Social Security decisions can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to understand spousal and survivor benefits. 

What benefits are you entitled to based on your spouse’s record? When should you claim them?

In this Q&A episode, I address two common Social Security questions that women face. I walk through the step-by-step process for determining spousal benefits for married couples and explore the strategic decisions widows face when choosing between their own retirement benefit and survivor benefits. I also share practical guidance for a recent widow navigating cash flow challenges, work decisions, and benefit timing in the early months after loss.

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Major life transitions can leave you feeling lost and uncertain about your financial future.

How do you move forward when everything feels overwhelming? What questions should you even be asking when you’re navigating divorce, widowhood, or any significant financial change?

In this episode, I sit down with Tony Steuer, Author and Host of The Get Ready Podcast. Tony shares his perspective on why so many people freeze when facing financial decisions and how reframing your relationship with money, treating it like learning a new language, can transform confusion into confidence. We discuss practical steps for getting organized, recognizing red flags in advice you receive, and giving yourself permission to ask for help without shame.

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About our Guest: 

Tony Steuer, CLU, LA, CPFFE, is an internationally recognized financial preparedness advocate, award-winning author, podcaster and fintech advisor who is changing the way we think about money. Tony is the host of The Get Ready Money Podcast. Tony developed the Get Ready Movement to empower and educate people on all areas of personal finance. He is an Advisor at Insurance Nerds and Dingo Technologies, an expert content reviewer for Nerdwallet and Bankrate as well as a member of The Forbes Advisor Insurance Advisory Board. Tony is a five-time recipient of the Excellence in Financial Literacy Education Award as well as a member of the ThinkAdvisor’s LUMINARIES Class of 2022 as a Finalist in Thought Leadership & Education. Tony served as a long-term member of the California Insurance Department Curriculum Board.

Major life transitions can leave you feeling lost and uncertain about your financial future.

How do you move forward when everything feels overwhelming? What questions should you even be asking when you’re navigating divorce, widowhood, or any significant financial change?

In this episode, I sit down with Tony Steuer, Author and Host of The Get Ready Podcast. Tony shares his perspective on why so many people freeze when facing financial decisions and how reframing your relationship with money, treating it like learning a new language, can transform confusion into confidence. We discuss practical steps for getting organized, recognizing red flags in advice you receive, and giving yourself permission to ask for help without shame.

Key Insights:

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake: 

Connect with Tony Steuer: 

About our Guest: 

Tony Steuer, CLU, LA, CPFFE, is an internationally recognized financial preparedness advocate, award-winning author, podcaster and fintech advisor who is changing the way we think about money. Tony is the host of The Get Ready Money Podcast. Tony developed the Get Ready Movement to empower and educate people on all areas of personal finance. He is an Advisor at Insurance Nerds and Dingo Technologies, an expert content reviewer for Nerdwallet and Bankrate as well as a member of The Forbes Advisor Insurance Advisory Board. Tony is a five-time recipient of the Excellence in Financial Literacy Education Award as well as a member of the ThinkAdvisor’s LUMINARIES Class of 2022 as a Finalist in Thought Leadership & Education. Tony served as a long-term member of the California Insurance Department Curriculum Board.

That annual Social Security increase announcement can be confusing. 

Is it a bonus? Will it cover your rising costs? More importantly, how does it really affect your decisions about when to retire and when to claim your benefits?

In this episode, I unpack the new 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026. We explore how Social Security benefits grow differently before and after age 62, why the inflation measure might not match your personal expenses, and how your early work years still count. We provide clarity on how delaying your claim and continuing to work can increase your lifetime benefits, especially important for married couples planning for survivor income.

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Divorce doesn’t have to be devastating. 

It can be empowering when approached with clarity and the right support.

In this episode, I sit down with Karen Covy, divorce coach, attorney, and mediator, to explore how women can take control of the divorce process. We talk about choosing the right process for your situation, understanding your finances, and why preparation and strategy make all the difference in creating a smoother transition and stronger future.

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About our Guest: 

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach, Lawyer, Mediator, Author, Speaker, and Podcaster. She coaches busy professionals and business owners all over the world to make clear, confident decisions about their most important relationships. She also helps them navigate through divorce with less conflict, unnecessary expense, and needless drama so that they can create the life they truly desire sooner rather than later. Karen is the author of When Happily Ever After Ends: How to Survive Your Divorce Emotionally, Financially, and Legally. She is also the creator of the online divorce programs, The Divorce Road Map 3.0 and How to Successfully Mediate Your Divorce, as well as the host of the podcast, Off the Fence: Mastering Decision-Making Divorce and More.

Understanding Social Security can feel complicated, especially when life events like divorce or widowhood come into play. 

In this episode, I join Karen Covy on her podcast, Off The Fence, to walk through the rules that often matter most for women.

We discuss how full retirement age works, how spousal, ex-spousal, and survivor benefits are determined, and what to know about the 10-year marriage rule. Our conversation also covers the Social Security Fairness Act and how it affects certain workers with pensions.

Together, we outline key considerations that can help listeners better understand their options when planning for future income.

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Next week, Karen will be joining me on the Simply Retirement Podcast to discuss how women can move forward with strength and strategy after divorce. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.

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About our Guest: 

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach, Lawyer, Mediator, Author, Speaker, and Podcaster. She coaches busy professionals and business owners all over the world to make clear, confident decisions about their most important relationships. She also helps them navigate through divorce with less conflict, unnecessary expense, and needless drama so that they can create the life they truly desire sooner rather than later. Karen is the author of When Happily Ever After Ends: How to Survive Your Divorce Emotionally, Financially, and Legally. She is also the creator of the online divorce programs, The Divorce Road Map 3.0 and How to Successfully Mediate Your Divorce, as well as the host of the podcast, Off the Fence: Mastering Decision-Making Divorce and More.

Many people nearing retirement are unsure how recent rule changes might affect what they can receive.

What happens when long-standing limits disappear, and families finally gain access to benefits they were denied for years?

In this special replay, we revisit one of our most crucial and widely discussed episodes of the year: the one focusing on the Social Security Fairness Act.

I walk through the details of the Social Security Fairness Act and highlight its significant impact, especially on survivor and spousal benefits for women across the country. I explain how removing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) could open new income opportunities. Additionally, I discuss what these potential changes mean for teachers and public sector workers, and the immediate steps listeners should consider taking now.

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Retirement planning doesn’t end once you stop working; it evolves. 

In this episode, I wrap up my seven essential strategies for successful investing in retirement, focusing on two of the most pivotal: managing your tax burden and deciding whether to work with an advisor. 

I share how to plan ahead for taxes, the importance of timing withdrawals, and why every woman deserves a seat at the financial table.

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Investing in retirement requires a completely different mindset, one focused on income, not just preservation.

In this episode, I continue our Seven Strategies for Successful Investing in Retirement series by explaining Strategy #4: Understanding the Role of Stocks in Retirement, and Strategy #5: The Value of Dividend Growth Investing. 

Together, these two approaches show how stocks can generate sustainable income and growth throughout your retirement years.

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The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 large U.S. companies. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index returns do not include fees or expenses.

What if the way you’ve been told to protect your money in retirement is actually putting your future at risk?

In this episode, I continue our series on the seven essential strategies for successful investing in retirement. We tackle one of the most misunderstood aspects of retirement planning, defining the real purpose of your portfolio and reframing how you think about risk. This conversation is designed to shift your perspective from fear and preservation to growth and resilience.

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