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
Displaying 1064 results
Confusion around Medicare enrollment
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUN 28, 2019
Confusion around Medicare enrollment

Tools and courses can help advisers guide clients through deadlines and choices

How to suspend Social Security benefits
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUN 19, 2019
How to suspend Social Security benefits

The move can boost future benefits — but beware of unintended consequences.

Special Social Security rules for public sector employees
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUN 12, 2019
Special Social Security rules for public sector employees

Two exceptions can ease the sting of offsets that reduce benefits.

Terminal diagnosis affects Social Security timing
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUN 05, 2019
Terminal diagnosis affects Social Security timing

Shortened life expectancy puts the focus on future survivor benefits.

How to battle sequence-of-returns risk
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING MAY 25, 2019
How to battle sequence-of-returns risk

Retiring during the longest-running bull market in history can be scary, as some begin to wonder when the good times will end.

Dealing with widows requires empathy and patience
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING MAY 23, 2019
Dealing with widows requires empathy and patience

Advisers can help with financial triage and encourage clients to avoid rushing into nonurgent decisions.

Future retirees often overestimate Social Security benefits
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING MAY 08, 2019
Future retirees often overestimate Social Security benefits

Advisory clients are better informed about claiming strategies.

Hints about Social Security COLA and Medicare premiums in 2020
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING MAY 06, 2019
Hints about Social Security COLA and Medicare premiums in 2020

Medicare premium hikes could wipe out the cost of living adjustment for some retirees — again!

Widows, widowers and Social Security
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING MAY 01, 2019
Widows, widowers and Social Security

Surviving spouses have more claiming options than other types of Social Security beneficiaries, but timing is crucial.

Social Security funding outlook improves slightly
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING APR 22, 2019
Social Security funding outlook improves slightly

Retirement reserves extended one year; disability fund by 20 years