We receive a lot of questions, concerns, and misperceptions about when to file for Social Security. There is the occasional fear that the system will go away. Very few people understand how spousal and survivor benefits can affect the filing decision for the earning spouse. In this post, we share a four-piece framework to decide when to file for Social Security based on someone's marital status and work history. We also discuss how the Social Security Bridge can be a great source for retirement income.

In the spirit of Janus, the Roman god of transitions, one of the most valuable New Year activities is to reflect on the good, the bad, and the most important people in your life. By understanding the past, you can prioritize the good things for next year and minimize or eliminate what doesn't work for you.

Is Die Hard a holiday movie or not? I think it is, but it also has some great lessons related to financial planning. Enjoy these 5 Financial Planning lessons from Die Hard. Then, decide for yourself if it is, in fact, a classic Christmas movie.

Retirement income can lead to some unwanted situations like Tax Jail or the Tax Torpedo. You can learn more about these tax traps in retirement and ideas to help dodge them.

For the third part of our retirement tax traps and opportunities series we’ll introduce you to an income trap called IRMAA. Whenever I think about IRMAA, I can’t help remembering the closing them song to The Flintstones when Fred gets locked out of their house, bangs on the door, and yells “Wilmaaaa!”. As you learn more about it, you might feel the same way.

Did you know that by enrolling late for Medicare, monthly premiums can cost an additional 10% or more depending on how late you file? Over a 25-year retirement, this penalty can be a significant cost increase.

Find out when to enroll in Medicare to avoid the Late Enrollment Penalty.

Two of the most common questions and concerns I hear from people as they plan for retirement is:

“How will I get health insurance after I leave my company?” and “How much does it cost?”

The Premium Tax Credit can be used to make the Affordable Care Act much more affordable.

Social Security is one of Americans’ largest and most valuable retirement planning assets with guaranteed inflation-adjusted income benefits up to $40,000-$50,000 per year! Here are our Top 5 facts, ideas, and opinions on Social Security for 2022.

You now have some new ideas for setting, prioritizing, and making progress with your goals. The key with any new program is to not get discouraged. Old behaviors can be difficult to change. Cut yourself some slack, find an accountability partner, and celebrate your incremental progress over time. And remember... “Perfection is the enemy of progress.” – Winston Churchill