How Social Security COLA Is Calculated: 2026 Guide
Learn how Social Security calculates COLA from CPI-W data, when the increase appears, and why Medicare or rounding can change your net payment.
18 min read · Updated July 29, 2026Read guide →
Retirement guides
Understand the decision before you make it.
Practical, sourced explanations across five essential retirement topics—connected to calculators that let you test the numbers.
Social Security→
Claiming ages, spousal benefits, survivor protection, and earnings rules.401(k) & IRA→
Workplace plans, IRAs, Roth decisions, rollovers, RMDs, and investment fees.Retirement Planning→
Savings targets, withdrawal strategy, retirement dates, and plan stress tests.Medicare & Health→
Coverage before and after 65, Medicare choices, ACA planning, and care costs.Taxes & Retirement Life→
Retirement taxes, budgets, housing, relocation, estate basics, and life after work. Guides coming soon.Social Security’s 35-Year Rule: How Earnings Affect Benefits
Learn how Social Security selects your highest 35 earning years, handles missing years, calculates AIME, and replaces low years when you keep working.
16 min read · Updated July 29, 2026Read guide →
Are Social Security Benefits Taxable? 2026 Rules
Learn when Social Security benefits are federally taxable, how combined income works, and which retirement-income choices may change the result.
16 min read · Updated July 29, 2026Read guide →
Working While Receiving Social Security: How Earnings Affect Benefits
See how working affects Social Security before full retirement age, including the 2026 earnings limits, withholding rules, and examples.
17 min read · Updated July 28, 2026Read guide →
Social Security Spousal Benefits: How the 50% Rule Works
Learn who qualifies for Social Security spousal benefits, how the 50% maximum and own-benefit top-up work, and why claiming age matters.
16 min read · Updated July 28, 2026Read guide →
Social Security Survivor Benefits for Widows and Widowers
Learn who qualifies for Social Security survivor benefits, how claiming age changes the payment, and when switching benefits may help.
19 min read · Updated July 28, 2026Read guide →
Should You Split Roth and Traditional Contributions?
Learn when splitting Roth and Traditional contributions may reduce tax uncertainty, how to choose a starting mix, and which household factors to review.
16 min read · Updated July 28, 2026Read guide →
How Long Will My Retirement Savings Last?
Learn which numbers determine your retirement runway and why a single withdrawal-rate rule is not enough for a personal retirement plan.
8 min read · Updated July 22, 2026Read guide →
How Much Are 401(k) Fees Costing You? A 20-Year Example
See how annual 401(k) fees can change a $500,000 portfolio over 20 years, where to find the costs, and which numbers deserve a closer look.
11 min read · Updated July 22, 2026Read guide →
Can You Retire Before Medicare? Plan the Healthcare Bridge
Estimate the years between employer coverage and Medicare, including ACA premiums, household income, and spouses reaching Medicare at different times.
10 min read · Updated July 22, 2026Read guide →
When Should You Claim Social Security: 62, 67, or 70?
See how claiming Social Security at 62, 67, or 70 changes monthly and cumulative benefits using a clear $2,000-per-month example.
12 min read · Updated July 22, 2026Read guide →