Latest articles by Donna LeValley
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Bond Basics: Municipal Bonds (Munis)
The higher your tax bracket, the more you'll benefit from Munis — bonds issued by state and local agencies.
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Secure Your Social Security: The Essential Role of a Representative Payee
Even with a power of attorney or joint bank account, the Social Security Administration may hamstring your financial representative without one of these.
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Tax Reconciliation Bill Could Trigger $500 Billion in Mandatory Medicare Cuts
The deficits caused by the tax bill would trigger the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 and force billions in cuts to Medicare. However, Congress can block the implementation of the cuts.
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Missed Medicare Open Enrollment? Here Are Your Options
There are limited ways you can change your Original Medicare elections after annual open enrollment has closed.
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The Minimum Savings You Need To Retire in All 50 States
Worried you haven't saved enough for retirement? Here are the average annual expenses and minimum savings amounts needed to get by in all 50 states.
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How to Correct Errors on Your Social Security Statement and Collect Your Maximum Benefit
Your Social Security benefits are based on your Social Security earnings record. It's important to review your records to avoid having your benefits reduced.
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4 Things You Need to Know Before Applying for Social Security in 2025
Don't unnecessarily delay or reduce your Social Security benefits because you don't know all the rules and requirements.
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The Average Social Security Claiming Age is Trending Higher
Fewer people are claiming Social Security benefits at age 62. Better health and the elimination of the earnings test after 65 have lowered barriers to working longer.
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You Can Now Collect a Public Pension and Full Social Security Benefits
retirement If you receive a public pension from the government, you can now collect full Social Security benefits as well as your pension, due to the Social Security Fairness Act.
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Social Security Earnings Tests: Five Things You Must Know
social security If you’re still working and claim Social Security early, your benefits could be reduced, at least temporarily.
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Gift Like Buffet: Three Financial Gifts for Your Kids and Grandkids
Warren Buffet used to give his family cash for Christmas. After learning they neither saved nor invested it, he gave them something more practical.
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How the Social Security Administration Is Coping with Rapid Change
There has been a fair amount of change at the SSA since Trump took office. Here's a look at what's new this year and how it will impact the agency going forward.
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SEP IRA vs. Solo 401(k): Which Is Better for You?
Two retirement plans, the solo 401(k) and SEP IRAs, allow small business owners and the self-employed to save up to $69,000 annually.
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Thirteen local Social Security offices will temporarily stop all in-person service and will only be available by telephone. .
A departure from closing locations, 13 local Social Security offices will temporarily stop all in-person service and will only be available by telephone.
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15 Estate Planning Terms You Need to Know
Sometimes industry jargon can turn otherwise understandable concepts into stumbling blocks. Here are simplified explanations, definitions and uses for some estate planning tools.
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How to Access Your Parents’ Medicare to Help them Enroll and Manage Their Care
Getting access to your parents' Medicare or Medicare Advantage accounts is easiest when they're healthy. But you still have options if they are incapacitated.
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Customer Services are Strained at the SSA, You Should Plan Around These Federal Holidays
If you have a question or need information from a federal agency, check the federal holiday schedule to make sure you get your business done before they close.
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SEP IRA Contribution Limits
SEP IRA A good option for small business owners, SEP IRAs allow individual annual contributions of as much as $70,000 in 2025, up from $69,000 in 2024.
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Social Security Phone Wait Times: What to Expect and the Best Times to Call
The Social Security Administration receives 80 million calls every year. Timing is everything if you want to get through.
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Spring Home Maintenance Checklist for 2025
real estate Use this 20-point checklist to get your home ready for spring.
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Social Security Sent Out Billions in Back Payments in March. Here's What You Need to Know
The Social Security Administration started paying retroactive benefits owed this week. Monthly increases will start for most people with their March benefit, which is paid out in April.
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Don't Be a Financial Fool
Reject these four financial myths and avoid being financially foolish.
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Bigger Social Security Checks Are Arriving in April
Payments to eligible retired public sector employees will increase starting in April due to the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA)..
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The SSA Has Rolled Back Some Changes to the Application Process and Extended the Timeline: Here's What You Need to Know
The SSA is transitioning to stronger identity verification procedures for both new benefit claims and direct deposit changes.
