Mary Beth Franklin

Mary Beth Franklin is a Contributing Editor at Investment News specializing in Social Security, Medicare and Retirement income. She has been a financial journalist for more than 40 years, covering everything from federal budget and tax policies as a Capitol Hill reporter for United Press International to consumer finances as a writer and editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Mary Beth became a Certified Financial Planner in 2015 and is an in-demand speaker at conferences for financial professionals as well as a frequent guest on numerous radio and television programs. She is the author of “Maximizing Your Social Security Retirement Benefits” and host of the Retirement Repair Shop podcast. In her free time, Mary Beth likes to read, garden, ski and play the piano. She received a BA in Communications from American University in 1975 where she continues to mentor journalism students.

Mary Beth Franklin
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A Social Security workaround for some divorced spouses
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING SEP 09, 2019
A Social Security workaround for some divorced spouses

Claiming benefits on an ex can speed collection of benefits on a new spouse.

Creating time-tested retirement income plans
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING SEP 03, 2019
Creating time-tested retirement income plans

Two veteran advisers reflect on more than 35 years of managing retirees' assets and expectations

When to buy Medigap insurance
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING AUG 26, 2019
When to buy Medigap insurance

Rise in Medigap premiums is outpacing Social Security's cost-of-living adjustment, and the disparity is likely to get worse in 2020.

Social Security rules for nonworking spouses
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING AUG 19, 2019
Social Security rules for nonworking spouses

Worker must claim benefits to trigger the spousal benefit for a mate.

Clients worry about future Social Security cuts
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING AUG 12, 2019
Clients worry about future Social Security cuts

Advisers need to monitor the political landscape and develop backup plans.

Social Security and Medicare issues get personal
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING AUG 06, 2019
Social Security and Medicare issues get personal

Forced to slow down, our columnist has a lot to think about concerning her future.

Social Security has special rules for divorce
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUL 23, 2019
Social Security has special rules for divorce

Ex-spouses have more claiming options than married couples.

Women in two-income households face greatest retirement risk
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUL 16, 2019
Women in two-income households face greatest retirement risk

Lifestyle creep, under-saving and lower Social Security benefits to blame.

Why healthy clients need to save more for retirement
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUL 08, 2019
Why healthy clients need to save more for retirement

Tax-free health savings accounts, Roth IRAs, insurance and annuities can help cover retirees' future health-care costs.

Retirees lose $3.4 trillion by claiming Social Security too early
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUN 28, 2019
Retirees lose $3.4 trillion by claiming Social Security too early

Study finds suboptimal timing costs $111,000 per household.