As the Social Security trust funds inch toward a historic fiscal cliff, policymakers are scrambling to identify a path toward long-term solvency. In a recent op-ed for The New York Times, Senators Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) proposed a high-profile solution: "saving" Social Security by lifting the cap on earnings subject to the…
Illinois has long been a laboratory for ambitious fiscal policy, but the state’s latest foray into digital taxation—a levy on social media platforms—appears to have bypassed the typical laboratory rigors of peer review and legislative scrutiny. Embedded quietly within the state’s massive new budget bill, the tax is being widely criticized not merely as a…
For generations of Americans, the arrival of the monthly Social Security check in the mailbox has been a symbol of stability—a tangible, reliable tether to the financial security promised after a lifetime of labor. However, that era is coming to an abrupt end. In a sweeping administrative pivot, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has been…
Mixing personal relationships with professional financial management is a classic dilemma that frequently leads to an uncomfortable impasse. We are often told to "network" and lean on our social circles for recommendations, but what happens when the financial adviser you hired—who happens to be a close friend or a fixture at your weekend gatherings—fails to…
Illinois has long been known for its aggressive fiscal policies, but the state’s latest legislative maneuver—a tax on social media platforms—has set a new standard for regulatory uncertainty. Embedded deep within the state’s latest budget bill, this levy represents an attempt to extract revenue from the digital economy. However, as legal scholars, tax experts, and…
