Many people don’t realize that they are eligible for Social Security divorced spouse benefits so they never end up applying for them. That was the case for a recent participant in my Maximizing Social Security class. After the class, he went through the process of getting his divorced spouse benefits and laid out his experience for you to learn from below. “Derrik, I have just received my first divorced spouse benefit payment and I am thrilled. I credit you for providing the … [Read more...]

One of the biggest challenges that you face in maximizing Social Security is the misconception that Social Security should probably begin once you retire. This is a logical assumption when you think about the income gap you’re going to have once you lose your work income. But here’s the thing…. you can build a bridge between the end of work and the beginning of delayed Social Security benefits. As a reminder, the value of delaying Social Security, especially you as the primary income … [Read more...]

If you've read previous articles that I've written on Social Security, you probably know that I'm a fan of delaying benefits until age 70 (at least for the primary income earner). Ideally if a spouse can delay their own Social Security until age 70, it will provide maximum payments for them and the subsequent surviving spouse. It also reduces investment portfolio withdrawal rates, allowing them to last longer. In conversations that I have with others, I often hear them say that they like … [Read more...]

One of the biggest challenges I face with clients in maximizing Social Security is the misconception that Social Security income should probably begin after work ends. This is a logical assumption when a retiree thinks about the potential income gap they will have once they lose their work income. A new concept for them is the idea that you can build a bridge between the end of work and the beginning of Social Security benefits if they are taken later on. As a reminder, the value of … [Read more...]

Perhaps you’ve heard that millions of Americans have created online accounts with the Social Security Administration called my Social Security accounts. But why do these accounts matter and what can they do for you? Creating a my Social Security account is an important part of planning for your retirement. Your my Social Security account is the only place where you can see personalized estimates of your future benefits based on your actual earnings. The SSA uses your highest 35 years of … [Read more...]