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A spouse can receive up to 50% of the higher earner's benefit at Full Retirement Age, even if they never worked. You must be married for at least 1 year. If you claim spousal benefits early (before...
Read moreYes, but there's an earnings test. In 2025, if you're under FRA, Social Security withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above $22,320. In the year you reach FRA, it's $1 for every $3 above $59,520 unti...
Read morePossibly. If your combined income (AGI + nontaxable interest + half of Social Security) exceeds $25,000 (single) or $32,000 (married filing jointly), up to 85% of benefits become taxable. This does...
Read moreBenefits are based on your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) from your highest 35 years of earnings. The Social Security Administration applies bend points to your AIME: 90% of the first $1,2...
Read moreYour PIA is your base Social Security benefit at Full Retirement Age (FRA). It's calculated using: Your highest 35 years of earnings (adjusted for inflation), Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME...
Read moreYour FRA depends on birth year: Born 1943-1954: Age 66 | Born 1955: Age 66 + 2 months | Born 1956: Age 66 + 4 months | Born 1957: Age 66 + 6 months | Born 1958: Age 66 + 8 months | Born 1959: Age 6...
Read moreClaiming Early (age 62): Permanent reduction of ~30% (if FRA is 67), more years of benefits but smaller checks, break-even typically around age 78-80. Delaying (to age 70): Permanent increase of ~2...
Read moreAvoid claiming Social Security at 62 without knowing it reduces benefits by 30%. Check your earnings record for errors, consider spousal benefits, and be aware that working while claiming early can...
Read moreMost startup cost calculators are free and available online. This allows you to plan your budget without any financial commitment.
Read moreStartup runway is the amount of time your company can continue operating before running out of cash, based on your current burn rate. It's typically measured in months and calculated by dividing yo...
Read moreBurn rate is calculated by subtracting your monthly revenue from your monthly expenses. There are two types: gross burn rate (total monthly expenses regardless of revenue) and net burn rate (expens...
Read moreMost investors and advisors recommend maintaining at least 12-18 months of runway at all times. This gives you enough time to execute your business plan, hit key milestones, and raise your next fun...
Read moreThere are several strategies to extend runway: 1) Increase revenue through sales acceleration, price increases, or new revenue streams. 2) Reduce burn rate by cutting non-essential expenses, renego...
Read moreStart fundraising when you have 12-15 months of runway remaining. This timing is crucial because: 1) Fundraising takes 6-9 months on average from first pitch to money in the bank. 2) You want to ra...
Read moreCommon mistakes include: 1) Forgetting to include all expenses like taxes, insurance, legal fees, and one-time costs. 2) Being overly optimistic about revenue projections - use conservative estimat...
Read moreYes, absolutely include founder salaries in your burn rate calculations, even if founders are currently working for reduced pay or equity-only. Here's why: 1) It gives an accurate picture of your t...
Read moreShort-term capital gains apply to stocks held for one year or less and are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate (10-37%). Long-term capital gains apply to stocks held over one year and are taxed ...
Read moreThe wash sale rule prevents you from claiming a tax loss if you buy the same or substantially identical security within 30 days before or after selling at a loss. For example, if you sell Stock XYZ...
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