Roughly half of retirees claim Social Security benefits at age 62, as soon as they become eligible. Some people delay benefits and postpone using their retirement savings as an income source. Others apply out of necessity; their financial situation leaves them little choice. These factors aside, what if you have a choice? If you wait a few years to apply for Social Security, how much more income might you realize?
Have you ever said this, “I don’t have enough money to worry about estate taxes.” When you add the value of your home, your life insurance and retirement accounts, you might be surprised.
The nation’s two most-watched consumer polls showed confidence rising: the Conference Board’s October survey improved 3.8 to a mark of 72.2 (the highest since February 2008) and the University of Michigan’s final October survey rose to 82.6, a 61-month peak. Consumers were in a buying mood, and they weren’t just spending more of their incomes on gasoline. Read more in the our November economic update
September historically has been the poorest month of the year for stocks, however this year the Dow Jones Industrial Average logged its third best monthly gain of 2012. Read more in our October economic update.