Money, Wealth & Power—A Daily Look at the Financial World
Retirees who pick up part-time work after claiming Social Security benefits early could see their monthly checks temporarily reduced in 2026, even as a cost-of-living adjustment raises payments across the board. The tension between earning extra income and keeping full benefits catches many people off guard, and new annual thresholds set by the Social Security…
The Social Security Administration on October 24, 2025, announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026, translating to roughly $56 more per month for the average retiree. The increase will reach about 75 million Americans who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income, with higher payments taking effect in January 2026 for most beneficiaries and on…
Four policy changes tied to the Trump administration are altering Social Security checks for tens of millions of retirees in 2026. From a cost-of-living bump to a new tax deduction for seniors, the shifts range from modest monthly increases to thousands of dollars in retroactive payments. Together, they represent the most concentrated set of retirement-income…
Retirees across the United States lose thousands of dollars each year to preventable tax errors that compound over time, eroding savings that took decades to build. From mandatory withholding on botched rollovers to surprise Medicare premium surcharges triggered by a single year of elevated income, the federal tax code punishes missteps with penalties that hit…
As investors hit the halfway mark to retirement, typically in their 40s and 50s, the stakes rise sharply for every dollar put to work. Financial firms such as Check Rowe Price and Navy Federal Credit Union describe this period as a transition from pure growth to a balance between growth and protection, when portfolio choices…
Americans turning 65 face a decision that, if mishandled, can permanently inflate their healthcare costs: whether and when to enroll in Medicare Part B and Part D. Skipping enrollment without qualifying employer coverage triggers late-enrollment penalties that attach to monthly premiums for life. With 2026 premiums already set to rise, the financial damage from even…
Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban recently drew attention to what he called a hidden trap in Social Security, warning that the agency’s rapid shift away from paper checks and phone services could leave millions of seniors stranded. With the Social Security Administration pushing beneficiaries toward electronic payments ahead of a September 30, 2025 deadline, retirees who…
Millions of Gen X workers, born between 1965 and 1980, face a shrinking window to prepare for retirement as Social Security trust funds move closer to depletion. The 2025 Trustees Report projects the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance fund will be exhausted by 2033, with combined trust funds lasting only until 2034, one year sooner than…
The legal architecture governing retirement accounts in the United States contains a structural vulnerability that most savers never consider: in a severe market crash, the securities held inside 401(k) plans and IRAs may not be as firmly “yours” as account statements suggest, and in a broker-dealer failure, those assets can be frozen or pooled under…
Homeowners facing an $18,000 repair bill and unwilling to take on new debt confront a difficult choice among three retirement accounts, each with distinct tax consequences. The question of whether to pull from a Roth IRA, a traditional IRA, or a 401(k) depends on withdrawal rules that most people misunderstand, and the wrong move can…