Social Security Online Applications

You can do much of your Social Security business on the website. Our online applications make it easy and convenient to apply for benefits from your computer, tablet, or mobile device. You don’t need to make an appointment or visit an office. That’s independence!

When you start your application online, you’ll be directed to create or sign in to your personal my Social Security account. If you’re unable to create an account, you can continue the online application. We’ll contact you after we review your information.

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What Kind of Retiree Will You Be?

When it comes to planning for retirement, determining your personal identity—and associated goals—is an important (and often overlooked) step.

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What if the Fed doesn’t cut interest rates this year?

Earlier this year, many investors were convinced the U.S. Federal Reserve was on track to reduce interest rates four times by the end of 2024. Back then, it struck me as wishful thinking. Today, given higher-than-expected inflation, I think it’s even more unlikely. I believe there’s a strong chance we will get no rate cuts at all this year — and that markets should be fine without them.

To be fair, I should note that not everyone at Capital Group holds this view. As is often the case, we have multiple viewpoints on the investment team and among our economists. That’s the heart of The Capital System.^TM

For some investors who have been eagerly awaiting a rate cut, this may sound akin to canceling Christmas. However, if the Fed decides to stand pat it’s not necessarily a bad outcome, depending on the reason. In my view, there are three solid reasons to keep the federal funds rate right where it is throughout 2024.

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How Much Car Insurance Do You Need?

Every state has a minimum amount of car insurance you must buy to satisfy financial responsibility laws. Liability insurance is the main mandated coverage. It covers damage and injuries you cause to others in an accident.

The most common minimum limits for liability are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for physical damage. But your state’s requirements may be higher or lower. The key to figuring out how much car insurance you need is knowing your state’s requirements and examining your specific situation.

How Much Car Insurance Do I Need?

Beyond what is required by state car insurance laws and your lender, you need enough car insurance to pay for injuries, property damage and lawsuits that may arise from an accident if you don’t have enough savings to pay for them otherwise. And even if you do have the savings, can you afford to spend it all on a car accident? If you’re like most people, the answer to that question is no.

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Donor-Advised Funds: A Popular Tax-Advantaged Way to Give to Charity

A donor-advised fund may sound like something that’s only for the ultra-wealthy, but it’s actually accessible to anyone who makes charitable contributions. The donor-advised fund is one of the most tax-efficient ways to donate money to charity, which has helped it become the fastest-growing charitable giving vehicle in the U.S., according to Fidelity Charitable.

A donor-advised fund is a charitable-giving account that allows a donor to provide grants to a charity over a period of years. They can be relatively inexpensive to create and maintain, and a donor-advised fund offers donors some ability to manage their tax situation through giving. The fund can also be invested, so it can grow while you’re deciding which charities to support.

Here’s how a donor-advised fund works, why it may be an attractive option for giving and some key benefits it has over a charitable trust.

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The way Americans Buy and Sell Homes is about to get Turned on its Head

An earth-shattering, multibillion-dollar antitrust ruling against the National Association of Realtors late last year led to a settlement on Friday that will loosen the powerful trade group’s stranglehold on America’s housing market. The $418 million settlement with a group of homebuyers is expected to take effect sometime around July, pending a judge’s approval. It would transform a number of rules and guidelines set by the NAR that critics say have kept housing prices artificially inflated.

The TL;DR: 6% commissions, split between the buyer’s and seller’s brokers, will no longer be the norm. Agent commissions are expected to fall — in some cases, dramatically — because they will be competitive and negotiable, and sellers will be able to shop around for better rates. And other broker tactics that critics say are anticompetitive, such as a rule that made sellers’ agents set compensation for buyers’ agents, will be prohibited.

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3 Mistakes Investors Make During Election Years

Investing during an election year can be tough on the nerves, and 2024 promises to be no different. Politics can bring out strong emotions and biases, but investors would be wise to put these aside when making investment decisions.

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