Tracy Stewart

2 weeks ago | money.usnews.com | Maryalene Laponsie |Tracy Stewart |Susannah Snider

Key Takeaways The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden in January 2025 to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. The law means retirees, and their spouses, who receive a non-covered pension should see an increase in their Social Security benefits. Non-covered pensions are those from jobs that did not pay into the Social Security system.

3 weeks ago | money.usnews.com | Maryalene Laponsie |Tracy Stewart |Katy Marquardt

Key Takeaways: LGBTQ+ retirees who want to live overseas need to consider their legal status and safety when choosing a country to call home. Most of the European Union is LGBTQ+ friendly, although some countries are more progressive. For retirees who want to stay close to the U.S., many Mexican cities have robust LGBTQ+ communities. Thailand is often considered the most LGBTQ+ friendly country in Asia.

3 weeks ago | money.usnews.com | Kate Stalter |Tracy Stewart |Katy Marquardt

Question: I've always had a traditional retirement portfolio that I split between stocks and bonds. But as market volatility continues to be a concern, I notice alternative investments such as gold, crypto ETFs and commodities perform much better than the S&P 500. Should I include alternative assets like these in my retirement portfolio to hedge against downturns? Answer: Stocks and bonds aren’t the only assets that deserve a role in investment portfolios, but there are caveats.

1 month ago | money.usnews.com | Maryalene Laponsie |Tracy Stewart |Katy Marquardt Hill

Key Takeaways Social Security cannot be garnished for consumer or medical debts. Benefits can be garnished for federal debts, such as taxes and student loans, as well as child support, alimony and restitution. Garnishment for federal debts is limited to 15% of a monthly payment, and a beneficiary must be left with at least $750 a month. Up to 65% of Social Security payments can be garnished for child support and alimony, and there is no cap on how much can be taken.

1 month ago | money.usnews.com | Maryalene Laponsie |Tracy Stewart |Katy Marquardt

Key Takeaways: Americans who want to retire abroad should set up an online my Social Security account before they leave the country. Social Security payments can be received by eligible beneficiaries located anywhere in the world, with the exception of a handful of countries. Having money deposited into a U.S. bank account is helpful, but not all institutions cater to expats. Expats may have to return “proof of life” forms to the Social Security Administration every year or two.