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Federal debt
1 reply
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 8/19/2026
FIRST: Jack Hannam on 8/19 | RECENT: Jack Hannam on 8/19/2026 at 6:19 PM
Income taxes on retirees with Social Security
83 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 8/14/2026
FIRST: BenefitJack on 8/15 | RECENT: Dunn Werking on 8/19/2026 at 7:48 AM
What is the right percentage?
44 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 8/9/2026
FIRST: Jack Hannam on 8/9 | RECENT: luigi767 on 8/19/2026 at 12:48 AM
Medicare Advantage Part C — Not too soon to start planning for 2027
26 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 8/11/2026
FIRST: Julie C on 8/12 | RECENT: V Saraf on 8/17
FIFA Financials
52 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 7/19/2026
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 7/19 | RECENT: Jeff Bond on 8/10
Taxing Social Security benefits
26 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 8/6/2026
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 8/6 | RECENT: Nick Politakis on 8/9
Inflation, prices, COLAs, retirement and the last 16 years
40 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 7/27/2026
FIRST: DavidHLancaster on 7/27 | RECENT: bbbobbins on 8/7
Spouses SS benefits don’t always equal half workers benefit.
9 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 7/31/2026
FIRST: James Mcglynn on 7/31 | RECENT: R Quinn on 8/1
A discussion on health insurance, premiums, profits and such- a 50 year perspective most people don’t want to accept
24 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 7/15/2026
FIRST: DavidHLancaster on 7/15 | RECENT: V Saraf on 7/23
Many of us seniors think we paid for our Social Security benefits based in the FICA taxes we paid. Let’s dispel that myth- we didn’t
56 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/15/2026
FIRST: Nick Politakis on 6/15 | RECENT: Marilyn Lavin on 7/19
About that inflation in retirement
52 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 7/11/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 7/11 | RECENT: Marilyn Lavin on 7/15
Frittering away Frugality
77 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 7/8/2026
FIRST: DrLefty on 7/8 | RECENT: SCao on 7/14
A taxing situation, but is it reality?
28 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 7/10/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 7/10 | RECENT: tooqk4u22 on 7/13
Automatic Income stream? How important to you?
59 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/26/2026
FIRST: Dave Melick on 6/26 | RECENT: Dan Sturgis on 7/5
Exercising true frugality
45 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 7/1/2026
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 7/1 | RECENT: R Quinn on 7/5
Thinking about downsizing? Think seriously
31 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/21/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 6/21 | RECENT: Catherine on 7/3
Why can’t more people plan for the retirement future?
31 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/27/2026
FIRST: Edmund Marsh on 6/27 | RECENT: R Quinn on 6/29
Remember the shopping cart fiasco Last November? Regular HD readers do I’m sure.
3 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/24/2026
FIRST: Mike Gaynes on 6/25 | RECENT: Linda Grady on 6/26
How financially illiterate are Americans?
26 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/19/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 6/19 | RECENT: Dan Smith on 6/21
How well off are Americans compared to the rest of the world? Fun facts.
12 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/16/2026
FIRST: Nick Politakis on 6/16 | RECENT: R Quinn on 6/20
Fixing Social Security is not that hard, here's how
24 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/13/2026
FIRST: Dan Malone on 6/14 | RECENT: Mark Gardner on 6/19
Just the fact about Social Security
44 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/12/2026
FIRST: August West on 6/12 | RECENT: Joe D'Alessandro on 6/16
Time to share our financial info with children?
41 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/6/2026
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 6/6 | RECENT: afwAZ on 6/13
What do we Americans want? We want “free” healthcare
14 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/11/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 6/11 | RECENT: Howard Rohleder on 6/13
Peter Cancro from age 14 to 69 covered in oil and vinegar
20 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 5/31/2026
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 6/1 | RECENT: R Quinn on 6/9
Billionaires, taxes and you
55 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 5/26/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 5/26 | RECENT: Andy Morrison on 6/5
Shopping carts again…but not what you think
24 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 6/2/2026
FIRST: baldscreen on 6/2 | RECENT: John Katz on 6/4
Time to scrap IRAs, 401k, 403b and all the rest
29 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 5/21/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 5/21 | RECENT: R Quinn on 5/25
The reality of Social Security and Medicare- My real life experience.
38 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 5/4/2026
FIRST: Nick Politakis on 5/4 | RECENT: Concerned on 5/23
Dickie and his magic beans
54 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 5/6/2026
FIRST: DrLefty on 5/6 | RECENT: mllange on 5/15
The never ending payday
28 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 5/9/2026
FIRST: baldscreen on 5/9 | RECENT: R Quinn on 5/10
Is saving really that hard? Nope, not for the great majority of Americans.
33 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 4/28/2026
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 4/28 | RECENT: R Quinn on 5/5
Shopping around - you versus the grocery store
19 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 4/30/2026
FIRST: DrLefty on 4/30 | RECENT: Linda Grady on 5/3
The great COLA debate-maybe not the expected solution.
8 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 4/26/2026
FIRST: R Quinn on 4/26 | RECENT: Dave Melick on 4/29
Enough complaining already. Live your life and stop worrying about “they” “ them” or things
8 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 4/24/2026
FIRST: R Quinn on 4/24 | RECENT: John Verlautz on 4/24
Do retirees really struggle financially? Why and what to do?
7 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 4/17/2026
FIRST: Jack Hannam on 4/17 | RECENT: baldscreen on 4/18
It’s all so relative, where you leave and what $$$ you may
9 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 4/1/2026
FIRST: Mark Gardner on 4/1 | RECENT: Mike Gaynes on 4/2
Coping with inflation in retirement, what’s the plan?
8 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 3/30/2026
FIRST: Kenneth DeLuca on 3/30 | RECENT: Michael1 on 3/30
Keeping up with the Jonses— at least it looks that way.
5 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 3/29/2026
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 3/29 | RECENT: R Quinn on 3/30
Focus on the real healthcare financial risk in post age 65 retirement
13 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 3/23/2026
FIRST: William Perry on 3/23 | RECENT: R Quinn on 3/24
Retirement in America is not a pretty picture…and not getting better.
38 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 3/17/2026
FIRST: Ormode on 3/17 | RECENT: R Quinn on 3/23
Is there any point in life when a child needs financial assistance that you feel comfortable/justified simply saying “not my problem?”
26 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 3/14/2026
FIRST: David Lancaster on 3/14 | RECENT: David Mulligan on 3/17
No, it is not a scam
33 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 3/10/2026
FIRST: Dave Melick on 3/10 | RECENT: Raghu on 3/14
Question for writers
6 replies
AUTHOR: R Quinn on 2/21/2026
FIRST: Bogdan Sheremeta on 2/22 | RECENT: Michael1 on 3/1
Comments
When and how do you determine your tax bill before taking your RMD?
Post: If Retirement is Getting Close
Link to comment from August 19, 2026
All true, but there are many exceptions of individuals who overcame tremendous odds, hardship, misfortune, failure and did raise themselves up. I doubt “anyone” can pull themselves up, but I bet it is far more than actually do so.
Post: The Lottery of Birth
Link to comment from August 19, 2026
Just think how those of us who ARE the older family members feel. 🤔 It’s still nice to be the ones giving advice when asked and providing financial assistance when necessary.
Post: Tax Complications – How SS Benefits interact with Other Income
Link to comment from August 19, 2026
I understand, but as you know where we are born impacts virtually every aspect of our lives. That is even true among the various US states. Heck, my friends in Europe don’t have air conditioning 😎
Post: The Lottery of Birth
Link to comment from August 19, 2026
Dan, I consolidated with Fidelity just because I was getting forms from multiple sources. It’s easier now. I favor withholding on everything possible. Few or no bad surprises when filing. I have withholding from pension and social security. I have withholding from my RMD and take extra to cover taxes on interest and dividends.
Post: If Retirement is Getting Close
Link to comment from August 19, 2026
You make a valid point, but let’s also consider many other factors like the difference in standard of living and overall cost of living in the countries you mention. Your example of a 76 year old doesn’t help your case because those of us on Medicare have the best insurance and in your example the patient portion would be less than $5,000. Also, on a cost basis, let’s not forget the lifelong taxes that make “paying nothing directly” possible. Nevertheless, we would be far better off and have a much fairer system using a universal model in place of the disjointed system we have.
Post: The Lottery of Birth
Link to comment from August 19, 2026
And you are in a position to put your money where your mouth is and good for you no matter how you achieved that position. Nothing wrong with that. However, that is not the position for the great majority of Americans and never will be. The government dole is the use of our taxes. The government does not have money. For those in the lower two income quintiles, Social Security makes up over 80% of total family income. For middle-income households, Social Security provides roughly 50% to 60% of overall income.
Post: Income taxes on retirees with Social Security
Link to comment from August 19, 2026
Thanks Rick, Our effective tax rate for 2025 was 18%. Could I have done better being more tax aware? Maybe, not sure. But an effective tax rate of 18% doesn’t upset me. I set things up so I always get a refund, not optimal efficiency I suspect, but it makes me feel better in March😎 I use the standard deduction, tax-free municipal bonds and QCDs, but other than that I am at the mercy of the IRC …and the Social Security law🤑
Post: Tax Complications – How SS Benefits interact with Other Income
Link to comment from August 18, 2026
So people like us should not be eligible for Social Security, but should be able to generate an unlimited amount of tax-free income and then exclude that income when determining a modest tax on half our SS? Sorry, I just don’t get that.
Post: Income taxes on retirees with Social Security
Link to comment from August 18, 2026
Did you see comments supporting taxing Roth distributions? I didn’t see that at all. Using the earnings on a Roth distribution to determine if a portion of SS is taxable is in no way taxing Roth.
Post: Income taxes on retirees with Social Security
Link to comment from August 17, 2026