Monthly Archives: January 2015

What People With Government Pensions Should Know About Social Security

Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Joe Alfonso, GoLocalPDX Contributor As if the Social Security system weren’t complicated enough, additional complications arise for certain retirees receiving government or public sector pensions. These rules, known as the WEP, for Windfall Elimination Provision,...

The Impact of Early Claiming on Social Security Spousal Benefits

Wednesday, January 21, 2015 | Joe Alfonso, GoLocalPDX Contributor I often hold Social Security workshops in my community at which I explain how the system works and discuss various strategies for maximizing one’s benefits. Almost invariably I meet attendees, usually...

The best time to start taking Social Security

Jan 15, 2015|Cliff Goldstein, MarketWatch If you’re nearing retirement, you’ll likely be faced with a decision: Should you start taking Social Security at the earliest age possible, 62, wait until you reach your full retirement age (65 to 67, depending...

4 Steps to a Smoother Tax Season

Wednesday, January 14, 2015 | Joe Alfonso, GoLocalPDX Contributor April 15 is rapidly approaching and now is a good time to start getting ready. The following are some suggested steps to take now while there is still time to ensure...

How to Behave in the Face of Stock Market Volatility

Wednesday, January 07, 2015 | Joe Alfonso, GoLocalPDX Contributor The stock market, both in the US and abroad, has been turbulent again of late. On Monday, January 5, the Dow Jones Index dropped over 130 points, or 0.75%, and yesterday,...