Social Security Survivor Benefits for Spouses
Social Security survivor benefits are distinct from spousal benefits and can provide up to 100% of the deceased worker’s entitlement, whereas spousal benefits are capped at 50% of the worker’s full retirement amount. To qualify, a current spouse must have been married at least nine months, and a divorced ex‑spouse needs a ten‑year marriage. Survivors have flexibility to claim either a survivor or their own benefit first, with options to start as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled) and to delay until age 70 for higher payouts. Remarriage after age 60 does not affect eligibility, but marrying earlier generally ends survivor benefits.
One Good Call?
A financial advisor demonstrated the value of active macro management during the 2022 bond market crash by moving a client’s portfolio into ultra‑short duration bonds and cash, thereby avoiding a 13% drawdown. The firm later rotated back into short‑ and...
Financial Planning
A DIY investor questions whether paying 1%‑1.25% for a personal advisor justifies the cost compared with low‑cost index options that total about 0.6% annually. He worries about future responsibilities such as required minimum distributions, Social Security, taxes and asset allocation,...
My Sister’s Will and What It Taught Me.
The article recounts how the author’s sister, Victoria, left a handwritten, non‑notarized will that proved legally invalid. Without a valid will, the estate entered probate, requiring court approval for asset sales and extending the settlement timeline. The author, appointed personal...
Nothing Like a War To Bring Folks Around to Personal Financial Planning
A financial coach is working with two recent evacuees from the Iran‑U.S. conflict, ages 40 and 29, to bring order to their ad‑hoc savings. In the first session the coach emphasized three fundamentals: allocate 15% of gross income to retirement,...
Resist the Urge to Act
The article revisits Jonathan Clements’ core personal‑finance principle – Resist the Urge to Act – and explains why doing nothing can be the smartest investment move. It argues that market efficiency means most news is already priced in, so impulsive...
Stock Tokens
The Wall Street Journal highlighted a new class of digital stock tokens that will soon launch on the New York Stock Exchange’s tokenized securities platform. These tokens promise 24/7 trading, instant settlement and fractional ownership, allowing investors to buy a...
Tools/Calculators for Monthly Retirement Cash Flow and Tax Estimation
A HumbleDollar forum member asks for reliable tools to project annual retirement cash flow and estimate upcoming tax liabilities. The user has already handled Social Security timing, IRA conversions, estate planning, and budgeting, leaving only the need for precise income...
Getting Older
A 65‑year‑old retiree reflects on how his daily habits, financial priorities, and social activities have shifted since his younger days. He now splurges more, travels by air, uses rideshare services, and makes larger gifts to family while engaging in senior‑center...
Recency Bias (Or: You’re Running Buggy Software)
The article warns investors that recency bias – the tendency to over‑weigh recent market moves – can trigger unnecessary panic when short‑term losses appear. It likens our brain to outdated software that amplifies recent negative events and projects them forward,...
The Home Ownership Gamble
The author bought a starter home for $375,000 in 2018, sold it for $600,000 in 2022, and saw the property change hands again for $500,000—a $100,000 nominal loss. Including a 5% realtor commission and $30,000‑$40,000 in repairs, the new owners...
Lent, Chocolate, and the Art of Retirement
The author uses his annual Lenten chocolate fast to illustrate how disciplined, self‑imposed restraint builds the habit of delayed gratification essential for a successful retirement. By voluntarily giving up a beloved treat for forty days, he trains his brain to...
Investment Versus Speculation
The piece draws a clear line between investments—assets that generate regular income such as dividends, interest, or rent—and speculation, which relies solely on future price appreciation. It argues that income streams enable compounding and lower portfolio volatility, while speculative holdings...
Very Fast, Not Very Smart
The article argues that modern equity markets prioritize speed over intelligence, turning them into a crowd‑driven panic room. It cites three flash‑crash examples: a hacked AP tweet that wiped $136 billion from the S&P 500 in two minutes, Elon Musk’s 2020 tweet...
Simplify Everything
The author outlines a personal‑finance simplification strategy that centers on using a single diversified, low‑cost fund—Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth—to hold IRA and Roth assets. He consolidates accounts across a handful of providers, automates bill payments, and relies on digital calendars...
