Social Security Strategies

Overview

At a time when many individuals are living well into their 80s and 90s and traditional pensions have largely disappeared, Social Security has become an important component of most retirees' overall financial plans. More than ever, it is critically important that producers and advisors understand Social Security benefits and how to maximize those benefits for their clients.

This course covers Social Security, focusing on claiming strategies and how to make the most of the available benefits. Accordingly, the course provides numerous examples to illustrate the more complicated principles and strategies and clarify how the rules can be applied to a client's benefit.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • explain how Social Security retirement benefits are calculated
  • demonstrate understanding of the effect that claiming benefits early, at full retirement age, and beyond full retirement age has on the benefit amount
  • explain how immediate income needs, the availability of other assets, risk tolerance, longevity, health, marital status, and continued work may affect the Social Security claiming decision
  • explain how a spousal benefit is calculated and interacts with a working spouse's benefit
  • describe the different claiming strategies that married couples and survivors can use to maximize their benefits
  • explain how Social Security benefits are taxed once income exceeds certain threshold levels

Designed For

Life and health insurance producers; financial advisors and planners


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Regulator

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