by Steve Vernon, FSA

Social Security isn't in financial trouble, at least not under the current laws that govern the retirement program. That's the unequivocal answer to the headline question from Steve Goss, chief actuary for the Social Security Administration, who spoke recently about Social Security's funding challenges at the annual meeting of the Society of Actuaries in San Diego. I attended this meeting and wrote four posts about the presentations that help us understand the nature and importance of the Social Security program.

My first post on this topic explains why predictions that this federal program is in danger of going broke are greatly exaggarrated. That's not to say the program doesn't have challenges, and my second post discusses the real reasons for Social Security's funding problems. My third post examines the true nature of your benefit entitlements -- you might be surprised to learn about your right to Social Security benefits and exactly how they're funded. My final post discusses intergenerational equity -- who will pay for past retirement promises?

Please keep reading for this month's selection of helpful blog posts and articles. Please note: CBS MoneyWatch recently upgraded its website, and it's possible a few of the links are temporarily inactive. If you're interested in a particular article, please try again in a day or two. 

When it comes to retirement planning, the biggest mistake you can make is doing nothing. Not spending any time learning how much retirement income you might receive from Social Security. Not determining how much you should save to make your retirement years comfortable. Not learning how to invest to make your savings grow. Not discovering how to turn your retirement savings into reliable retirement income. Read here to learn about the possible consequences of making this mistake and how you can avoid it.

How to save on prescription drugs under Medicare        

It's open enrollment season for retirees who participate in Medicare, and my two-part series offers pointers for managing your prescription drug costs.  My first post provides some background on the basics regarding prescription drugs, while my second post offers ideas for saving money by examining the specific drugs you take and how they might be covered under different prescription drug plans.

Take a look at fellow CBS MoneyWatch blogger Larry Swedroe's third quarterly review of the eight "sure" financial predictions he identified at the start of the year. Keep in mind that if they were really sure things, all (or at least most of them) should have come true. Read here to learn the score.

How to navigate benefits if you're working past age 65   

It's no secret that Americans are working longer. But some are working well past traditional retirement age: The fastest-growing segment of the labor force is workers over age 65, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and that growth is especially pronounced among workers over age 70.

Working longer can certainly boost the odds of a successful retirement plan through higher Social Security income  and retirement account contributions, and fewer total years of dependence on portfolio accumulations. But working well past traditional retirement age does present some complications. Learn some helpful tips to navigate the system in this post from Mark Miller of retirementrevised.com.

When other investors are caught up in the hype or lowering their guard, that's the time to stay disciplined. Read here for some timely investing tips from Larry Swedroe.