Laurence J. Kotlikoff

(2015) Very good practical guide for maximizing Social Security benefits over your lifetime. Paul Solman does many interesting economic pieces on PBS Newshour & that was where I found the book.Review?Getting smart about Social Security can put tens of thousands of extra dollars in your pocket. With that in mind, start by reading, Get What's Yours. . . . The book translates¥into often-entertaining EnglishÂ¥the many convoluted rules that make up the Social Security program. . . . [Does] a great job of helping you make sense of, and get the most from, Social Security. . . . Invaluable.? (Glenn Ruffenach The Wall Street Journal)?An indispensable and surprisingly entertaining guide for anyone who is retiring or thinking of retiring with all of the Social Security benefits they've earned.? (Jane Pauley)?Choosing when to take Social Security is one of the biggest decisions of your life. By doing it right, you can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to your lifetime income and leave more money for your spouse as well. This great book tells you how . . . and it's funny, too!? (Jane Bryant Quinn, author of Making the Most of your Money NOW)?Social Security is the biggest source of retirement income for many Americans . . . that just means that [Get What's Yours]'s tricks and tips will be ever more relevant. . . . Given that there are 2,728 core rules and thousands more supplements to them according to the authors, it pays, literally, to seek out a guide.? (Ron Leiber The New York Times)?I love this book! Seriously! Who could ever guess that reading about Social Security could be this entertaining? And if you think you know enough about the subject, you would be wise to think again. Smartly written by an all-star, financial expert dream team, the engaging, down-to-earth prose makes Get What's Yours the definitive guide to maximizing what is, for many, the most important retirement asset by far. From determining the best age to claim (hint: it's not what you've been told) to figuring out the intricacies of spousal benefits to avoiding the ?gotchas' that can reduce your checks, this must-read guide is truly that. And don't be surprised if you actually enjoy it!" (Beth Kobliner, author of Get a Financial Life)?[Goes] a long way in educating the public and financial advisers about this important lifetime benefit. Get What's Yours is a fun read for advisers with a slightly snarky tone that puts the absurdity of the program's more than 2,800 rules into perspective.? (Mary Beth Franklin Investment News)"The Social Security system has 2,728 core rules. You can't be expected to learn them on your own, and you can't depend on Social Security staff members to guide you through them to make the right decisions. Use a financial planner with expertise in Social Security, or read and reread an excellent book such as Get What's Yours, to make the decisions that will provide you and your family with the most benefits." (Elliot Raphaelson The Chicago Tribune)?[A] can't-miss guide to the system. . . . Clear enough for even the most intimidated reader, with a concluding cheat sheet helpfully summing up the book's suggestions. The authors' palpable fervor to help readers get back what they've paid will energize readers to claim what is rightfully theirs.? (Publishers Weekly)?Just what we need: a clear explanation of how Social Security worksÂ¥and how to get the highest benefitsÂ¥without reading all 2,728 rules of the Social Security system.? (Library Journal)About the AuthorLaurence Kotlikoff is William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor and Professor of Economics at Boston University and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc., a company specializing in financial planning software.Journalist Philip Moeller writes about retirement for Money, the PBS website Making Sen$e, and others. He also is a Research Fellow at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College.Paul Solman is the longtime business and economics correspondent for PBS NewsHour and teaches at Yale University and Gateway Community College.… (altro)

A worthy read, although I skimmed quite a bit until the authors got to providing solutions. What's particularly interesting about reading this in 2011 is that the book is now 7 years past its initial writing and allows for some perspective to be had. The big thrust of the book is all the unspoken -at the time- debt that rests in our country because of entitlements like social security and medicare/cade. Now, in 2011, it's a better realized fact. One need only look to Europe to see where decades of providing all things to it's citizens has lead. Debt is a very real issue which has been kicked down the road forever and is coming due. The authors did a fine job of explaining how politicians obscure the facts all the time and how no amount of new accounting or labeling will work for too much longer. I believe I agree with many of their solutions...even if they'll hurt to implement. One area they touch on but don't hit enough is how broken our government is because of two major items: lobbying and elections. We all know the effects of lobbying. Those who have deep pockets get heard, which is a BIG advantage. The second is known too but less criticized. Too many politicians spend time on the fence in order to be reelected; and this makes few of them able to make a hard decision. If it were up to me, the position of President would be a 6-7 year single term and then done. That person can focus on decisions without worry of needing to be reelected in 4 years. Another thing that's not mentioned is how we, individual citizens who are pouring money into investments, are also to blame for weak policies and governance. We want profits, period. This means when funds go down we pull our money or demand things turn around quickly. This leads those with the job of providing results to do reckless, short-term, things. I digress.

A book worthy of getting through and using for a basis for discussions.… (altro)