New changes in Social Security policies, particularly the elimination of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), may have significant implications for roughly 3 million Americans. Teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and other public-sector workers who previously saw their Social Security benefits slashed may now receive the full benefits they’ve earned. This shift is reshaping retirement planning for many Americans, making it more critical than ever to have a solid financial strategy and for couples to be on the same page to help avoid future stress and regret.

On today’s episode, Wes is joined again by Christa DiBiase, the COO of Clark Howard, Inc. By answering listener questions and sharing informed analysis, Wes points out the essential distinctions between fiduciaries vs. non-fiduciary advisors, reminds listeners about diversifying portfolios into broad market indices to help to minimize risk, and explains how a money market account is typically a higher-yield alternative to a standard low-interest savings account. Finally, he examines the power of starting to save for retirement at any age, even in your 50s, emphasizing that consistent saving and wise investing can lead to more financial flexibility than many might think.

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