A financial adviser shares some pros and cons about Social Security, the linchpin for most people’s retirement plans. Do you agree, and what does it mean for your retirement?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
To say Social Security is complex is an understatement. There are 9,409 different age-claiming combinations and 5,917 spousal benefit combinations, according to Social Security’s Office of Retirement and Disability Policy. There are rules for family benefits, disability benefits, divorced spouses and widows. Yet, Social Security is extremely important for retirees, as “nearly nine out of ten people age 65 and older receive benefits,” representing about 33% of the income of the elderly.
If you are on the cusp of retiring or wanting to know more, below are a few rules and tips to keep in mind. (For a deeper dive, join me for a free webinar on Aug. 19.)
There is a lot to like about Social Security retirement benefits. Foremost, the benefits last a lifetime — or two lifetimes if you are married. According to the World Economic Forum, the number of people making it to 100 and older is expected to grow to nearly 3.7 million by 2050, from just 95,000 in 1990. That means an 80-year-old may live another 20 years, or a 65-year-old could have a 35-year retirement. Income for life, not capped at any age, and payable for two lives instead of one, is a huge benefit for retirees.
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Save up to 74%
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
One of the nice things about Social Security benefits is that if you can wait until after your full retirement age to take them, they grow about 8% per year until age 70. How many investments do you know of that offer a guaranteed rate of return in the neighborhood of 8%? The planning implication here is that married couples or those with a long life expectancy should consider waiting till age 70 to collect the maximum retirement benefit.
Inflation or the loss of purchasing power is a real concern for retirees. At 3% inflation, the rule of 72 says prices will double in 24 years. That’s a scary proposition for those on a fixed income, like most annuity and pension income recipients, because those benefits don’t typically increase. Social Security retirement benefits, on the other hand, can increase each year due to what’s known as a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. An increase is not automatic, nor guaranteed, but has been consistent: Since 1975 there have only been three years benefits did not increase.
The spousal benefit is a nice perk too. Even if a spouse has never worked, he or she can still collect a benefit on the primary wage earner. Spousal benefits can be half as much as the spouse’s primary insurance amount (PIA). The PIA is the full, unreduced benefit one can collect at full retirement age, usually age 66 or 67. Spousal benefits can certainly help over time. (Note: The primary earner of a married couple must start his or her benefit to trigger the spousal benefit.) Some other things I like about Social Security include:
Despite the many benefits, Social Security has a few drawbacks. We’ve already mentioned how complex Social Security is. That can be a huge drawback for people, because maximizing your benefit can make a big difference — potentially tens of thousands of dollars or more over your lifetime. Yet, getting the information to do that isn’t easy. You can’t just call or drop into your local Social Security office and get the advice you need to make one of the most important retirement decisions of your life. In fact, while the people who work at Social Security can help you file for benefits, technically they aren’t allowed to help you decide which claiming strategy is best for you or when you should file. I really dislike that about Social Security!
Here are a few other things I don’t like about Social Security:
Social Security is unique in many ways. Retirement benefits are insured for two lives, can increase with inflation and potentially are available for non-working spouses. Taxes can be problem, however. Retirees should be aware of the “provisional income” calculation.
There are several planning techniques that may reduce the taxes on Social Security benefits. It’s best to work with a tax or financial professional who can help.
For more information on Social Security retirement benefits, including planning strategies and other tips, join our free “5 Things to Know about Social Security” webinar on Aug. 19 at 4pm EST. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/4188064395630955787
Investment advisory and financial planning services are offered through Summit Financial, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser, 4 Campus Drive, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Tel. 973-285-3600 Fax. 973-285-3666. This material is for your information and guidance and is not intended as legal or tax advice. Clients should make all decisions regarding the tax and legal implications of their investments and plans after consulting with their independent tax or legal advisers. Individual investor portfolios must be constructed based on the individual’s financial resources, investment goals, risk tolerance, investment time horizon, tax situation and other relevant factors. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be attributed to Summit Financial LLC. The Summit financial planning design team admitted attorneys and/or CPAs, who act exclusively in a non-representative capacity with respect to Summit’s clients. Neither they nor Summit provide tax or legal advice to clients. Any tax statements contained herein were not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal, state or local taxes.
Investment advisory and financial planning services are offered through Summit Financial LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser, 4 Campus Drive, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Tel. 973-285-3600 Fax. 973-285-3666. This material is for your information and guidance and is not intended as legal or tax advice. Clients should make all decisions regarding the tax and legal implications of their investments and plans after consulting with their independent tax or legal advisers. Individual investor portfolios must be constructed based on the individual’s financial resources, investment goals, risk tolerance, investment time horizon, tax situation and other relevant factors. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be attributed to Summit Financial LLC. Links to third-party websites are provided for your convenience and informational purposes only. Summit is not responsible for the information contained on third-party websites. The Summit financial planning design team admitted attorneys and/or CPAs, who act exclusively in a non-representative capacity with respect to Summit’s clients. Neither they nor Summit provide tax or legal advice to clients. Any tax statements contained herein were not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal, state or local taxes.
This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.
