RETIREMENT GUIDES
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Straightforward guides to help you understand retirement income, spending, taxes, and the decisions ahead.
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7 guides
Pension Lump Sum vs. Monthly Annuity: How to Choose the Right Payout (2026)
When you retire with a pension, you may face one of the biggest financial decisions of your life: take a one-time lump sum or receive guaranteed monthly payments for life. There is no universally correct answer — the right choice depends on your health, your other income sources, interest rates, and how much investment risk you're willing to take. This guide walks through both options with real 2026 numbers so you can decide with confidence.
16 min readSocial Security Survivor Benefits: Who Qualifies and How Much You'll Receive (2026)
About 5.8 million Americans receive Social Security survivor benefits, with the average nondisabled widow or widower collecting $1,931/month in 2026. Survivor benefits can replace a significant portion of a deceased spouse's income — but the rules around eligibility, claiming age, and coordination with your own benefits are complex. This guide covers everything you need to know.
15 min readCan You Live on Social Security Alone? $1,907/Month in 2026
The average Social Security benefit in 2026 is $1,907/month — $22,884 a year. About 12% of Americans 65 and older rely on it for 90%+ of their income. It is possible, but it requires a low-cost area, minimal fixed costs, and almost no margin for emergencies.
16 min readHow Much Will I Get from Social Security? $1,907/Month Average (2026)
The average Social Security retirement benefit in 2026 is $1,907/month ($22,884/year) — but your personal benefit could range from a few hundred dollars to over $4,800/month depending on your earnings history, claiming age, and years worked. Estimate yours with the Social Security calculator, then read on to see exactly how the SSA calculates your number.
14 min readSocial Security COLA Explained: How Your Benefits Keep Up with Inflation (2026)
The 2026 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is 2.5%, increasing the average retirement benefit by approximately $48/month — from $1,859 to $1,907. COLA is designed to protect Social Security benefits from inflation, but it doesn't always keep pace with the costs that matter most to retirees: healthcare, housing, and prescription drugs. Here's how it works, what it's worth, and what to do when it's not enough.
13 min readWhat Is a Good Retirement Income? Breaking Down the Numbers (2026)
A good retirement income for most Americans falls between $50,000 and $80,000 per year — roughly $4,200 to $6,700 per month. But "good" is deeply personal. A retired couple in rural Tennessee and a single retiree in San Francisco have fundamentally different definitions of enough. What matters isn't the number itself — it's whether your income covers your expenses, supports your lifestyle, and holds up against inflation for 20–30 years.
14 min readSocial Security at 62, 67, or 70: 70%, 100%, or 124%
Claiming at 62 pays 70% of your full benefit, 67 pays 100%, and 70 pays 124%. A $2,000 benefit at 67 is $1,400 at 62 and $2,480 at 70. Waiting from 62 to 70 breaks even around age 80.
18 min readReady to put the ideas to work?
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