“So, who do I want
to get my IRA? My spouse? My kids? But I don’t want to leave out the grandkids.
Oh, I’ll just fill it in later.”
You’d
be surprised how often that mental conversation goes on when someone is looking
at the beneficiary section of their IRA application. And for most,...
It’s no secret. Social Security is in trouble. It’s been talked about by the American public for years and ignored by politicians who keep kicking the can down the road. For at least 20 years, statements similar to this one from 1981 have appeared on every annual Social Security...
Alhambra's Bob Williams explains whether the timing of taking a Social Security benefit will affect the amount received by their spouse.
The IRA is a great retirement savings vehicle; money grows on a tax-deferred basis and that’s a good thing. Eventually, though, you have to pay the IRS piper when you choose to withdraw funds for retirement or when you’re forced to withdraw the Required Minimum Distribution at age 72.
Let’s...
Alhambra's Bob Williams answers a question about collecting a Social Security Survivor Benefit on an ex-spouse's work history if you've been remarried after the divorce.
To claim, or not to claim! Okay, that’s
a cheesy way to begin, but it points out a dilemma experienced by many older
folks when they’re trying to decide the most beneficial time to claim their
Social Security benefits. The fact is, Americans, collectively, lose trillions
of dollars by taking Social Security at...
“Tower, this is Bill. I’m on the final approach to retirement and need landing instructions. Do you copy?”
“Roger, Bill. Sending course corrections now. Then you are clear to land.”
Retirement is not something that just happens when you tell your employer goodbye and walk out the door. It’s a constant...
Social Security is an important part of almost every retirement plan, whether you’ve saved enough or not. That’s why it’s important to know as much about your Social Security situation as possible. And you don’t want to wait until you’re about to retire to gather the facts and take...
When the Social Security and Medicare Trustees’ Report was released a few weeks ago, the news that the Medicare Part A hospital insurance trust fund is expected to go broke in 2026 obscured other important information in the report.
In particular, the report contained preliminary numbers for an increase in...