Category: Retirement & Social Security
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The 2027 COLA Countdown: Three Months That Decide It
Social Security’s 2027 COLA will be set by July, August and September CPI-W data. Where the math stands after June’s report, and when SSA announces it.
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Your Pension Statement: Five Numbers Worth Checking
Pension statements are easy to file unread. Five numbers worth checking, from your accrued benefit and vesting status to the plan’s funded percentage.
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Your Best 35 Years: How Social Security Does the Math
Social Security averages your 35 highest earning years, wage-indexed, then runs a three-bracket formula. How the math works and why zeros hurt.
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Spousal Social Security: How the 50 Percent Works
A spouse can receive up to half of a worker’s full benefit. How the 50 percent is computed, what early claiming costs, and the deemed filing rule.
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WEP and GPO Are Repealed: What Changed for Pensions
The Social Security Fairness Act ended the WEP and GPO benefit cuts for public pension holders. Who got money back, who didn’t, and who still needs to apply.
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Target-Date Funds: What the Year in the Name Means
The year in a target-date fund’s name is your expected retirement date, and it drives how the fund invests. What the label promises, and what it doesn’t.
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Switching Medicare Plans: The Calendar That Controls It
Medicare lets you change plans only during set windows. Here is the full enrollment calendar, from the fall open enrollment ahead to the exceptions that apply now.
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Tracking Down a Pension From a Company That Closed
A pension does not vanish when the employer does. Free federal search tools at PBGC and the Labor Department can reconnect you with money you earned decades ago.
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Spousal IRAs: Retirement Saving for a Stay-at-Home Spouse
A spouse without wages can still fund an IRA using the working spouse’s income. The 2026 limits, the joint-filing rule, and how the deduction phases out.
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Medicare Savings Programs: State Help With Premiums
Four state-run Medicare Savings Programs can pay your Part B premium and more. The 2026 income and resource limits, what each program covers, and how to apply.
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Borrowing From Your 401(k): The Real Price Tag
A 401(k) loan looks cheap because the interest goes to you. The real costs are missed growth, repayment rules, and what happens if you leave your job.
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Pension Buyout Offers: Comparing Lump Sum to Monthly
A pension buyout trades lifetime monthly checks for one payment now. The taxes, spousal rights, and lost protections to weigh before you sign.