Blog
Social Security optimization insights, industry news, and expert analysis.
The part of your income a carrier can't change
42 CFR 422.2274 caps carrier pay but guarantees none. Here's the part of a broker's income no carrier can touch: Social Security planning for clients.
SSAnalyzer Still Exists. Open Access Has Narrowed.
SSAnalyzer still exists, and open access appears to have narrowed. What that means for RIAs, and what to look for in an independent Social Security tool.
Withdrawal Sequencing, Roth Conversions, and Claiming Are One Decision
Withdrawal sequencing, Roth conversions, and Social Security claiming all move one variable — MAGI. Plan them as one decision, not three.
The Earned Income Test Is a Tax Surprise, Not a Rule of Thumb
Claim Social Security before FRA and keep earning, and the SSA withholds benefits in whole-month chunks. Who gets caught, and the cleaner planning move.
Zero Years Are Quietly Shrinking Your Business Owner's Benefit
Social Security averages your highest 35 years. Distribution-heavy business owners rack up zero years that drag the benefit down — fixable with runway.
The Widow's Gap: A Plan Has to Survive the First Death
On the first death the smaller Social Security check ends and filing status shifts to single — the survivor gap most affluent plans miss.
The IRMAA Cliff Your Retirement Plan Ignores
IRMAA is a cliff, not a premium, and its two-year lookback derails Roth conversions. Where it meets Social Security claiming, plus the SSA-44 appeal.
HNW Wednesdays: Smart Social Security for Affluent Households
An 8-part series on where default Social Security thinking costs affluent households — and what advisors should do instead.
Your Client's Breakeven Isn't 80. It's 88.
Standard Social Security breakeven lands at 80. Bake in returns, taxes, and real mortality, and it's closer to 88.