Need Social Security Advice? Don’t Look to SSA!

Aug 16, 2016

The stated mission of the Social Security Administration (SSA) is to “Deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public.” While that is a nice thought, it often seems as though SSA’s primary objective is to get people to begin benefits as early as possible without regard to the long term impact that early claiming might have. Here’s what I mean. (more…)

When to Take Your First Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)

Aug 10, 2016

Although RMDs are outside my area of expertise, thoughts about beginning Social Security benefits at age 70 are often accompanied by musings about the need to do something about IRAs and other qualified retirement accumulations around age 70½. Recently I had occasion to help a Social Security client consider some of the issues related to the timing of his first RMD. (more…)