Social Security Income: Not-So-Simple Basics

When I first started writing this article, my introductory sentence was “Social Security on the surface is a very simple concept.” However, as I began to write about all of the “simple” information, I have to conclude that Social Security is not very simple at all if you are not continually dealing with it. Below, I will […]

Social Security: Whether to Wait to Start Taking Retirement Benefits

Key Takeaways: There is a debate over when a person should begin to take their Social Security retirement income benefits.  On one side, proponents might argue that you should take your Social Security benefits as early as you can, while the other side argues that you should wait until age 70. An important phrase to […]

Finding the Best Order for Funding Retirement

Ballast team

With a task as important as funding your retirement, determining which accounts to fund and in what order should not be taken lightly.  Whether it’s a company plan, individual retirement account or taxable account, there are a lot of ways to save for retirement.  So how do you decide where to put each dollar you […]

Insight Into Fixed Income + Timing of Social Security

When entering retirement, the question of how to structure income can be the most influential factor in determining a family’s long-term financial well-being.  Several factors such as income source, inflation, and sequence of returns present risks and opportunities for retirees.  Today’s Atheneum discusses how we might explore retirement income with John and Jane Smith.  They […]