Objective
- Identify who is entitled to retirement benefits and in what amounts
- Identify factors to consider in determining when to take benefits
- Discuss taxation of Social Security benefits and how this impacts other income tax planning
- Identify and describe the potential effects of retirement and estate planning strategies and tactics that can enhance overall retirement
- Explain Medicare and the prescription drug provision; describe the basic supplementary insurance plans that are available to fill in the gaps in basic Medicare coverage
Highlights
- Legislative developments
- A full chapter devoted to determining the best planning options for maximizing joint Social Security benefits
- Retirement benefits: Amount of benefits in various circumstances; how the amounts are distributed within the family unit
- Qualification: Has the client retired? How business entities may be used for Social Security advantage
- Income taxation of Social Security: avoidance tactics
- Spousal benefits: Should a spouse return to work? What benefits does a spouse have and when and how do they relate to benefits decisions by the client?
- When can hiring the spouse increase overall benefits? Why should both spouses qualify for survivor benefits?
- Disability benefits
- When to start Social Security benefits: Advantages and disadvantages at ages 62, full retirement age, and 70
- Coordinating benefits: Should you take Social Security first and higher-balance IRA distributions later, or take IRA balances first and enhanced Social Security benefits later?
- Pensions: Distribution strategies; how to use the minimum distribution rules in concert with Social Security benefits
- IRAs: Is it time to convert to a Roth?
- Medicare, Part D prescription drugs: what retirees need to know
- Looking forward: Are changes ahead?
Designed For
Practitioners who have clients contemplating receipt of Social SecurityPrerequisite
NoneAdvanced Preparation
None