Why Dave Ramsey Thinks Social Security Is a ‘Mess' — And What You Can Do About It
With Social Security facing serious challenges, Dave Ramsey is sounding the alarm.
In a recent blog post on Ramsey Solutions, the personal finance expert didn't hold back, calling the system a 'mess' and urging Americans to take their retirement planning into their own hands. With growing uncertainty around the program's long-term stability, many are left wondering what role Social Security will realistically play in their future.
Be Aware:
Find Out:
Here's why Ramsey believes Social Security is falling short and what experts say you can do to stay ahead.
Social Security was never meant to fully fund retirement. It was designed as a supplement, not a safety net you can live off entirely. But according to a survey conducted by The Senior Citizens League, 27% of seniors have only Social Security benefits as income.
The Social Security Trustees Report projects that the combined Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI) trust funds to be depleted in 2035. If nothing changes, this could result in a 17% benefit cut in 2035.
Ramsey pointed to this looming shortfall as just one sign that the system is in trouble. He argued that the imbalance between the number of workers paying into the system and the number of retirees drawing from it is unsustainable. With people living longer and fewer workers supporting more retirees, the math doesn't add up.
Read Next:
Given these challenges, Ramsey advises individuals to take personal responsibility for their financial futures. He recommends building retirement savings through consistent investing and not relying solely on Social Security.
Robert R. Johnson, Ph.D., CFA, CAIA, professor of finance at Heider College of Business at Creighton University, doesn't agree with everything Ramsey recommends, but agrees on the importance of building retirement savings.
'Planning so that Social Security benefits can be considered the 'dessert' of your retirement spending is very prudent,' Johnson said. 'One certainly wants to err on the side of accumulating more wealth than less when it comes to your retirement nest egg.'
To avoid over-relying on Social Security, here are some strategies to consider.
'The earlier you start saving for retirement, the more time your money has to grow through compound interest,' said Jake Falcon, founder and CEO at Falcon Wealth Advisors.
He suggested contributing regularly to tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans, IRAs or Roth IRAs, as well as a health savings account (HSA), which can be used for medical expenses.
Take advantage of employer matching contributions to your retirement plan.
'This is essentially free money that can significantly boost your savings,' Falcon explained. 'I can't stress this enough: If your employer offers a benefit this lucrative, you almost can't afford not to take it.'
A diversified investment portfolio can help you better manage risk and provide more stable returns over time.
'Consider a mix of stocks, bonds, real estate and other assets to mitigate risk,' Falcon explained. 'Most importantly, you want to make sure your investments are lined up with your financial plan.'
Consider adding additional sources of income, such as rental properties, dividends from investments or part-time work in retirement.
'Many retirees are still earning some sort of wage. It can be a great to stay active, as well,' Falcon added.
Healthcare costs can be a significant expense in retirement.
'Consider what your plan for long-term care is and leverage health savings accounts to cover potential medical costs,' Falcon said.
'Life circumstances and financial markets change, so it's important to review your retirement plan regularly and make adjustments as needed,' Falcon explained. 'I would not make adjustments based on market fluctuations — instead, adjust your plan when your life changes.'
More From GOBankingRates
6 Used Luxury SUVs That Are a Good Investment for Retirees
7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth
7 Overpriced Grocery Items Frugal People Should Quit Buying in 2025
How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State?
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Why Dave Ramsey Thinks Social Security Is a 'Mess' — And What You Can Do About It
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
25 minutes ago
- Axios
President promotes "Trump accounts" for newborns as part of "big beautiful bill"
Infants may soon be the newest stock market investors if President Trump gets his way. Why it matters: The president Monday gathered a roomful of high-profile CEOs to tout his proposal to place $1,000 into an investment account for every U.S. baby. The program would deliver a one-time $1,000 government contribution for every U.S. citizen born between Jan. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2028. The accounts would be privately held, tax deferred, and set up to track a U.S. stock index fund. They would be open to additional private contributions from sources including families, employers and religious institutions. The big picture: The so-called "Trump accounts" proposal is part of the president's " One Big Beautiful Bill." The White House says it would help newborns start their lives on the right track. "This is a pro-family initiative that will help millions of Americans harness the strength of our economy, to lift up the next generation and they'll really be getting a big jump on life, especially if we get a little bit lucky with some of the numbers," Trump said at the roundtable. Inside the room: Supporters in attendance at the White House roundtable Monday included Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, Dell CEO Michael Dell, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. By the numbers: The power of compounding interest varies considerably based on when you started invested. For example, $1,000 invested in the S&P 500 five decades ago would be worth nearly $350,000 today, according to Bespoke Investment Group. But $1,000 invested in August 2000 after the Dot Com bubble burst would be worth only $6,200 today.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Inflation Cools, Jobs Steady--Is This the Market Rebound Investors Have Been Waiting For?
Consumer anxiety about rising prices may finally be easingand the timing could matter. According to fresh data from the New York Fed, Americans now see inflation coming in lower than they did just a month ago. Median year-ahead expectations dropped to 3.2% in May, down from 3.6% in April. Three- and five-year views also edged lower, now sitting at 3.0% and 2.6%, respectively. The shift follows a temporary de-escalation in trade tensions, with President Trump agreeing to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports. That announcement, while short-term, may have helped reverse the negative consumer sentiment that had been building since early this year. The job picture isn't boomingbut it might be stabilizing. Americans' perceived risk of losing their job over the next year ticked slightly lower, and more people say they feel confident enough to quit voluntarily. That's typically a positive signal for labor markets. At the same time, the share of households saying they expect to be financially worse off in a year has shrunk, and fewer respondents report difficulty accessing credit. Perhaps more telling: the average probability of missing a loan payment has dropped to its lowest point since Januaryhinting at some relief from financial stress, even as parts of the economy remain under pressure. This shift in sentiment may be influencing how people see the market. More consumers now expect the U.S. stock market to be higher a year from now. That optimism, combined with cooler inflation expectations and fewer job fears, could support short-term risk appetite heading into the summer. The Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep rates on pause at its upcoming June 1718 meeting, giving markets more room to digest the macro shifts. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and other high-beta names might see increased investor interest if this rebound in consumer confidence translates into steadier flows into equities. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
USA Today
30 minutes ago
- USA Today
Musk tries to get back into Trump's good graces, one X post at a time
Musk tries to get back into Trump's good graces, one X post at a time Show Caption Hide Caption Six takeaways from the President Donald Trump, Elon Musk feud From disappointment to threats, here are six takeaways from the public spat between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. In the aftermath of a public standoff last week with the president, the richest man in the world is trying to reposition himself and work his way back into Donald Trump's good graces. Billionaire Elon Musk, in a series of re-shares and posts on X over the weekend, expressed support for Trump's actions supporting ICE raids in Los Angeles and the president's attempts to squelch protests by deploying the National Guard. That was in stark contrast to his vocal online criticism of the president that went from professional to personal in a matter of days. Not long after the president's laudatory Oval Office send-off for Musk on May 30, the first buddy-turned-nemesis dueled with his former boss in a spectacular public spat on social media. Musk criticized the president's so-called 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' a tax and policy package making its way through Congress, calling it a "disgusting abomination' that would burden Americans with "crushing debt" and agreeing with a post that called for Trump's impeachment. Then Musk went nuclear. "Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files," he wrote on X on June 5 to his more than 220 million followers. "That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" That Trump had crossed paths with Epstein, a disgraced financier who died while in jail awaiting prosecution on sex trafficking charges, has been public knowledge for years. In 2019, Trump said he'd had a 'falling out' with Epstein, whom he described as a 'Palm Beach fixture,' in the mid-2000s. Now, two days after he'd dropped the bomb, the mercurial billionaire appears to be rethinking those allegations. In less than 48 hours, Musk deleted the Epstein post on X. Then, over the weekend, Musk's reshared post calling for Trump's impeachment disappeared. Instead, Musk highlighted Trump's Truth Social post criticizing California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for failing to rein in unruly immigration protests in Los Angeles following ICE raids. "Governor Gavin Newscum and Mayor Bass should apologize to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job that they have done, and this now includes the ongoing LA riots,' wrote Trump. 'These are not protesters; they are troublemakers and insurrectionists. Remember, No Masks!" While Musk has differences with Trump about the spending bill, he has consistently supported Trump's aggressive push to deport undocumented immigrants. Hours after Trump's controversial decision to deploy California National Guard troops t respond to anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, Musk posted an image of a man in face paint standing on top of a burning car waving a Mexican flag. 'This is not ok,' Musk said in his post on X. He also reposted Vice President JD Vance's post sharing Trump's Truth Social post saying the "president will not tolerate rioting and violence." The reason for Musk's shift in tone is not clear, although he seemed to voice some regret hours after the big social media fight, after mutual friends of Musk and the president, including hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman and rapper Kanye West, urged the duo to make peace. "I support @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk and they should make peace for the benefit of our great country. We are much stronger together than apart," wrote Ackman. Musk responded with a simple: "You're not wrong." Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal.
