Broadly speaking, the older you are, the less exposure to the stock market you're supposed to take on. When you need safety and certainty, more reliable investments like interest-bearing bonds and even higher-yielding cash balances are prioritized. And understandably so.

The 2025 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) came in at just 2.5%. That's well under the 3.2% retirees got last year and far less than what many were hoping for. The high inflation over the last few years has made it difficult for retirees to afford their basic expenses,

Over 70 million Americans will see a 2.5% boost in Social Security benefits next year. Here's how to qualify for the maximum payout of $5,108.