Though many clients see Social Security as a government benefit, it is a covered worker's investment asset to be managed like any other asset. Examine issues like how Social Security benefits are calculated, identifying benefit-claiming strategies, and what spouses can do now to maximize benefits at retirement. You'll learn how Social Security works and explore common planning situations?including workers with and without spouses, sandwich-generation families with dependent parents and minor children, and surviving and/or divorced spouses?and techniques to maximize your clients' benefits.
            
                            
                    
                        
                        
Learning Objectives
                    
                    
                        •  Determine how Social Security works, how benefits are calculated, who are beneficiaries, and techniques to maximize your clients' benefits 
•  Recognize the language and forms of the Social Security Administration 
•  Outline the earnings test and other drawbacks to drawing benefits early and how to plan around them 
•  Determine which planning products to use to calculate the best strategy for your clients
                    
                 
            
                            
                    
                        
                        
Major Topics
                    
                    
                        •  Social Security planning, benefit calculation, and beneficiaries 
•  Recent changes to "file and suspend" and "restricted application" strategies 
•  Increasing benefits for self-employed individuals 
•  Planning for surviving spouses 
•  Integrating retirement plan distribution strategies with Social Security claiming strategies 
•  Coordinating drawing Social Security benefits with the start of Medicare benefits, including a discussion of IRMAA