Social Security benefits

Retirees living overseas can still claim Social Security benefits, but they must see if their country of residence requires them to have a local bank account.

Retirees should consider that state laws may differ on who may be legally recognized as a beneficiary's spouse and thus whether their partner would be entitled to spousal benefits.

While the funds are ideal for certain people, they don't address important retirement considerations, such as the cost of funding a comfortable living and a person’s savings rate.

With many private and public pensions in the red, clients are advised to look for options that will improve their prospects, such as Roth IRAs.

IRA investors can draw funds from their accounts tax-free if the money will be used to fund college tuition and other related costs.

Adding five years to their working years will enable clients to replace their pre-retirement income by up to 90% instead of 60% in some cases.

Seniors looking to launch a business should consider collecting their retirement benefits early.

Retirees will have to change the way they file taxes under the new tax law, including making two years' worth of charitable donations every other year to exceed the standard deduction and itemize.

Clients who prefer a simple retirement investing strategy should consider a dividend stock index fund.

Clients may want to opt for a fund that follows small companies as they will benefit from a lower corporate tax rate under the new tax law.

Clients will no longer be able to undo Roth conversions once the new tax law takes effect next year.

Clients should refrain from cosigning their child's student loan, as Social Security could garnish their retirement benefits if the child defaults on the loan payments.

Retirees should take advantage of their flexible schedule, which allows them to go on vacation during off season to save on costs.

Small firms are allowed to set up multiple-employer plans, but the government needs to "simplify and rationalize the rules" for these types of plans, says an expert.

Medicare Part B premiums will stay flat next year, but most retirees will still pay more.

Clients should claim their retirement benefits only when other taxable income sources are used up, as their benefits could be taxed if their taxable earnings reach a certain threshold.

In September, the inflation rate was 2.23%, slightly higher than the proposed Social Security increase. So realistically, recipients "will not be better off at all."

Tax cuts today will increase deficits and future retirees will bear the brunt in reduced Medicare and Social Security benefits, according to one expert.

For a retired military service man, delaying his Social Security would mean he's not subject to the earnings test that can reduce his check by $1 for every $2 he earns over the current threshold of $17,040.

Indeed they are. Not only are they less healthy, they are more likely to worry about not having enough funds for housing, utilities and other necessities.