The amount of Social Security benefit taxes you owe going forward could change. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › A spouse passing away changes a lot […]
If the initial stages of building a firm are mostly about survival and prospecting, and the middle stages are about scaling teams and processes, then the latter stages of the firm become about determining what is “enough”. This is especially true as the firm is able to do more complex work for higher-paying prospective clients, […]
Michael Kitces
Key Points Estimates are currently calling for a 3.4% to 3.6% COLA. Unless inflation cools drastically, next year’s raise could come in much higher than this year’s 2.8% boost. A large COLA will come at the cost of higher prices in the near term. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › If […]
Key Points When you have a shorter life expectancy, delaying Social Security past full retirement age could leave you with less lifetime income. If you only have your own needs to worry about, it could even make sense to file early. If you’re married and are the higher earner in your household, waiting could be […]
Key Points Inflation will likely make retirement more expensive over time. The right investment mix could act as a safeguard. Claiming Social Security strategically could also help. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › In the course of retirement planning, there are certain things you probably know to think about — your […]
Image source: Getty Images So you just wiped out a $10,000 credit card balance in one fell swoop. Nice work — you’ll see the benefits of that hard work pretty quickly. No, your credit score won’t move immediately. It usually takes one to two billing cycles before your issuer reports a lower balance to the […]
We often tend to think of giving from one generation to the next in terms of inheritance, with a parent passing on their assets after death. However, some parents (who are confident that they have more than enough funds to last their own lifetime) want to be more proactive in giving to the next generation. […]
Michael Kitces
Key Points Social Security’s upcoming cost-of-living adjustment is shaping up to be larger than 2026’s 2.8% raise. Current forecasts are incomplete because key inflation data hasn’t arrived yet. An official COLA should be announced in mid-October. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › For seniors on Social Security, there’s perhaps no more […]
By Jonathan Ping, originally published at My Money Blog. Last year, I took an official Certified Financial Planner (CFP) course, which satisfies the “Education” requirement of becoming an official Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Mine was online and self-paced at the University of Georgia with a net cost of around $3,000. I did not take the […]
Jonathan Ping
By Ben Carlson, originally published at A Wealth of Common Sense. When living through uncertain times like these, many people seek the certainty of answers. Investors want to know how this AI capex cycle will end. Potential homebuyers want to know if housing prices or mortgage rates will ever come down again. Households want to […]
Ben Carlson
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