Things To Do In SW Florida

Q: I am 67 and have not applied for my Social Security benefit yet. My wife applied for her benefit at age 70. I am not sure that waiting until 70 is best for me and my wife. I want to make sure that waiting until 70 is best, taking into consideration my benefit and potential spousal and survivor benefits.

A. Good question. First, let’s review the increase in benefit you are entitled to if you wait until age 70 to file. After you reach your full retirement age (FRA), you can postpone filing for your Social Security benefit until age 70. You can change your mind any time you choose, from your FRA to age 70. By postponing applying for your benefit, you are increasing the amount by 8% per year until age 70. There is no advantage in postponing applying after 70.

If you are healthy and expect a long life, then postponing your benefit can be a good choice. Basically, when you make the decision to postpone applying for a benefit, you are making the assumption that the additional income you will receive after 70, will outweigh the income you could have received if you applied for your benefit at your FRA. read more

Chapter 7

Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include:

CDC Home Services LLC, 14855 Cableshire Way, Orlando. Filed: Aug. 18. Assets: $660. Liabilities: $377,252. Major creditors: Carlene B. Harris, Orlando, $230,593; United Midwest Savings Bank, Columbus, Ohio, $121,909; Chase Card Services, Wilmington, Del., $12,647. Creditors meeting: Oct. 2.

Chapter 11

Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for reorganization and protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include:

Florida Eco Electric LLC also known as Kenkay Solar, 1495 S. Volusia Ave., Suite 201, Orange City. Filed: Aug. 11. Assets: $590,764. Liabilities: $370,624. Major creditors: Level Construction & Roofing LLC doing business as Level Roofing & Solar, Winter Garden, $110,000; PNC Bank, Pittsburgh, $46,000; Consolidated Electrical Distributors Inc. doing business as Greentech Renewables, Orlando, $37,703. Creditors meeting: Sept. 15. read more

By BARBARA ORTUTAY

Online age checks are on the rise in the U.S. and elsewhere, asking people for IDs or face scans to prove they are over 18 or 21 or even 13. To proponents, they’re a tool to keep children away from adult websites and other material that might be harmful to them.

But opponents see a worrisome trend toward a less secure, less private and less free internet, where people can be denied access not just to pornography but news, health information and the ability to speak openly and anonymously.

“I think that many of these laws come from a place of good intentions,” said Jennifer Huddleston, a senior technology policy fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. “Certainly we all want to protect young people from harmful content before they’re ready to see it.”

More than 20 states have passed some kind of age verification law, though many face legal challenges. While no such law exists on the federal level in the United States, the Supreme Court recently allowed a Mississippi age check law for social media to stand. In June, the court upheld a Texas law aimed at preventing minors from watching pornography online, ruling that adults don’t have a First Amendment right to access obscene speech without first proving their age. read more

By Erin El Issa, NerdWallet

The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.

Generation Z is the youngest adult generation in the U.S. today, giving Gen Zers (ages 18-28) ample time to get financially prepared for retirement. But for many, it doesn’t appear to be a priority, at least not yet.

Fewer than 1 in 5 Gen Zers (18%) say they’ve contributed to a retirement account in 2025, according to NerdWallet’s Financial Goals Midyear Check-In Report. This could be attributed to several factors — like a lack of urgency, know-how or extra funds to get started.

But another NerdWallet survey on retirement, conducted online by The Harris Poll, suggests that many Gen Zers may not think they’ll even need retirement savings, and some have trepidation about the U.S. stock market. If this is you, here are a few things to know and tips to get started saving so you can eventually stop working, even if it seems too far away to worry about. read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has sued the Trump administration in an effort to overturn the president’s attempt to fire her, launching an unprecedented legal battle that could significantly reshape the Fed’s longstanding political independence.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to block her firing and “confirm her status” as a member of the Fed’s governing board.

The case could become a turning point for the 112-year old Federal Reserve, which was designed by Congress to be insulated from day-to-day political influence. Economists prefer independent central banks because they can more easily take unpopular measures, such as lifting interest rates to combat inflation, than elected officials can.

Many economists worry that if the Fed falls under the control of the White House, it will keep its key interest rate lower than justified by economic fundamentals to satisfy Trump’s demands. That could allow inflation to rise more quickly and could also push up longer-term interest rates, such as those on mortgages and car loans. Investors may demand a higher yield to own bonds to offset greater inflation in the future, pushing up borrowing costs throughout the economy. read more