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 NOV 09, 2014
New Congress is unlikely to tackle Social Security reform

It'll be nearly 20 years before the trust fund runs out of surplus

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING NOV 06, 2014
Get out your calculators: Social Security tax rules are a mind-bender

Stealth tax subject to complicated three-part test.

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING NOV 04, 2014
Social Security's mind-bending stealth tax

More retirees are rising above the tax-triggering income threshold due to cost-of-living increases

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING OCT 26, 2014
Government workers get first crack at phased retirement

Will federal program set an example for the private sector?

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING OCT 26, 2014
Government workers get first crack at phased retirement

Will federal program set an example for the private sector?

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING OCT 26, 2014
Lump sum Social Security payments only for living

What would happen if someone who filed and suspended Social Security benefits at full retirement age of 66 died before collecting benefits?

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING OCT 23, 2014
Early filers cannot choose their Social Security benefits

Retirees can only restrict claims to spousal benefits if they wait until their full retirement age to file for benefits.

How Social Security annual increases are calculated
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING OCT 22, 2014
How Social Security annual increases are calculated

COLA formula was established by law in 1972.

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING OCT 22, 2014
How Social Security annual increases are calculated

COLA formula was established by law in 1972.

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING OCT 22, 2014
The new and improved Social Security statements

Unlike the previous version, the mailed one now highlights full retirement age.