Your Social Security Benefits

We all have been paying into Social Security for years and can’t wait to start collecting…but WAIT…don’t be in a rush! According to AARP and the Financial Planning Association, most  retirees don’t know that waiting to collect Social Security will get them a bigger benefit—and most don’t know how much bigger! Individuals who collect their […]

Divorce and Social Security

Married couples have an advantage when it comes to Social Security. It’s called the “spousal benefit.” It allows the lower-earning spouse to collect up to 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s benefit at full retirement age. Even if you are divorced, you still have the ability to collect Social Security spousal benefits based on your former […]

Marriage and the IRS

After you get married, be sure to notify the IRS if you are changing your name (not everyone does).  Also advise them of a change in your address if you are moving.  You can miss getting your tax refund if they don’t have the correct address. Marriage can result in numerous tax changes.  If you are […]

Changing Your Name

When you get married, divorced or remarried and you are changing your name (some people don’t), the Internal Revenue Service recently published some tips—Tax Tip 2011-23 @www.irs.gov to help with the process. Besides changing your name with the IRS and  Social Security, you need to change it on your driver’s license, your passport, your credit cards, airline […]