Q&A: Should we divorce so my husband can get more Social Security?

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Should we divorce so my husband can get more Social Security?
Spouses who are due to retire face the possibility of having inadequate pensions for various reasons, but the question of whether a couple divorcing just to raise monthly Social Security benefits is rejected by MarketWatch's Moneyist column. This Q&A article says there is no marriage penalty or limit to benefits paid to a married couple. It quotes a document called “5 Things Every Woman Should Know About Social Security” on the Social Security Administration website: "A working woman is not limited to one-half of her husband’s Social Security…. So, for example, if you are due a Social Security benefit of $1,200 per month and your husband is due a Social Security benefit of $1,400 per month, you will be paid $2,600 per month in retirement benefits.” The actual amount may vary due to a person's age and employment status so careful consideration is required when calculating potential future incomes using married and divorced scenarios. But the bottom line: there is no point in getting divorced for monetary reasons, according to the article.

Social Security-checks
Social Security checks are printed at the U.S. Treasury Philadelphia Finance Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 11, 2005. Photographer: Dennis Brack/Bloomberg News

5 ways retirees can take the edge off in volatile markets
Volatility in the equity market is one concern that many investors have and with this unpredictability comes the possibility of losing hard-earned money accumulated over the years by potential retirees. This article from Morningstar provides five tips that investors can use to reduce the impact of such uncertainties. The five recommendations offered by financial advisors include rebalancing portfolios, keeping more cash on hand, ponder on investing in a balanced fund, consider the quality of an investor's equity holdings, and lastly, most especially for near retirees, reconsider holding on to some of the noncore asset classes accumulated over the years.

New pass-through tax break for retirement Income
People looking to retire but wanting to keep a part-time gig will benefit from a new tax law that gives a 20% deduction for “pass-through entities,” which encompasses a majority of U.S. businesses, according to this article in Kiplinger. A pass-through is basically a business that is not a regular corporation, thus, sole proprietorship, limited liability companies and Subchapter S-corporations will qualify. Earnings from “specified service” business could also qualify if one’s individual income is less than $157,500 or joint income in below $315,000.

This millennial couple is saving $150,000 a year and plans to retire by 2029. Here’s how they do it
This article from Money describes how a young couple from Seattle, Washington saves $150,000 annually so they could achieve their goal to retire early and become financially independent by 2029. The husband, a software engineer, and his wife, a full-time Airbnb host, save money by economizing on food and transportation. They don't own a car and take the bus for transportation, and their food budget doesn't exceed $250 to $300 per month.

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Retirement income Social Security benefits Social Security Tax planning Volatility
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