Thing One When Should You Take Social Security? A Practical Framework for Making the Right Decision One of the most important financial decisions you will make heading into retirement is when to begin taking Social Security. Many people approach this decision with the goal of “getting the most,” but the reality is that the right answer depends on how long you live and how this income fits into your broader plan. A simple way to evaluate this decision is through a break-

Thing One The Tax Trap You Might Not See Until It's Too Late After years of a strong, buoyant market, many people are quietly sitting on much larger IRA balances than they ever expected. What started as steady retirement savings has, in many cases, turned into one to two million dollars or more in pre-tax accounts. At age 62, everything still feels under control. Income is solid.Taxes look reasonable.Nothing feels urgent. In fact, many people look at their tax retu

Thing One Don’t Pay That Bill Dealing with the torrent of emotions triggered by the death of a loved one can be difficult. Add to that the settling of a decedent’s financial matters, and the situation can become a stressful and confusing mess. Believe it or not, there are companies hoping to find you in just that state of mind. These businesses buy up the debt of people who’ve passed away for pennies on the dollar and then start calling surviving family members almost immedia