Without a doubt, as a wealth planning advisor, the question I get asked most often about social security is straightforward: “Will social security be there for me when I need it?”

The expert of this show featured Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor and Adam R. Leszyk, CFP®, Senior Vice President, Senior Wealth Advisor.

Approximately 70 million people today receive some form of Social Security benefits, including retirement, disability, survivor, and family benefits.1 Although most people receiving Social Security are retired, you and your family members may be eligible for benefits at any age, depending on your circumstances.

One wonderful aspect of Social Security is the fact that a spouse who has little or no lifetime earnings can receive benefits based on the work history of his her spouse, ex spouse or deceased spouse. Although this scenario isn’t

On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015. One provision benefitting seniors that was made “permanent” is the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). I say permanent with tongue-in-cheek, of course, since very little Congress does can ever be considered permanent, particularly when it comes to tax legislation.

Many of the numbers coming out of Washington that impact our tax and retirement planning lives are different in 2019, just as they tend to be every year.

We all seem to have good timing skills; we use them doing simple things like crossing the street, or cooking a big dinner, or showing up at work on time – unless the dog eats the alarm! And, we all work hard in hopes that we can someday retire. But when? What’s the timing of that?

One of the hottest financial planning topics is Social Security planning. The strategy of filing and collecting at age 62 may seem simple, and when income is needed, can be a good one. However, as we all have paid into the system, it makes good financial sense to understand your options and to choose a strategy that is right for you.

Medicare can be very complicated. You understand that something happens/must be done when you reach your 65th birthday. There are many rules that may or may not apply to you if you are retired, still working, covered by an employer plan, covered by spouse’s employer plan. The size of your company will also make a difference.

In this issue: Do You Have the Right Medicare Coverage?, Social Security: When is the best time to start collecting?, and Life Insurance Options Later in Life.

Social Security claiming strategies have been a key financial topic in recent years, especially as Baby Boomers are planning for and entering into Retirement. As part of the Congressional Budget deal just struck in October by House Republicans and President Obama, two key Social Security claiming strategies have been closed, ending two income-bolstering approaches that benefited married (and divorced) couples, and in some cases their dependents.

The advantages of tax deferral are often emphasized when it comes to saving for retirement. So it might seem like a good idea to hold off on taking taxable distributions from retirement plans for as long as possible. But sometimes it may make more sense to take taxable distributions from retirement plans in the early years of retirement while deferring the start of Social Security retirement benefits.

Ask the Experts is a financial forum for education and advice as CNB’s experts answer your questions on financial topics that interest you. Ask the Experts is a financial forum for education and advice as CNB’s experts answer your questions on financial topics that interest you. The experts of this show featured Donna Cator, CFP®, Vice President and Investment and Financial Planning Officer, and Maggie Whelehan, Personal Banking Manager.

One of the challenges of planning for retirement is that an unexpected event, like divorce, can dramatically change your retirement income needs. If you were counting on your spouse's Social Security benefits to provide some of your retirement income, what

Of the topics covered in my columns over the past years, the one that has generated the most interest and questions is “How can I maximize my Social Security retirement benefits?”.The issues of most interest are Do I have a