It is common knowledge by now that if a person applies for their Social Security benefit after full retirement age (FRA), the benefit will include delayed retirement credits (DRCs) of 8% per year up to age 70. This is enough to entice savvy people—especially higher earners—to claim at 70 even if they retire before then. […]
Delayed Retirement Credits Read More »
“Social Security is one of the most effective poverty-prevention programs in history. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it keeps nearly 29 million Americans from sliding into poverty each year,” BlackRock CEO Larry Fink wrote in his 2025 letter to investors. Nonetheless, while it provides a basic level of income, we’re also mindful that Social Security, by
Making Sense of Social Security: The Basics and Key Considerations Read More »
Traders who had donned their Dow 50,000 hats in February watched the oldest and best-known index slide into correction territory last month, shedding 10%. Since its year-to-date peak, the tech-heavy Nasdaq retreated by about 12% at its lowest point. The S&P 500 Index has yet to enter an official stock market correction, with a total
March Comes in Like a Lion Read More »
March Madness—Smart Tax Moves That Save You Money The April 15th tax deadline is just around the corner. For some, you’ll file and be done with the madness sometime in March. Others will sneak in just under the deadline. You may carve out some time to file with a software package. Or, given the complexity of
March Madness—Smart Tax Moves That Save You Money Read More »
In the early hours of February 28, global markets were shaken by significant geopolitical developments, as the U.S. and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iran that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader. Iran responded with missile strikes, which escalated tensions and raised uncertainty in global markets. It’s not surprising to see heightened
The Iran War: Navigating Stock Market Volatility During Uncertainty Read More »
A quick review of the table of returns shows that the new year started favorably. As we saw last year, global markets continue to outperform, but there has been a shift in leadership in U.S. stocks. Notably, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite is lagging, while smaller company stocks, as measured by the more speculative Russell 2000
January’s solid start Read More »
When I was young—much younger—we lived next door to a family whose breadwinner was a physician, and the mother stayed home with the kids. I recall Mom telling us that when her husband was in medical school, she would shop for groceries with a price counter. When she put an item in the shopping cart,
Financial Fitness Starts Now: Simple Steps Toward Long-Term Stability Read More »
As a generation, baby boomers are starting to wonder how we can leave our mark upon the world. What, besides material possessions, can we hand down to the next generation? How do we capture and define the wisdom and values that we’ve cultivated over decades of experience? How do we pass these precious assets down
Planning Your Legacy: Where to Start Read More »
Social Security is one of the most valuable yet misunderstood retirement assets. For many households, the difference between an average strategy and an optimized one can amount to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in lifetime benefits. Understanding how benefits are calculated—and how to strategically claim them—can materially improve your retirement outcome. How
How Social Security Benefits Are Calculated — and 5 Strategies to Maximize Them Read More »