May 11 2023 8:30AM

Survivorship Disability, Retirement and Medicare Planning Using Social Security and Related Insurance Products

The purpose of this session will be to increase the knowledge base of planners by understanding the value of Social Security programs and services. Promote the use of the Social Security Statement as a financial planning tool, ensuring planners are current on SSA changes & rules and having greater awareness of existing tools and resources available to them and the public. An overview of the SSA Website will be one of the highlights to engage the attendees.

Goal 1 Educate and engage planners to share the benefits of the redesigned Statement. This allows for promotion of the advantages of accessing the Statement online, instant access anytime, anywhere including the ability to review earnings records.

Goal 2 Inform planners on Changes to Social Security Claiming Strategies: Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. This act changed a significant and previously widely used claiming strategy for married couples. The law change closed this loophole thus altering the landscape for individuals looking for one way to maximize their benefits.

Goal 3 Understand how to navigate Social Security and connecting the planner and client to what SSA offers including using media, electronic services and public information/education events. SSA continues to be more in the forefront with aging populations and the workforce. This should include reviews of earnings records, estimated future benefits, annual review of financial and retirement planning. Additionally, this promotion should start in the early stages of an individual’s work history.