Financial Hour: Year End Bonus / Social Security

Listener Question #1:

Brad, Cedar Rapids: I recently got my year-end bonus ($4,000) and am not sure what to do with it. I currently have about 3-4 months worth of saving in my emergency fund, and it has been my goal for some time to get up to $10,000 in my savings account. However, I have about $15,000 left to pay on my car loan, which has a 6.99% interest rate. What are your thoughts?

Listener Question #2:

Matt, Cedar Rapids: I am planning to stop working a year or two before I start collecting Social Security, will have years with zero (or very little) earnings decrease my Social Security check?

Plus a discussion on Risk & Return.