retirement planning

A push to expand online services at the Social Security Administration is meeting resistance from a federal union that represents thousands of agency employees and groups that fear the effort will minimize face-to-face help for seniors and the disabled.

By John Fritze

Apr 30, 2015

Are annuities taxable? Yes, no and maybe. The tax rules vary, based on the type of annuity, how you take the money and how it is funded.

The rift between Gov. Larry Hogan and lawmakers over the state budget widened further Thursday, with the governor and House Speaker Michael E. Busch digging in their heels and both sides making provocative moves and statements.

Pension manager gets government-funded overseas travel while those who paid into the fund get considerably less

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners have completed their overview of staff's recommended Fiscal Year 2016 budget, just in time for its meetings with county agencies beginning this Thursday.

Baltimore's spending panel agreed Wednesday to send a city pension director to London for a week — the latest of nearly $100,000 in travel expenses for top pension officials since 2013.

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners is unified in opposition to several proposed tax cuts in the General Assembly that would affect the retirement incomes of military personnel, first responders, the elderly, the disabled and property taxes for small business.

Susan Reimer on the retirement crisis in Maryland

By Susan Reimer

Feb 27, 2015

Wall Street brokers and others who offer retirement investments to average Americans should be held to 'fiduciary standard'

Harford County government wants to reserve another $8.3 million toward paying post-employment benefits, mainly health insurance, for future retirees.

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans pressed the Obama administration Wednesday for a plan to address the long-term health of Social Security as lawmakers began to debate a more immediate shortfall in a program that benefits millions of disabled Americans.

By John Fritze

Feb 11, 2015

The number of people receiving disability insurance from the Social Security Administration declined last year for the first time since 1983, a reduction that comes as Congress is wrestling with a deadline to fund the program or risk cutting benefits to millions.

By John Fritze

Feb 7, 2015

Facing an aging population and steady growth in disability claims, the Social Security Administration said Thursday it will expand hours at neighborhood offices across the country — reversing a years-long reduction in service that has frustrated the public and lawmakers.

By John Fritze

Jan 22, 2015

As Gov.-elect Larry Hogan and his team begin tackling the state's budget, they will soon turn their attention to one of its most pernicious challenges: the underfunded employee pension system.

By Carrie Wells

Jan 20, 2015

Progress in shoring up police-fire pension would be slower without the mayor's 2010 reforms.

Riding a bull market, Baltimore's Fire and Police Retirement System made $313 million from investments in 2014 — marking the first time in a decade its long-term fiscal health improved.

By Luke Broadwater

Dec 10, 2014

With the holidays approaching, reviewing investment strategies and preparing for tax season is the last thing on many people's minds. At a free session Friday, a local financial adviser and an accountant will share tips for getting organized and planning ahead at the end of the year.

Small business owners often balk at the expense and liability of offering their employees a retirement plan, few financial firms offer plans to small businesses and rarely do employees without an employer-sponsored plan sign up for one on their own.

Jacob M. "Jack" Schmulowitz, a retired Social Security Administration division chief, died Wednesday at Sinai Hospital of kidney failure. He was 85.

Susan Reimer on financial gerontology

By Susan Reimer

Oct 8, 2014

events at howard county senior centers

Republican gubernatorial candidate Larry Hogan told residents of a retirement community Tuesday night that he wants to eliminate all state income taxes on retirement income before the end of his administration.

Pension fight shows city can't be trusted to honor its commitments

What Baltimore did to its police and fire pensions is a crime.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Larry Hogan's proposal to exempt police pensions from Maryland income tax is a mistake.

Baltimore's police and fire unions should recognize that a settlement over pension issues, not more litigation, is in their members' best interest.

If the fire service begins to go in the same direction as the ambulance service did, there will have to be wholesale re-thinking of the financial arrangement the county has with the system.

Reduced hospital costs and Obamacare cost-cutting have helped Medicare but it and other entitlement programs still need help

Experienced federal employees can manage complex computer system but they are in short supply thanks to cutbacks

Harford County government and the county's volunteer fire and EMS companies are discussing proposed changes to a county-funded retirement program for the volunteer firemen, including lowering age of eligibility to receive benefits.

Meet Cyndi Hutchins, Bank of America Merrill Lynch's director of financial gerontology – one of the country's first in such a position at a financial management firm.

What are likely to be the final bond ratings of the Gov. Martin O'Malley's term offer a validation of his fiscal policies.

Fixing the broken system for financing retirement requires leadership at local and national level

The city government is requiring nearly 2,000 school employees to begin contributing to the municipal retirement system, a plan met with resistance by school officials who say the district won't be able to meet the July 1 deadline.