What is the maximum Social Security benefit?
Your maximum Social Security benefit depends highly on the age you file.
3 min read
Oct 14, 2024
James Royal, Ph.D.
Principal writer, Investing and wealth management
EXPERTISE
- Investing
- Wealth management
- Behavioral finance
- Stock analysis
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Science in management, University of Florida
- Master of Arts in English, University of Florida
- Doctorate in English, University of Florida
Our goal is to get wiser every day and avoid the mistakes of the past.
— James Royal, Ph.D.
About the author
Bankrate principal writer and editor James F. Royal, Ph.D. covers investing and wealth management. His work has been cited across major media, including CNBC, the Washington Post, The New York Times and the Associated Press. Royal believes in the power of education to help individuals make smart financial decisions that can positively and significantly improve their lives.
Experience
James is the author of The Zen of Thrift Conversions. He’s a veteran writer and stock analyst with a history of working in the financial-services industry, including at the Motley Fool and Bankrate.
Education
Royal has a bachelor’s degree in management as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in English earned at the University of Florida.
Media mentions
CNBC
Yahoo Finance
Reuters
Cheddar TV
Forbes
Barron’s
Our goal is to get wiser every day and avoid the mistakes of the past.
— James Royal, Ph.D.
James's latest articles
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Best fixed annuity rates for October 2024
Here are the best annuity rates based on recently available data.
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How Social Security benefits are calculated
Find out how your Social Security benefits are calculated for your retirement.
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How to invest in bonds
Bonds bring income and diversification to a portfolio, typically with less risk than stocks.
11 min read Oct 10, 2024 -
Are your lost bitcoins gone forever? Here’s how you might be able to recover them
Traders who have lost access to their digital currencies may have the ability to recover them.
6 min read Oct 10, 2024 -
What is the average Social Security check?
Find out how much your Social Security payments could grow over time.
3 min read Oct 10, 2024 -
What is a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)?
For people living on a fixed income, the COLA is a critical safety net.
3 min read Oct 10, 2024 -
Stock market outlook for the next 12 months: Here’s what top analysts are predicting into 2025
Analysts preferred U.S. stocks over global ones, and value stocks over growth stocks.
6 min read Oct 10, 2024
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9 biggest 401(k) mistakes to avoid
Don’t make these errors when using a 401(k) to save for retirement.
5 min read Nov 20, 2024 -
Stock market holidays in 2024: US markets are closed on these days
When is the stock market closed? Here’s a list of days when the major exchanges observe holidays.
1 min read Nov 11, 2024 -
What is the Dow Jones Industrial Average?
These companies make up the popular Dow Jones Industrial Average.
3 min read Nov 04, 2024 -
Elon Musk in 2024: What to know about the world’s richest person
Learn which investments helped make Elon Musk the richest person in the world.
8 min read Nov 04, 2024 -
What to do if your Social Security payment is late
Is your Social Security check late? Here’s what to do.
2 min read Oct 29, 2024 -
Best time of the year to retire for tax purposes
When you retire can potentially have a big impact on your retirement income and the taxes you owe.
4 min read Oct 24, 2024 -
Warren Buffett: Top investing lessons and advice from Berkshire’s legendary CEO
Here’s what else you should know about Warren Buffett, his investment approach and largest holdings.
8 min read Oct 22, 2024 -
What is Bitcoin mining and how does it work?
Here are the basics on how Bitcoin mining works and some key risks to be aware of.
5 min read Oct 21, 2024