Ep 489: Your Retirement, The Truth About Social Security, And How to Prepare NOW

Social Security is back in the headlines, and the news isn’t exactly comforting. Words like shortfall and cuts are sparking real fear among retirees, near-retirees, and younger workers who wonder if the program will even be there for them. In this episode, Jean sits down with Michelle Singletary, nationally syndicated personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, to break it all down: What a potential 20–25% shortfall in 2033 could actually mean for retirees. Why your check won’t disappear entirely  The surge in early claims: Should you take the money now, or wait? Why writing Social Security out of your retirement plan is a mistake for Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z. Michelle’s must-do checklist for near-retirees: from eliminating your mortgage to building a realistic budget. If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices