When To Apply

When To Apply Articles

Calculating the Financial Impact of Working Longer

Economic and market pressures have forced many baby boomers to rethink their retirement schedule. A recent study can help you step near-term retirees through the recalculation process by quantifying their possible Social Security benefits, asset allocation, and income needs to arrive at a Plan B retirement date

5 Steps to Collecting Social Security Benefits

The government won't just send you the checks. These five steps will ease your benefit collection process.

Make Social Security Part of the Retirement Plan

Here are the factors you should consider when thinking about your monthly government check.

When to Apply for Social Security Benefits

How COLAs, taxes, and spousal benefits impact the decision whether to apply at age 62, 66, or 70.

Help Couples Clarify Key Retirement Issues

Couples may not realize that each spouse has a different vision for retirement. He may want to golf, while she wants to travel. Not to mention the added damage the latest market meltdown may have inflicted on their savings. Help couples prepare both financially and psychologically for their golden years with these tips on communicating, debt, long-term care, and Social Security.

Save Your Clients Penalties by Understanding Medicare Enrollment Periods

The deadlines for signing up for Medicare are numerous and bewildering. What's worse, the penalties for a missed date can be irrevocable. Guide your clients through the bureaucratic maze with this overview of the six enrollment periods and who qualifies for each.

So You Want to Live to 100? More of Us Will, and Here Is What Life Might Look Like

The increase in lifespan over the past century has been drastic, and the trend is continuing. How people think about retirement and saving is going to have to change in order to adapt.

The Difference Between Measuring and Managing Investment Results

Too many advisors base their success on their ability to manage returns. But nobody really manages returns. The only thing advisors can do is manage wealth, and once you and your clients understand that simple but enormous distinction, you'll both be wealthier for it.

Michael Jackson's Estate: When Grandparents Get Custody

Circumstances may compel grandparents to take custody of minor children, thrusting them into a planning situation they hadn't foreseen. The situation has become more common in recent years, and you should be prepared to guide your clients through all of their financial options.

4 Must-Take Steps That Will Ease Clients' Retirement Fears Now

Clients now recognize that their retirement is endangered if they don't make changes immediately. Work with them to reduce expenses, save more money, adjust their retirement plan, and change the way they invest. You can't do it for them, but an intervention now could save their golden years and cement their loyalty to you.

Planning for Health Care in Retirement: Essential Questions Advisors Must Ask

Improper financial planning for health care can ruin clients' retirement dreams. If your clients haven't considered their health care coverage, you must ask the right questions to get them thinking seriously about it.

Scary Stats on Retirement

Sometimes you have to motivate clients to start saving; other times you have to scare them. With everyone living longer these days, clients need to plan now for the rising costs of retirement--especially health care.

6 Birthdays You'll Either Love or Hate

Benefits start to kick in at certain ages as you reach your golden years.