Published: Fri, 09 Apr 2021 20:01:02 +0000
Market Blog Friday, April 9, 2021 Index Performance View enlarged chart. U.S. and International Equities The major United States markets were mostly higher this week. The Nasdaq Composite was the best performing index while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained … Continue reading →
Published: Fri, 09 Apr 2021 15:58:13 +0000
Market Blog Friday, April 9, 2021 Stocks have kicked off the year in a strong fashion, and history shows this may give reason to be optimistic for the rest of the year. After a solid—but certainly turbulent—year in 2020, the … Continue reading →
Published: Fri, 09 Apr 2021 14:58:08 +0000
Friday, April 9, 2021 Top Story Was the first quarter the sweet spot for returns? The S&P 500 Index rose 5.8% in the first quarter, and historically this has been in the “Goldilocks” range of returns that isn’t too hot, … Continue reading →
Published: Thu, 08 Apr 2021 15:58:44 +0000
Economic Blog Thursday, April 8, 2021 Before the pandemic we had begun to warm up to international stocks. Valuations relative to the U.S. markets had become increasingly attractive after a long stretch of outperformance by U.S. stocks compared with those … Continue reading →
Published: Thu, 08 Apr 2021 14:58:58 +0000
Thursday, April 8, 2021 Top Story Global GDP forecasts are on the rise, led by the U.S. A look at consensus expectations for economic growth around the world supports our preference for U.S. over developed international equities. Gross domestic product … Continue reading →
Published: Wed, 07 Apr 2021 16:58:56 +0000
Economic Blog Wednesday, April 7, 2021 On the LPL Market Signals podcast, Equity Strategist Jeff Buchbinder and Asset Allocation Strategist Barry Gilbert update forecasts based on how the economy’s recovery from the pandemic, aided by vaccine distribution, massive stimulus, and … Continue reading →
Published: Wed, 07 Apr 2021 15:58:18 +0000
Economic Blog Wednesday, April 7, 2021 The United States, and the rest of the world, are looking to emerge from the shadow of COVID-19, and business conditions may already have put the pandemic in the rear-view mirror—at least according to … Continue reading →
Published: Wed, 07 Apr 2021 14:58:43 +0000
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 Top Story Record surge in Purchasing Managers’ Index surveys U.S. businesses are looking to escape from underneath the shadow of COVID-19, and the Institute of Supply Management’s (ISM) Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) surveys may be suggesting … Continue reading →
Published: Tue, 06 Apr 2021 15:58:18 +0000
Market Blog Tuesday, April 6, 2021 Coming into this year, we expected longer-maturity U.S. Treasury yields to rise, consistent with improving economic growth dynamics. That is indeed what we have seen, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury higher by … Continue reading →
Published: Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:58:53 +0000
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 Top Story Raising Economic And Market Forecasts…Again On the LPL Market Signals podcast, Equity Strategist Jeff Buchbinder and Asset Allocation Strategist Barry Gilbert update forecasts based on how the economy’s recovery from the pandemic, aided by … Continue reading →
Published: Mon, 05 Apr 2021 14:58:22 +0000
Monday, April 5, 2021 Top Story Raising Forecasts…Again LPL Research revises previous forecasts to better reflect the growing optimism of an economy on the rebound in this week’s Weekly Market Commentary, available at 1 p.m. ET. Daily Insights U.S. stocks … Continue reading →
Published: Thu, 01 Apr 2021 20:16:37 +0000
Market Blog Thursday, April 1, 2021 Index Performance U.S. and International Equities The major United States and international markets were higher this week. The Nasdaq Composite was the best performing index while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained a fraction. … Continue reading →
Published: Thu, 01 Apr 2021 16:58:52 +0000
Market Blog Friday, April 1, 2021 Index Performance View enlarged chart. U.S. and International Equities This month provided positive results for the U.S. major market indexes. The top performer was the Dow Jones Industrial Average, returning over 7% for the … Continue reading →
Published: Thu, 01 Apr 2021 15:59:02 +0000
Economic Blog Thursday, April 1, 2021 It’s tempting to predict runaway 1970s inflation as an April Fools’ Day joke. But at the risk of upsetting our friends in the compliance department, we’ll shoot straight here. With that important disclaimer out … Continue reading →
Published: Thu, 01 Apr 2021 14:58:24 +0000
Thursday, April 1, 2021 Top Story Expect contained inflation long term It’s tempting to predict runaway 1970s inflation as an April Fools’ Day joke, but we don’t want to upset our friends in the compliance department, so we shoot straight … Continue reading →
Published: Wed, 31 Mar 2021 15:58:33 +0000
Market Blog Wednesday, March 31, 2021 As we continue LPL Research’s Inflation Week, today we will examine how stocks have historically done at different inflation levels. For more color on our views on inflation, please read here and here, and … Continue reading →
Published: Wed, 31 Mar 2021 14:58:00 +0000
Wednesday, March 30, 2021 Top Story Gallon-sized Improvement in Employment In the latest LPL Street View, Research Chief Investment Officer, Burt White, makes the case that even though unemployment claims are at their lowest level since the pandemic started, we … Continue reading →
Published: Wed, 31 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000
Market Blog Wednesday, March 31, 2021 “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Mark Twain What more can we say other than few months have been kinder to stocks lately than the month of April. In fact, it was … Continue reading →
Published: Wed, 31 Mar 2021 06:00:36 +0000
Market Blog Wednesday, March 31, 2021 Is higher inflation on the way? This is the question nearly everyone is asking, and this week the LPL Strategists will explain why the answer is likely no, contrary to what so many expect. … Continue reading →
Published: Tue, 30 Mar 2021 15:58:02 +0000
Market Blog Tuesday, March 30, 2021 Inflation is coming and, according to certain market-based inflation metrics, markets are expecting sustained inflation rates not seen since the late 2000s, although likely still at manageable levels. Inflation, which captures price increases in … Continue reading →
Published: Tue, 30 Mar 2021 14:58:36 +0000
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 Top Story Let’s Talk About Inflation LPL Financial Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick and Equity Strategist Jeff Buchbinder examine inflation concerns and explain why they think any increases in inflation will most likely be fleeting in … Continue reading →
Published: Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:58:50 +0000
Market Blog Monday, March 29, 2021 It has been a little over a year since the S&P 500 Index bottomed on March 23, 2020, and it was certainly an eventful year, to say the least. It’s also been one year … Continue reading →
Published: Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:00:27 +0000
Monday, March 29, 2021 Top Story Are We on the Brink of an Inflation Crisis? LPL Research explains why any upticks in inflation will ultimately prove transitory in this week’s Weekly Market Commentary, available at 1 p.m. ET. Daily Insights … Continue reading →
Published: Fri, 26 Mar 2021 19:58:00 +0000
Market Blog Friday, March 26, 2021 Index Performance View enlarged chart. U.S. and International Equities Major United States markets were mixed this week. U.S. small caps (Russell 2000 Index) have been the worst performing index for two straight weeks while … Continue reading →
Published: Fri, 26 Mar 2021 15:00:27 +0000
Friday, March 26, 2021 Daily Insights US stocks mixed as S&P 500 Index looks to avoid a second straight weekly decline; Nasdaq set to underperform The Federal Reserve announced that banks that clear the next round of stress tests will … Continue reading →
Published: Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:00:57 +0000
Market Blog Friday, March 26, 2021 Our friends at Goldman Sachs recently announced a 2021 growth target for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 8% (Q4/Q4). Should this happen, it would be the biggest annual increase in GDP since 1951. Of … Continue reading →
Published: Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:58:47 +0000
Market Blog Thursday, March 25, 2021 It has been just over a year since the S&P 500 Index bottomed on March 23, 2020, and while global stock markets have provided historic returns since the low, the biggest winners come from … Continue reading →
Published: Thu, 25 Mar 2021 14:59:11 +0000
Thursday, March 25, 2021 Top Story Commodities the biggest winners since the low. While stock markets have posted solid returns since the S&P 500 Index bottomed in March 2020, commodity markets have been on an absolute tear as economy activity … Continue reading →
Published: Wed, 24 Mar 2021 17:24:45 +0000
Market Blog Wednesday, March 24, 2021 A year ago this week the stock market bottomed and thus ended one of the most vicious bear markets of all-time. In our recent Market Signals video, LPL Financial Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick … Continue reading →
Published: Wed, 24 Mar 2021 15:59:32 +0000
Economic Blog Wednesday, March 24, 2021 It has now been a little over a year since the first COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns were implemented in the United States, with California having implemented the first stay-at-home order on March 19, 2020. … Continue reading →
Published: Wed, 24 Mar 2021 15:03:47 +0000
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Top Story High frequency data one year after lockdown. It’s been a little over a year since the first COVID-19 restrictions were implemented in the United States, when California put in place the first stay-at-home orders … Continue reading →
Published: Tue, 23 Mar 2021 15:59:47 +0000
Market Blog Tuesday, March 23, 2023 While most market participants have been (rightly) focusing on the sell-off in the Treasury markets this year, U.S. corporate credit markets have sold off as well. Corporate credit markets, as defined by the Bloomberg … Continue reading →
Published: Tue, 23 Mar 2021 15:00:06 +0000
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 Top Story The Bull Market Turns One On the LPL Market Signals podcast, Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick and Equity Strategist Jeff Buchbinder consider what could be in store for stocks in year two of the … Continue reading →
Published: Mon, 22 Mar 2021 15:00:22 +0000
Monday, March 22, 2021 Top Story The Second Year Of The Bull Market Begins LPL Research discuss the end of the bear market and the trends of a bull market in year two in this week’s Weekly Market Commentary, available … Continue reading →
Published: Fri, 19 Mar 2021 20:10:29 +0000
Market Blog Friday, March 19, 2021 Index Performance View enlarged chart. U.S. and International Equities All major United States markets declined this week. U.S. small caps (Russell 2000 Index) were last week’s best performing index. This week, they reversed course … Continue reading →
Published: Fri, 19 Mar 2021 16:00:42 +0000
Economic Blog Friday, March 19, 2021 In almost every direction we turn, we see optimism mounting over a mid-2021 economic reacceleration. Unfortunately, it seems we will have to wait at least another month for that optimism to make their way … Continue reading →
Published: Fri, 19 Mar 2021 15:18:18 +0000
Friday, March 19, 2021 Top Story The day after Yields soared, with the 10-year yield closing at 1.72%, its highest level in 14 months, with the 10-year on pace to be up eight consecutive weeks. Worries that the Federal Reserve … Continue reading →
Published: Thu, 18 Mar 2021 17:04:08 +0000
Market Blog Thursday, March 18, 2021 March is here and with it comes some Madness! In our recent Market Signals video, LPL Financial Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick and Equity Strategist Jeff Buchbinder discuss four things that matter the most … Continue reading →
Published: Thu, 18 Mar 2021 15:59:43 +0000
Economic Blog Thursday, March 18, 2021 Last week we reviewed updated global economic growth forecasts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), highlighting the significant increase in their gross domestic product (GDP) forecast for the United States this … Continue reading →
Published: Thu, 18 Mar 2021 15:00:25 +0000
Thursday, March 18, 2021 Top Story The Federal Reserve (Fed) wrapped up its two-day meeting There were no surprises as the Fed upgraded growth and inflation expectations. Monetary policy was left unchanged with the Fed funds target rate remaining at … Continue reading →
It depends on how much you’ve earned and how long you have worked under the Social Security system. Your retirement benefit will be based on your average lifetime earnings. Don't worry if you started out as a busboy and worked your way up to executive chef—only your highest 35 years of earnings will count.
The amount you receive will also be affected by whether you start collecting benefits early (you'll get less), whether you collect benefits late (you'll get more), whether you work after you retire, whether other family members receive benefits based on your earnings record, whether you collect certain other government benefits, and whether the cost of living rises.
You can also sign up for a my Social Security account so that you can view your online Social Security Statement. Your statement contains a detailed record of your earnings, as well as estimates of retirement, survivor's, and disability benefits. It also includes other information about Social Security that will be very useful when planning for retirement.
Contact a VyStar Investment Services Financial Advisor today by phone (904) 908-2495 or email VISMarketing@vystarcu.org.
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The size of the Social Security check you’ll receive is the result of your earnings record and age when you start taking benefits. Your “full retirement age,” when you’ve earned 100% of those benefits, is 66 or 67, depending on when you were born. Collect early, before full retirement age, and you’ll pay a penalty—you’ll receive a smaller check.
The choice of your start date locks in the size of your checks. Some Americans grab Social Security as soon as they can. For widows and widowers, that’s age 60. For everyone else, it’s 62, which has been and still is the most popular age to start benefits, according to U.S. News & World Report.
If you hold off filing until after full retirement, your checks earn a bonus of 8% per year. The longer you wait, the bigger your benefit becomes, until age 70. After 70, there’s no benefit to waiting longer.
Waiting makes sense if you’re healthy and members of your family tend to live longer. A $2,000 benefit, for example, becomes $2,640 if your full retirement age is 66 and you wait four more years.
A quarter of today’s 65-year-olds will live past 90, according to the Social Security Administration. You may need those checks for a long time.
Here’s a hypothetical example of the pros and cons for someone eligible for $750 per month at 62 who waits and claims benefits at 70: