Retirement scan

There are hundreds of claiming strategies — using the wrong one can have major repercussions.

A small group will actually pay less in premiums because the cost-of-living adjustment in their Social Security benefits next year won’t be large enough to cover the premium increase.

Compared with college-educated professionals, high school educated workers retire earlier because their jobs are physically demanding and less appealing for aging workers.

The wealth in retirement accounts could shrink by that much due to annual defaults on 401(k) loans. The projected loss is about 2.7% of the $7.8 trillion in retirement accounts.

Seniors will have to pay income taxes on a certain portion of their benefits if their taxable income plus 50% of the benefits exceed a certain threshold.

For potential landlords, owning rental property can sometimes be managed from a laptop or even a phone.

Premiums appear to be stabilizing finally and even dropping in some states.

The "Rule of 100" follows the rule-of-thumb of growing more conservative as investors grow older, but it also may be obsolete since it was developed when interest rates were higher.

About that tax deduction, it’s not enough of a reason to keep a mortgage. Remember, it’s only a deduction, not a credit.

Trying to time the market is a “fool’s game,” but preparing for a possible downturn as retirement approaches can be a smart move.