Most people treat Social Security as a fixed outcome, just another box to check when retirement arrives. Select an age, complete the form, and proceed. But the truth is, your choices around Social Security can unlock, or quietly erase, tens of thousands of dollars over time.

The timing of your claim, whether you’re still working, your marital history, even how you coordinate with your spouse’s benefit… it all matters. And yet, plenty of financial advisors either avoid the topic or admit they don’t know how the system works. That leaves you on your own to navigate rules that weren’t designed to be intuitive, and change more often than most people realize.

We’re walking through the kinds of Social Security questions that don’t get answered anywhere else. From how remarriage changes your options, to what really happens when you claim while still working, to why your savings could shrink faster than expected, these aren’t niche hypotheticals. They’re decisions with long-term effects, and it’s time more people knew what’s really at stake.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• (00:00) The Social Security Surprises That Could Cost You Thousands.
• (04:11) What your advisor might not know (but should) about Social Security.
• (06:25) The earnings test demystified through a real-life example.
• (09:39) Spousal, ex-spousal, and survivor benefits: who qualifies and when.
• (14:57) Major policy changes: The Fairness Act and unexpected lump sum payouts.
• (26:20) Legal custody, grandchildren, and overlooked Social Security benefits.

Resources & People Mentioned

• 3 Steps to Retirement Planning
• https://www.retirestrongfa.com
• https://www.ssa.gov

Connect With Gregg Gonzalez

• Email at: [email protected]
• Podcast: https://RetireStrongFA.com/Podcast
• Website: https://RetireStrongFA.com/
• Follow Gregg on LinkedIn
• Follow Gregg on Facebook
• Follow Gregg on YouTube

 

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