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A few things you may want to think about before filing for benefits.

Provided by Alejandro Lofaso

Whether you want to leave work at 62, 67, or 72, claiming the retirement benefits you are entitled to by federal law is no casual decision. You will want to consider a few key factors first.

A feature from Anthony M. Lofaso. Advisor Views offers timely investment news and market updates designed to keep you informed, while attempting to enhance your overall investment experience.

If asked what comes to mind when thinking of financial planning, many would likely mention topics such as saving for retirement, planning for college, creating strategies for retirement income, or structuring a portfolio with an eye toward maximizing tax efficiency.

Green, clean energy has reached new heights in North America. There are more hybrids than ever on the streets, wind turbines out above the cornfields, solar panels on roofs, and even that new convenience store down the street is LEED certified. It’s not a trend; it’s a shift away from fossil fuels—oil, coal, and natural gas.

There is no getting around it—health insurance is complex and complicated. You have to have it and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. And, when your child is living with a special need it makes the whole process even more complicated. Finding in-network specialists, scheduling exams, and keeping track of copayments and deductibles can be exhausting.

It has only been since the Baby Boomer generation began to cross the retirement threshold that we’ve had to seriously confront the new challenge of our longevity.

As a young investor, you have a powerful ally on your side: time. When you start saving and investing for retirement in your twenties or thirties, you can put it to work for you. 

What if you are laid off or forced into retirement before 65, or even before 60? If that happens to you, what do you do in response now that the next phase of your life is starting sooner than you planned?

Over the past 12 months, consumer prices have increased very little. The latest Consumer Price Index (September) shows 0.0% yearly inflation and only 1.9% core yearly inflation. That means no cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security, and very few IRS adjustments to retirement plan contribution limits.1