RSSA Social Security Optimization Services

1️⃣ Personalized Social Security Claiming Strategy

A full analysis to determine:

  • The optimal age to claim (62, FRA, 70, or somewhere in between)

  • How to maximize lifetime benefits

  • Break-even analysis (early vs. delayed claiming)

 

2️⃣ Spousal Benefit Optimization

For married couples (or previously married):

  • When each spouse should claim

  • How to coordinate benefits for the highest combined lifetime payout

  • Understanding spousal vs. personal benefit options

  • Strategies for lower-earning vs. higher-earning spouse

 

3️⃣ Survivor Benefit Planning

Critical for widows and widowers:

  • How survivor benefits work

  • Switching between survivor and personal benefits

  • Timing strategies to maximize income after a spouse passes

 

4️⃣ Divorce & Ex-Spouse Benefits Guidance

For divorced individuals (married 10+ years):

  • Eligibility for ex-spousal benefits

  • Claiming without affecting the ex-spouse

  • Coordinating ex-spouse and personal benefits for maximum value

 

5️⃣ Social Security & Working Strategy

For clients still working:

  • How earnings impact benefits before Full Retirement Age

  • Avoiding or minimizing the earnings test penalty

  • Planning the best time to claim while still employed

 

6️⃣ Taxation of Social Security Benefits

Many retirees are shocked their benefits can be taxed.
Jim can help clients understand:

  • When benefits become taxable

  • How other income (IRA withdrawals, pensions, work income) affects taxation

  • Strategies to reduce taxes on benefits

 

7️⃣ Social Security + Medicare Timing Coordination

Since Jim also works in Medicare, this is a powerful combo:

  • Aligning Social Security start dates with Medicare enrollment

  • Avoiding late enrollment penalties

  • Income-related Medicare premium planning (IRMAA awareness)

 

8️⃣ Longevity & “What If” Scenario Planning

Using RSSA tools to model:

  • Living into late 80s or 90s

  • Early death scenarios

  • Inflation impacts

  • Comparing thousands of claiming combinations

 

9️⃣ Social Security for Single, Widowed, or Never-Married Individuals

Strategies tailored to:

  • Maximizing a single lifetime benefit

  • Deciding between early income vs. larger delayed benefit

  • Coordinating with retirement savings drawdown

 

🔟 Government Pension Offset (GPO) & Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) Review

For teachers, public employees, or anyone with a non-covered pension:

  • Determining if benefits will be reduced

  • Estimating the size of the reduction

  • Planning around these rules

 

📊 Deliverables Jim Can Offer as an RSSA

These make the service feel professional and tangible:

     ✔️ Customized Social Security Optimization Report

     ✔️ Lifetime benefit comparison charts

     ✔️ Break-even age analysis

     ✔️ Claiming timeline recommendations

     ✔️ Coordination with retirement income & insurance planning