Money, Wealth & Power—A Daily Look at the Financial World
Federal officials are scrambling to contain the fallout from a massive Social Security data exposure that has thrust millions of Americans into the crosshairs of identity thieves. A whistleblower has alleged that more than 300 m Social Security records were placed at risk, potentially affecting virtually every working-age and retired person who depends on federal…
Social Security is quietly rolling out a structural overhaul that will change how millions of Americans interact with the agency, just as new benefit rules take effect in 2026. A leaner, more centralized workforce, fewer in‑person visits and a heavier reliance on digital tools could mean faster processing for some people and longer waits or…
Social Security is hurtling toward a funding cliff that would translate into roughly a $460 monthly cut per retiree if Congress fails to act in time. That kind of reduction would hit the typical household budget as hard as losing a car payment, a grocery run, or a prescription plan overnight. The warning is no…
For the tens of millions of Americans who rely on Social Security, knowing the exact day money lands in the bank is not a detail, it is the backbone of the monthly budget. February 2026 is especially important because it is one of the first checks to reflect the new cost-of-living increase and it is…
As of 2026, only eight states still tax Social Security benefits, and the rules in each can significantly change what retirees actually keep. I will walk through those eight states, explain how much they may take from you, and highlight key thresholds that determine whether your Social Security is taxed at all. 1) Colorado Colorado…
Housing costs are colliding with retirement anxiety, and the latest flashpoint is whether Americans should be able to tap workplace nest eggs to get the keys to a first home. The Trump team has flirted with a plan to let savers raid their 401(k) balances for down payments, raising the stakes for anyone trying to…
Retirement investing is not a “set it and forget it” exercise. At a certain point, the risk that once helped your savings grow can start to threaten the nest egg you worked decades to build. For many retirees, that tipping point arrives in their sixties, when shifting quickly into a more moderate mix of stocks,…
I spent most of my career convinced that retirement security boiled down to a single, magic number in my investment accounts. When I was laid off at 58, that illusion collapsed overnight, and I had to replace it with a more practical question: could I build enough steady cash flow to cover my real-life bills….
For years, retirees have been told that waiting until age 70 to claim Social Security is the smartest move. In 2026, that blanket advice can backfire badly, especially for people who are already stretching every dollar. The numbers around benefit cuts, taxes, health costs, and investment tradeoffs now make it much easier to end up…
Health care costs are climbing sharply for families, yet the political story coming out of Washington is about villains and saviors rather than spreadsheets. President Donald Trump is again casting big insurance companies as the main culprits behind your rising premiums, even as his own policies help shape those bills. The result is a familiar…