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 JUL 21, 2015
What I learned about Social Security in my CFP review course

Going into the Dalton Review program, I was afraid I would be tripped up by complicated mathematical computations involving Greek letters that I couldn't identify. But I never thought I would stumble in my area of expertise: Social Security. Wrong! It seems that too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing. I answered several questions incorrectly when confronted with sample test questions on the subject.

Latest trends in the retirement income market
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUL 16, 2015
Latest trends in the retirement income market

Capturing rollovers, satisfying income seekers in low-interest rate environment.

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUL 15, 2015
Why Social Security should be your backup plan in retirement

Claim early only if you really need to; suspend until later if you can afford it.

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUL 14, 2015
Billy Joel: Poster child for the Viagra college fund?

Older dads can trigger Social Security benefits for young children.

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUL 08, 2015
Is Billy Joel the poster child for the Viagra college fund?

Older dads can trigger Social Security benefits for young children.

Social Security consolation prizes for divorced spouses
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUL 07, 2015
Social Security consolation prizes for divorced spouses

Ex-spouse can claim independently and is not subject to family maximum limit.

Social Security claiming strategy short-circuited by excess earnings
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUL 02, 2015
Social Security claiming strategy short-circuited by excess earnings

Both older nonworking wife and younger employed husband can lose benefits.

Growing consumer demand for health care and Social Security advice
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUL 02, 2015
Growing consumer demand for health care and Social Security advice

Report shows an opportunity for advisers with this expertise.

Same-sex couples inch closer to full Social Security benefits
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUL 01, 2015
Same-sex couples inch closer to full Social Security benefits

Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced Wednesday that federal marriage benefits soon will be available to same-sex couples nationwide following the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26.

Tackling the challenge of 401(k)s for small businesses
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JUN 24, 2015
Tackling the challenge of 401(k)s for small businesses

A new plan design and technology aims to expand access, reduce costs.