Retirement doesn’t mean your financial journey is over. In fact, it’s just entering a new phase. As a retiree, you’ve got to stay on top of your expenses since you’re likely living on a fixed income and want to avoid running out of savings. That’s why it’s more important than ever to stay proactive with your money. Read Next: Gen X Is Hoping To Retire Like Boomers: Here’s Why They Can’t For You: 5 Clever Ways Retirees Are Earning Up To $1K Per Month From Home While it may seem backwards to look to younger ...

Key Points Don't take withdrawals without a plan. Don't unload too much risk. Don't forget about the importance of cash. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › If you're gearing up to retire in 2026, you may be spending the next few months counting down happily in your head. Hopefully, though, you'll be doing a lot of financial planning as well. It's important to decide when to claim Social Security ahead of retirement so you choose the filing age that works for yo ...

Key Points There are multiple ways to increase your Social Security benefit. Many people focus on their claiming age, which is important in determining the benefit amount. There's another, overlooked way to make your monthly retirement benefit checks bigger. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › There are very few sources of income that guarantee you'll get more money when inflation is surging and that guarantee your benefits will last for life. Social Security is ...

FG Trade Latin/Getty Images A 2.8% COLA provides some relief, but it won't erase the underlying worry. Key Takeaways Despite a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026, 39% of middle-class Americans fear Social Security benefits will be cut in the coming years, according to a recent report. Many retirees say the annual COLAs haven’t kept up with real-world costs, and polling shows broad skepticism that the raise is “enough.” Inflation, policy uncertainty, and longer life spans could steadily er ...

Steve Heap / Shutterstock.com Quick Read Your Social Security filing age directly impacts your monthly benefits. The decision to file may be more complicated than you’d expect. Filing decisions affect spousal and survivor benefits in addition to personal monthly payments. If you’re thinking about retiring or know someone who is, there are three quick questions causing many Americans to realize they can retire earlier than expected. take 5 minutes to learn more here   There's a reason Social S ...

Key Points The more you get out of Social Security, the more financially stable your retirement might be. Work on boosting your income and delay your claim for larger monthly checks. Undo an early filing to set yourself up with more money for life. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › Ideally, you'll be coming into retirement with some money you've saved on your own. But here's the scary thing. Even if you manage your retirement savings wisely and are careful wi ...

Well-intentioned policies can still backfire.Year one of President Donald Trump's nonconsecutive second term is nearly in the books, and change has been a common theme -- especially when it comes to America's leading retirement program, Social Security.For example, the Trump administration ended the overpayment and recovery rate of 10% that was set under the previous administration, led by President Joe Biden, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, the Social Security Administration (SSA) installed a 5 ...

Do your best to avoid these blunders at all costs.The nice thing about Social Security is that once you file for benefits, you can expect to receive a monthly payday for the rest of your life. And those benefits, combined with retirement savings, could make your senior years pretty comfortable.If you're aiming to claim Social Security in 2026, it's important that you approach the process strategically. And part of that means avoiding these big mistakes. 1. Claiming benefits early without understanding the c ...

COLA Disappointments and Social Security Risks: Millions of Americans rely mostly on Social Security in retirement. But this can create serious financial risks. The average Social Security benefit in 2025 is only $2,015 per month, roughly $24,000 per year. For most retirees, that replaces just 40% of their pre-retirement income. And there’s more risk ahead. in the next decade. As baby boomers retire, the program may run out of funds. If Congress doesn’t act, benefits could shrink. Relying solely on Social S ...

There's a reason seniors are told to think carefully before signing up for their Social Security benefits. The age at which you file your claim will have a direct impact on the amount of money Social Security pays you each month. Filing for Social Security at full retirement age (FRA) means you'll avoid any sort of reduction to your monthly benefits. FRA is 67 for people born in 1960 or later, but it varies slightly for earlier birth years—check SSA.gov for your exact age. However, you're allowed to claim S ...