Helpful Articles
Social
Security
These are articles that were written to help develop ideas for journalists that work for The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Kiplinger’s, Smart Money, AARP, newspapers, financial web sites, etc. They’ve been used as a source of quotes for these publications
When to start social security. Whether to start social security at 62, 70 or some age in between is a critical decision that can make a huge difference late in your life. This article shows what may be best for you.
Are Personal Retirement Accounts for You? President Bush is advocating Personal Retirement Accounts in lieu of part of younger people's Social Security. This article shows that it may be a very difficult sales job.
Private Accounts for Social Security. The federal government is now looking at private accounts as a way to replace part of Social Security benefits and thereby reduce the government's future Social Security obligations. This article shows that it is unlikely such an alternative would help low-income workers unless it was beefed up with costly extra spousal benefits and some kind of insurance for lifetime payments. It suggests that if stocks are such a good thing for private accounts, why aren't they even better for the Social Security Trust itself?
Plan on Less Social
Security and More Tax. Two
types of solutions to the Social Security Trust shortfall problems were offered
at the 2004 Social Security Administration conference on The Future of Social
Security. Since there is about $100,000 shortfall for every
Start Social Security at 62, 66, or 70? (PDF File)*. Even if you retire early, the popular mantra that you should start taking social security at the earliest possible age may be dead wrong. My wife and I work with widows in their eighties who are in the 50% of the people that live longer than the mortality tables. These widows now realize what a mistake it was to take social security early.
Social Security and Inflation (PDF File)*. Social security is supposed to be adjusted to cover inflation every year. The fact is that it doesn’t come close to covering retiree’s inflation. Retirees experience greater need for medical attention, especially as they age. That medical attention comes at a very high cost, and that cost is increasing much faster than the inflation experienced by the goods used to measure the inflation index.
Social Security at Age 62? If you are serious about this possibility, read this article first. You likely will change your mind when you hear about some first-hand experiences.
Deferred Social Security likely to be better than an annuity. This article compares deferred Social Security benefits with immediate inflation-adjusted annuities using an example with current quotes and provides the basis for your own personal evaluation.