Now You Can Save More for Retirement

Title: Now You Can Save More for Retirement

Article Snip: "...Good news for retirement savers: Starting in 2019, the IRS just raised the annual contribution for IRAs, the first increase since 2013. Those who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans and the Thrift Savings Plan for federal workers can now put aside more, too. It's also become easier to qualify for a Roth IRA, to have your contributions to a traditional IRA be tax-deductible and to claim the Saver's Credit. Here's a summary..."

Reference: www.investopedia.com
retirement savings,

Should I start drawing down my savings or claim Social Security early?

Title: Should I start drawing down my savings or claim Social Security early?

Article Snip: "...There are solid arguments to be made for both options. The argument in favor of claiming Social Security is that your retirement savings..."

Reference: www.usatoday.com

Were you called by a Social Security scammer? Feds issue warning

Title: Were you called by a Social Security scammer? Feds issue warning

Article Snip: "...The Feds issued a warning that scammers are spoofing a real, actual number used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to try to get personal information from people across the country. “Scammers are spoofing SSA’s 1-800 customer service number to try to get your personal information..."

Reference: wtop.com
Scams,

High-3 Average Salary

Title: High-3 Average Salary

Article Snip: "...Your “high-3” average pay is the highest average basic pay you earned during any 3 consecutive years of service. These three years are usually your final three years of service, but can be an earlier period, if your basic pay was higher during that period. Your basic pay is the basic salary you earn for your position. It includes increases to your salary for which retirement deductions are withheld, such as shift rates. It does not include payments for overtime, bonuses, etc. (If your total service was less than 3 years, your average salary was figured by averaging your basic pay during all of your periods of creditable Federal service)..."

Reference: www.opm.gov
High-3 Average Salary,

This information is correct as stated on 10/27/2018. Bold Face added.

Postponed or Deferred Federal Retirement

Title: Postponed or deferred

Article Snip: "...Most employees retire when they’ve reached the standard age and service requirements to receive an immediate unreduced annuity. If you are a CSRS employee, those are age 62 with 5 years of service, 60 with 20 or 55 with 30. If you are a FERS employee, they are..."

Reference: www.federaltimes.com
Deferred Federal Retirement, Postponed Federal Retirement, CSRS, FERS,

COLA Shortchanges FERS Retirees

Title: COLA, Largest Since 2012 for CSRS Retirees and Social Security Recipients, Shortchanges FERS Retirees

Article Snip: "...Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of FERS retirees will be wondering why they are only receiving a 2 percent COLA when the relevant measure of consumer prices increased by 2.8 percent. That’s due to the bargain struck in Congress in the 1980s when FERS was created, which limits COLAs to 2 percent when consumer prices increase between 2 and 3 percent. But that was the wrong policy then, as it is now. It prevents FERS annuities from keeping up with inflation, which is the whole point of a COLA. It is past time for Congress to ensure FERS retirees receive a full COLA each year. “Retirees already receive COLAs that fail to represent how seniors spend their money. COLAs are currently based on the CPI-W..."

Reference: www.narfe.org
CSRS vs FERS, COLA,

Social Security COLA for 2019 will be 2.8 percent

Title: Social Security COLA for 2019 will be 2.8 percent

Article Snip: "...Social Security Administration announced Thursday that 63 million beneficiaries, including retirees, disabled workers and their eligible dependents and surviving family members, will receive a 2.8% increase in benefits next year, the largest annual cost-of-living adjustment since 2012..."

Reference: www.investmentnews.com
2019 Social Security COLA,

The "Worn Out Worker" Rule in Social Security Disability Claims

Title: The "Worn Out Worker" Rule in Social Security Disability Claims

Article Snip: "...The worn out worker rule makes it easier for those who've done many years of hard labor to get disability benefits..."

Reference: www.disabilitysecrets.com
'Worn Out Worker' Rule, social security, Disability,

Looking for an early retirement? Post videos on YouTube

Title: Looking for an early retirement? Post videos on YouTube

Article Snip: "...Inorder to earn money it is important that they attract a certain number of viewers or subscribers and then they must be approved for monitisation. Monitisation allows YouTube to display advertisements on or around your video and shares a portion of the revenue with the creator through Google's AdSense, the report said..."

Reference: bhaskar.com
Making money in retirement,

4 Things to Know About Your FERS Annuity

Title: 4 Things to Know About Your FERS Annuity

Article Snip: "...if you work until age 62 and retire with 20 or more years of service, the formula changes. Instead of getting 1% per year worked you will receive 1.1% per year worked. An extra 0.1% on 20 years of service will add an additional 2% to your high 3..."

Reference: www.fedsmith.com

Social Security recipients could see their biggest raise in years

Title: Social Security recipients could see their biggest raise in years: A Foolish Take

Article Snip: "...Over the past decade, Social Security has been pretty stingy in the COLAs it gives to retirees. But 2019 could be different. Early indications suggest Social Security benefits could go up by a greater amount than retirees and other participants have seen since 2012..."
Reference: www.usatoday.com
2019 Social Security COLA,

Increase Your FERS Retirement Percentage Computation With This Simple Trick

Title: What’s the Difference in the 1% and 1.1% FERS Annuity Computations?

Article Snip: "...there are two different computation factors that are used in computing the FERS annuity; 1% and 1.1%. What’s the difference between them..."

Reference: www.fedsmith.com
FERS,

Here's How Much Social Security Benefits Are by Age and Income Level

Title: Here's How Much Social Security Benefits Are by Age and Income Level

Article Snip: "...While there's no way for sure to know what your future Social Security benefit will be, this guide can help you get a ballpark idea..."

Reference: www.fool.com

What Is Ahead for the Nation's Aging Workforce?

Title: What Is Ahead for the Nation's Aging Workforce?

Article Snip: "...not only are older persons working more, but these older workers are also earning more than in previous years” said James Spletzer, Principal Economist at the Center for Economic Studies. “Inflation-adjusted average monthly earnings of persons aged 65 and older were $4,092 in 2015, which is substantially higher than the $2,276 statistic in 1994..."

Reference: www.census.gov
Aging Workforce and Employment,

A snapshot of the average Social Security beneficiary

Title: A snapshot of the average Social Security beneficiary

Article Snip: "...But what you may not know, given the program's broad reach, is what the average Social Security beneficiary looks like. Here are three metrics that'll help define the typical recipient. 1. Who is primarily receiving benefits?"

Reference: journaltimes.com

Warren Buffett’s favorite metric suggests some serious pain awaits investors

Title: Warren Buffett’s favorite metric suggests some serious pain awaits investors

Article Snip: "...One of those measures, in particular, has popped up on investor radars lately, and that’s the “Buffett indicator.” The Berkshire BRK.A, +3.02% boss called it “the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment.” If historical patterns hold true, a thrashing could be in store for complacent investors..."

Reference: www.marketwatch.com
Berkshire BRK.A

This Is Great News for Social Security's 2019 COLA

Title: This Is Great News for Social Security's 2019 COLA

Article Snip: "...while there are still a good two and a half months to go before definitively knowing what magnitude of raise to expect, signs are pointing to beneficiaries receiving their highest COLA since 2012..."

Reference: www.fool.com
2019 Social Security COLA,

Can a debt collector take my social security benefits?

Title: Savvy Senior: Can a debt collector take my social security benefits?

Article Snip: "...Whether your Social Security benefits are garnishable or not depends on whom you owe. Banks and other financial creditors, for example..."

Reference: www.heraldextra.com
Is Social Security garnishable?

37 States That Don't Tax Social Security Benefits

Title: 37 States That Don't Tax Social Security Benefits

Article Snip: "...Some retirees are surprised to learn that Social Security is taxable. The federal government taxes up to 85% of your benefits, depending on your income. Most states, however, exempt Social Security from state taxes. The list of 37 states that don’t tax Social Security..."

Reference: www.kiplinger.com
States That Don't Tax Social Security Benefits

How To Sign Up For Medicare: Who Should, Why, When

Title: How To Sign Up For Medicare: Who Should, Why, When

Article Snip: "...the biggest mistake that individuals can make under Medicare is not signing up for Parts A and B on a timely basis... The key date is four months before your 65th birthday. Here's how..."

Reference: www.investors.com
Medicare, Medicare part B,