Archive: Alicia H. Munnell

Older woman working at a desk looking at a cellphone

Social Security was originally intended for retirement. Many older people, however, report receiving both wages and Social Security benefits.  That pattern is surprising given the enormous advantage of claiming as late as possible – monthly benefits claimed at age 70 are 76 percent higher than those claimed at 62 – and the fact that t…

Side view of a young couple looking at window display at real estate office

Without homeownership, it’s hard to save. When thinking about the future of Social Security, one concern should be whether future cohorts will have comparable assets to people retiring today.  Today, a major component of the typical retired household’s portfolio is their home.  In fact, the house is the major asset for most families.  But today…