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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RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING APR 18, 2019
Grown children may be hazardous to your wealth

Boomers continue to subsidize adult offspring at the expense of their own retirement.

The cost of putting off enrolling in a Medicare drug plan
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING APR 15, 2019
The cost of putting off enrolling in a Medicare drug plan

Healthy seniors who sign up late face possible sticker shock.

Top reasons to file a tax extension
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING APR 02, 2019
Top reasons to file a tax extension

The penalty for failing to file exceeds the penalty for failing to pay, and an extension can also help with saving for retirement.

Update on Social Security reform
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING MAR 26, 2019
Update on Social Security reform

Congressional panel holds hearings, but no action is expected this year.

Choosing between a retroactive lump sum and a bigger monthly Social Security benefit
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING MAR 19, 2019
Choosing between a retroactive lump sum and a bigger monthly Social Security benefit

Some retirees can receive up to six months of back benefits.

Baseball, taxes and retirement destinations
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING MAR 11, 2019
Baseball, taxes and retirement destinations

New tax rules could affect retirees' relocation decisions.

Future retirees ponder Social Security strategies
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING MAR 06, 2019
Future retirees ponder Social Security strategies

Delayed claiming decisions will be based, in part, on interest rates.

Medicare and the high cost of prescription drugs
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 26, 2019
Medicare and the high cost of prescription drugs

There is no annual limit on out-of-pocket costs under Medicare Part D.

2019 is a key year for Social Security
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 20, 2019
2019 is a key year for Social Security

Those turning 66 this year are the last group eligible for the spousal claiming strategy.

Rules for claiming Social Security at 70
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 11, 2019
Rules for claiming Social Security at 70

Some individuals' benefits will begin automatically; others have to take action.