Articles filed under Burns, Scott
-
Why it makes sense to defer Social Security benefits
Oct 23, 2016 1:00 AM - Personal fiannce columnist Scott Burns notes there are several upsides to deferring Social Security.
-
How much can you invest in stocks for a secure retirement?
Oct 16, 2016 1:00 AM - Q: I think I'm in a unique situation. I'm 75 years old, very healthy and active, married to a woman who is financially independent, have various retirement incomes such as Social Security, a retirement pension and required minimum distributions. The house is paid for, and I actually save $1,000 a month. I have over a million dollars with Vanguard in various index funds and bond funds. My Vanguard account is 80 percent stocks and 20 percent bonds. Most folks recommend that the majority of my account should be in bonds. I would appreciate hearing your opinion.
-
Retirement spending declines, and that's not bad
Oct 9, 2016 1:00 AM - What's a good rule of retirement spending into the 80s and beyond? Personal finance columnist Scott Burns takes a look at whgat makes sense.
-
Social Security: Don't believe everything you hear
Oct 2, 2016 5:03 PM - Personal finance columnist Scott Burns says don't believe everythign you're reading about the state of Social Security.
-
Couch potato investing in the federal thrift savings plan
Sep 25, 2016 1:00 AM - Investing in the Thrift Savings Plan? Columnist Scott Burns helps a couch potato spend his money wisely.
-
Uncle Sam, student loan shark
Sep 18, 2016 1:00 AM - One of the odd things about borrowing money when you go to college is that you borrow the money when you don't have enough income to pay taxes. When it comes time to pay back the money, however, you'll have to pay a tax on every borrowed dime.
-
How managed, index mutual funds differ
Sep 11, 2016 1:00 AM - Personal finance columnists Scott Burns explains the difference between a managed mutual fund and an indexed mutual fund.
-
Don't worry, be happy: Here's your $2.8 trillion IOU
Aug 28, 2016 1:00 AM - Q: I read with interest your recent article on Medicare and Social Security. I have heard over the years that the federal government has cannibalized the Social Security fund on several occasions. Is this true, and if so, how many times and how much has actually been diverted to other programs? -- B.D., Akron, Ohio A: It's not true in the sense you mean it. When Social Security employment tax revenues have exceeded benefit payments, the excess revenue was exchanged for special U.S. Treasury obligations. All of that is held in the Social Security Trust Fund. So in one sense, the federal government hasn't "cannibalized" the trust fund. It has accounted for every dime of surplus revenue and accumulated interest with Treasury IOUs.
-
The incredible cost of higher interest rates
Aug 22, 2016 10:14 AM - In 1995, the total debt of our government was an impressive $4.9 trillion. It has, of course, become much more impressive since. Gross government debt at the end of 2015 was nearly four times higher, $18.1 trillion.
-
Social Security, Medicare, Welfare: It's complicated
Aug 8, 2016 8:27 AM - Personal finance columnist Scott Burns notes comparing the funding shortfalls in welfare to Social Security and Medicare is not as simple at it may seem.
bottom clear