It seems closer an investor is to retirement, more likely he/she will include social security benefits into analysis. Younger investors, however, may feel compelled to omit such benefits. They must then become mavericks on retirement front. The choice is yours, but before you decide influence of social security on your future, remember following points:

When Franklin D. Roosevelt signed social security act in 1935, he stated that social security gives some protection to American families. One reoccurring theme of his statement focused on assistance, not 100% protection. In President’s words, “the law will flatten out peaks and valleys of deflation and of inflation (source: www.ssa.gov).”

For many, Social Security Administration has raised age of full retirement from 65 to adopt a more stringent schedule. This may be an addition of a couple of months or a couple of years. The administration justifies increases due to longer life expectancies and general healthier life styles.

Rambling editorials opined about American votes for incumbent on Op-Ed pages with wambling- antidotes after U.S. Presidential election. Characteristic rhetoric flourished as electors fulfilled their collegiate task. On November 3rd, opposition seceded race to incumbent. Although both parties seem inured to exit opinions/polls, electorate is not. Finally, nearly two years of battling leaves one political party with a depleted treasury and an uncertain platform while other presumes a mandate.

Does any of this matter to securities markets? On short-term, it did as observed by Bloomberg's Dune Lawrence, "U.S. stocks benefited from "election cycle" last week, when Standard & Poor's 500 Index climbed to its highest level since March 2002. If history is any guide, rally may not last for long," for example, bond market does not like deficit outlook.