Spousal Social Security Benefits: 3 Things Retired Couples Need to Know in 2026
Social Security spousal benefits are a common source of confusion. Nationwide Retirement Institute’s 2026 Social Security Survey revealed the following:
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48% of adults incorrectly marked this statement as false: If you are married, you are eligible to receive a portion of your spouse’s Social Security benefit.
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52% of adults incorrectly marked this statement as false: If you are divorced,
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Read MoreWhat is the earliest age to collect Social Security retirement benefits? Eligibility requirements for retirees
The Social Security Administration sends out over 76 million payments to Americans each month. The vast majority of those go to retired workers who on average receive almost $2,089 per month as of September 2026.
In order to receive your full Social Security benefit,
Read MoreBuy These 3 Balanced Mutual Funds for Higher Returns
Investors interested in maintaining exposure to both equity and fixed-income securities may consider betting on balanced mutual funds. These mutual funds are believed to provide higher returns than pure fixed-income investments while maintaining low volatility.
The proportion of equity and fixed-income investments in these funds may also vary in response to market conditions.
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Read MoreWarren Buffett's Bluntest Warning Yet — and 3 Stocks Built to Survive It
Warren Buffett has delivered warnings to Wall Street in recent years as the S&P 500 soared to new highs. In some cases, the warning came in the form of an increasing cash pile. For more than a dozen quarters, Buffett, at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway, was a net seller of stocks.
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Read MoreOil Stocks Rally as WTI Crude Price Tops $103: Devon Energy and Diamondback Energy Gain 5%, Occidental Petroleum Rises 3%
WTI crude crossing $103 has Permian producers sprinting past a slumping broader market, but the real question is whether Middle East tensions can keep oil in triple digits long enough to matter for Devon, Diamondback, and Occidental shareholders.
A fresh climb in crude is pushing Permian oil producers well ahead of the rest of the stock market.
The Burst
Market Commentary: When Will The Market Crash 43%?
Want to hear something crazy? The stock market may be really bad at predicting the future. It’s widely believed that the market is good at anticipating future events but data shows it might actually be very, very bad at doing so when interest rates are hiked. Here’s the skinny.
Read MoreThe Ivy
1 ETF That Will Pay You Monthly
If you want to get paid monthly, you’ll probably struggle to find ways in the stock market. While real estate offers a straightforward path to collecting rent checks monthly, dividend investing is generally limited to paying shareholders on a quarterly schedule.
Some rare exceptions do exist, such as Realty Income, which is known as The Monthly Dividend Company.
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