Word Radio

Have you ever felt like there’s something special you were created to do? The truth is, God has designed each believer with a unique spiritual gift for a divine purpose. Unfortunately, many Christians never discover what that gift is. Dr. Robert Jeffress helps you discover and use your spiritual gift.

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Whether to buy a house or go to college are major financial decisions, but so is deciding when to take Social Security.

It’s true—tens of thousands of dollars, if not more, are on the line when deciding when to start Social Security benefits. Eddie Holland joins us today to help make the decision easier.

Eddie Holland is a Senior Private Wealth Advisor and partner of Blue Trust in Greenville, South Carolina. He’s also a CPA, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), and a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA®).

When it comes to retirement, one of the most common questions people ask is: When should I start taking Social Security benefits? It’s a vital decision that affects not only your income but also your long-term financial strategy and even your legacy.

It’s generally recommended to wait until at least full retirement age (66 or 67), but that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for everyone. While delaying Social Security allows your benefits to grow up to 8% annually after full retirement age, thanks to what's called a delayed retirement credit, we must remember that each situation is unique.

Here are several factors that should guide your decision:

Taking Social Security early reduces benefits. Delaying past full retirement age increases benefits. That tradeoff is foundational to your strategy.

If you retire before full retirement age and need income, you might begin drawing Social Security early to meet immediate needs. Some people may need to pay off debt or cover living expenses.

Interestingly, some retirees choose to take Social Security early in order to increase their generosity. Some people start taking benefits specifically to give more, either during retirement or as part of a legacy plan. 

Your health and family history play a significant role. If you don’t expect to live well into your 80s or 90s, you might opt to draw earlier. But if you’re healthy and expect a longer life, delaying could offer more value over time.

You can’t leave your Social Security benefits to heirs, but you can leave your investment portfolio. This means some people opt to draw Social Security sooner in order to preserve their portfolio for giving or inheritance purposes.

Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your income. Some people delay benefits until a year they anticipate being in a lower tax bracket, strategically minimizing the tax impact.

In some cases, there is a lesser-known but potentially powerful option: the withdrawal application.

If you start taking Social Security before full retirement age and change your mind within the first 12 months, you can actually ‘undo’ it.” You’ll need to repay the benefits you received, but the Social Security Administration treats it as if you never started. You then have the option to restart at a later date, potentially at a higher benefit.

This strategy can be especially useful during periods of market volatility when withdrawing from your investment portfolio might not be ideal.

There’s no universal right age at which to begin drawing Social Security. It really depends on your personal situation—your income needs, health, tax strategy, and goals for generosity and legacy.

Wise financial planning starts with understanding your options and aligning those choices with your values and calling.

• How much is enough? My wife and I ha

What emotional skills does your son need? Counselor David Thomas sheds light on common emotional struggles, including anger, anxiety, and depression. Find practical ways you can help your son be resourceful, aware, resilient, and empathetic—breaking patterns of dysfunction and embracing maturity for life.

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• Learn more about David and his books at his website: raisingboysandgirls.com
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Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott explain how you can improve your marriage by becoming emotionally healthy, and examine three key aspects of good emotional health.

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A Joni and Friends Family Retreat is a little slice of heaven on earth! Learn how you be part of providing a Christ-centered, accessible week of respite for families living with disability here.

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Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org.

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Our minds have a cruise control function, it would seem. We can be driving down a familiar road, paying only a modicum of attention, and wonder when that last mile went by. Our minds weren’t really in the moment. We can unfortunately follow that same pattern when we read Scripture, especially if we’re trying to read a certain volume of passages as a goal. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie reminds us of the tremendous power of God’s Word to instruct, to inspire and to inspect.

Listen on harvest.org

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A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

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Today on Bold Steps with Pastor Mark Jobe … we’re discovering whether God is the ruler of our lives. As we move forward in our series on Rock Solid Living … we’re looking at the Ten Commandments and how these ancient words bring about new life.  Specifically, the first commandment. In our materialistic culture, the need to be in control is so prevalent … but we need to be asking ourselves … what are we putting before God?

Bold Steps Gift: LIES GIRLS BELIEVE: AND THE TRUTH THAT SETS THEM FREE

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