The New Retirement Basics: The Quick and Easy Guide to Social Security and Medicare 2016

I regret spending the money for this book. I found the short section on spousal benefits, which was my main concern, so unclear that it didn't seem like a sincere attempt to explain the subject. I must've read it a dozen times to try to glean some meaning from it. I majored in accounting, I prepare my own taxes, so I am not uncomfortable with financial complexities. Suggestion: it would be extremely helpful to include examples with figures ("John is 66. Mary is 62. Blah blah blah...") which tend to be excellent illustrations of the narrative and would allow a comparison of scenarios. Oh well. Back to puzzling on this subject.Update: I need to amend this review, as when the author read it she responded and plans to add examples to the narrative in the book to make the words more clear. I have a sense that she is committed to conveying good information to people about how social security works and helping people develop optimal filing strategies.This book turned out to be a very good jumping-off point for me to gather information relative to my own filing strategy. It was a starting place of information-gathering that helped me develop the questions I needed to think about in order to reason out what will be best for me.

This book states: "If you do not begin collecting benefits at your FRA in order to increase your payment amount and then change your mind before age 70, you could get a bulk payment for the amount you missed between your FRA and the current date." ( Davis, Donna (2015-11-24). The New Retirement Basics: The Quick and Easy Guide to Social Security and Medicare 2016 (Kindle Locations 221-222). . Kindle Edition. ) However, if you go to the Social Security website it clearly states: "...full retirement age claims and survivor claims may be paid for up to six months retroactively." [...] In fact, go out on the web, and the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger and numerous other sources are congruent with the official SSA site. Might it be possible that Dr. Donna Davis is correct, or perhaps she is wrong? Perhaps she is referring to an arcane rule, but how would I know? That's why I purchased her book -- to clear up confusion. The problem is that Dr. Davis' whole section on bulk payments is so scarce in the way of information that it contains only six sentences. To her credit, two of those six sentences touched on some of the pitfalls of using the bulk payment option, albeit only superficially.

BOOK OK RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE WITH LITTLE KNOWLEDGE

This wonderful and easy book has simplified and organized so much information on how social security works and effects you. It spells out the choices you'e entitled to so you can decide what's best for you personally. I love the knowledge it gave me to make right choices when the time comes for me to apply for SS in the near future. A great read for a better financial retirement and future. I gave a copy of the book to a friend for her birthday.Linda Bougas

If you are like me - you just want to enjoy everyday and not be confused by everything you NEED to know out there. Luckily I read this book and it gave me actual answers to all my questions. It's a must read if you just want to be retired - but don't want to miss out on any benefits you are entitled to. Thanks!

I am a Baby Boomer and this book answered all the questions that I and my Baby Boomer friends have started to ask each other in the effort to make wise decisions over the next few years. Clear. Concise. Fantastic. I am going to recommend it to all those Boomer friends so that I don't make any errors in transferring the Information and recommendations!

This is a good basic book that outlines changes for 2016. If you have not researched any of the scenarios, it is a good purchase.

Easy to read, but I think a lot will change after November's Presidential Election.