January 2021 The pandemic has altered the lives of every American. Despite buoyant markets, millions of Americans faced unprecedented financial hardship caused by COVID-19. It has upended what work, income, and employment opportunities look like, as well as retirement. It has eaten into savings, forced people into debt, and created unprecedented levels of housing instability. […]
November 2020 With a politically polarized nation and COVID-19 cases surging around the country, uncertainty has become the new normal in America. While jobless claims have recently dipped slightly, the unemployment rate and 11 million jobless workers reported in October are both approximately twice pre-COVID levels. A majority of citizens remain paycheck to paycheck, unable […]
Applying for Social Security retirement benefits might seem like a challenging process, but a little bit of preparation goes a long way. In fact, the Social Security Administration (SSA) office now allows applicants to apply online. If you’ve already decided you’re at the right age for retirement and you want to get the process started, the application […]
Knowing what you’re owed can help you to plan for retirement as well as maximize your own benefits. However, figuring out that number can be confusing. The average Social Security retirement benefit is $1,514 in 2020. But that number can vary greatly, going up to $3,790 per month. It largely depends on your personal lifetime earnings or […]
Knowing what you’re owed can help you to plan for retirement as well as maximize your own benefits. However, figuring out that number can be confusing. The average Social Security retirement benefit is $1,514 in 2020. But that number can vary greatly, going up to $3,790 per month. It largely depends on your personal lifetime earnings or […]
We are living in dynamic and, for many, difficult times. So much of the way we communicate, work, go to school, shop, get groceries, medicine, and supplies is now happening almost entirely over the internet. That’s why, six months after the COVID-19 pandemic first sent the country into lockdown, it is more important than ever […]
If you want more control over your money and estate after you pass, then you need to make a will. Most people put off writing their wills because they don’t want to think about death. In fact, according to a 2020 survey by Caring.com nearly 70% of Americans don’t have an up-to-date will. However, the truth […]
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed so much about the way we live, shop, and interact onto the internet. Luckily, online shopping—from groceries to paper towels to prescription medication—has never been easier. Of course, many feel wary about punching their personal financial information into some website. COVID-19 has at once boosted online shopping but also created […]
Since the rapid spread of the coronavirus around the world, many people are losing jobs and fearing for the economy. The Social Security Administration, though not created specifically to deal with pandemics, is a social safety net to help Americans—especially American workers—through times of crisis. But in order to keep the Social Security benefit funds viable for […]
September 2020 The current public heath, economic, and political reality in the United States has created enormous uncertainty for many Americans. A majority of citizens lack the savings to last them even three months. That savings gap is even more drastic when it comes to retirement. Indeed, the pandemic has wrought havoc on the retirement plans […]