Purepoint Savings up to 2.15%

PurePoint national rate up to 1.75%. I was already getting that via a regional (TX) offer; regional rate remains 1.75%

@jtownsucks46 said in Best Nationally Available High APY Liquid Accounts:

Any indication why they do this? Don’t see anything on the website.

It is on their website. In the lower half of the front page you see “Find Financial Center locations and see local offers” and a field to enter your zip code. I suspect they are trying to market / increase awareness of their financial centers. When I called to get the higher rate, I was asked a half dozen marketing-type questions, why am I saving, etc.

It looks like they have financial centers (and the higher savings rate) in TX, NY, IL, and FL.

I can verify that PurePoint offers 1.75% savings in any state that has one of their financial centers. I called last week and they updated my acct with the higher rate within a few hours. (TX)

@redmed I use IRS free fillable forms. Form 1040 and the various schedules are up and running, but they posted that Form 8606 will not be available there for online filing until 2/8/18.

As you say, the 8606 is on the main IRS website for downloading, but the online filing version is not up yet.

When Yahoo trashed their portfolio, I set up a spreadsheet in my Google Drive to pull in current quote, day change, etc. Google offers various functions such as: =GOOGLEFINANCE(“AAPL”,“price”). List of all functions here: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/3093281?hl=en

I have found that it’s not always 100% reliable, e.g., the date function is a day off, some quotes are off a penny or two, etc.

@redmed said in Social Security Restriced Application:

Did you read that in a government publication?

No, but there is a lot of research available online about this issue. Google “social security benefits actuarially equivalent” and you’ll get lots of hits. Here’s a pertinent one:

“Social Security benefits are designed to be actuarially equivalent for someone with average mortality. Theoretically, it should not make a difference when an individual starts collecting benefits. However, external factors may affect the actual amount of benefits received. These factors include (1) inflation as measured by annual cost-of-living increases, (2) the time value of money of taking benefits early and investing that amount, and (3) taxes.”

When to Start Collecting Social Security Benefits: A Break-Even Analysis

@uncamikey I’ll attempt to answer my own question here. Looking at old SS statements and such, it appears that the spousal survivor benefit numbers assume both spouses claiming at FRA. SS does not adjust this number for delaying SS past FRA.

I think this explains it, but only SS knows for sure. I may have to call them sometime.

@gwraigty I get a headache every time I look into SS rules and regulations.

I am past FRA but am waiting until 70 to take SS. My wife is younger than I am so should receive the benefit of my delay.

This seemed clear enough until I looked at my most recent SS statement. On p.2, the top line gives my SS payment if I claimed right now. Further down that section, under “Survivors”, it gives my spouse’s benefit if she waits until FRA. That spousal benefit is about 15% less than my current payment. Any idea why?

@gwraigty said in Social Security Restriced Application:

Just so you know, the maximum spousal benefit your wife will get is half of the benefit you’d get at your FRA of 66. Delaying to 70 will still benefit you, but it won’t increase her spousal benefit beyond that.

“The maximum benefit for the spouse is 50% of the benefit the worker would receive at full retirement age.”

https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/agereduction.html

This only applies if the spouse is still alive, no? My understanding is that a surviving widow is entitled to her deceased spouse’s full benefit, even the higher amount if husband waited until 70.