How to Check Your Social Security Statement Online

The government no longer is mailing paper statements to most workers.

Your Life Span? Ask the Calculator

Many issues facing retirees revolve around life expectancy. These online tools may be able to help.

New Strategies to Ease Into a Secure Retirement

New strategies to design the lifestyle you want and make sure you have the money to pay for it.

Make the Most of Social Security

Consider these moves to maximize your benefits.

Understanding the Social Security Earnings Test for Early Retirees

You can work part-time and start drawing benefits before full retirement age, but expect smaller Social Security checks – even if you put your earnings toward a 401(k).

5 Costly Retirement Surprises

The reality of retirement may have a few shocks in store for you.

On the Home Stretch to Your Retirement

If you are facing a large gap in your savings, these steps can help keep your retirement plans on track.

Stocks Are an Investment in Your Child's Future

If your child won't need the money for 15 years, stocks are the best choice to produce solid returns.

New Rates for Social Security Benefits, Medicare Premiums in 2012

The first increase for inflation since 2009 offsets a Medicare premium hike.

The Benefits of Staying Put in Retirement

Pulling up a lifetime of stakes and retiring where it's warm and sunny may be a tempting prospect. But think again.

5 Steps to a Secure Retirement

It’s time to size up your plan. You may be in better shape than you think.

A To-Do List for the Surviving Spouse

This checklist can help widows and widowers figure out which tasks to address early on, and which ones can wait.

After the Storms

Homeowners in parts of the Southeast will likely see the largest increases in insurance rates.

How to Fix Social Security

Slaughtering sacred cows is essential to stabilize this cornerstone of retirement.

The Good News on Social Security

All that’s needed are some nips and tucks to get the supplemental retirement program on a sounder financial path. The tougher problems are with Medicare and Medicaid.

Social Security Benefits for Divorcées

If you remarry, you may lose your rights to claim benefits based on your former spouse's income.

So Long, Speaker Boehner?

With tea partyers reluctant to negotiate, he has only bad choices as the default deadline looms.

Appeal a Decision by Social Security

Beneficiaries can seek a reevaluation of most benefit decisions.

A Bond Strategy to Protect Your Savings

Worried about inflation? Shorten your maturities.

Get a Bigger Check From Social Security

Choosing the right time to collect benefits can boost your income by thousands of dollars a year.

The Social Security Catch-22

Claiming Social Security benefits early while still working means you'll face the dreaded earnings test. Be sure you understand the rule that can take away cash today but deliver beefed-up benefits tomorrow.

New Strategies to Lock In Steady Income for Life

Convert decades of savings into regular monthly checks with annuities and longevity insurance.

Social Security Switching to Direct Deposit for Benefits

Beneficiaries can also have money deposited to a debit card. But paper checks will be abolished.

Investing Social Security Benefits Not Worth the Risk

In theory, taking benefits early to invest might sound good. But in reality, there are a lot of pitfalls.

The Case for Taking Social Security Early

For most people, delaying benefits is a smart move. But there are some scenarios in which a beneficiary might consider claiming Social Security early.

Make the Right Moves to Boost Benefits

Maximize Social Security benefits with these strategies.

Social Security Suspends Mailing of Annual Benefit Statements

Workers must now use online tools to review annual tax and earnings records.

Head Off ID Theft

Identity thieves can take a long time to pounce, so review your credit reports periodically.

Tax-Smart Ways to Tap Your Nest Egg

Knowing which accounts to raid first can stretch your savings.

Time to Tackle the Budget Deficit

Bipartisan ideas are credible, but are Americans ready for such strong medicine?

You'll Still Get Social Security

But you might have to wait longer to collect skimpier benefits.

Understanding Social Security Survivor Benefits

If two spouses receive Social Security, find out how much the surviving spouse gets if one of them dies.

RIP for Retirement?

More retirees today get income from 401(k)s than they ever did from traditional pensions.

Get a Bigger Check From Social Security

Choosing the right time to collect benefits can boost your income by thousands of dollars a year.

Social Security Rules for Public Workers

A Public Pension and Full Social Security Benefits? No Way

Social Security benefits can be reduced for retirees who receive a pension from the federal, state or local government.

Strategies to Reduce Taxes on Social Security

Tax planning may ease the tax bite on your benefits.

Social Security Payback Option May Disappear

A proposed rule would eliminate the chance to hike benefits via the "do-over" strategy. It's not for everybody. But consider your options now.

An Unhappy Birthday for Social Security

Those who insist on blocking change to Social Security aren't doing future retirees any favors.

Secrets to Maximizing Social Security

Despite a temporary shortfall, the nation's primary retirement system continues to pay full benefits. We show you how to make the most of yours.