Social Security Planning

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Social Security: Calculating your Benefit in 7 Steps

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Contributed by: Matt Trujillo, CFP® Matt Trujillo

When Social Security is concerned, you may find yourself wondering: “How is my benefit calculated?”

To help you understand, I’ve laid out the 7 steps it takes to calculate your Social Security benefit:

  • Step 1: Enter earnings from each year into the chart below into Column B. Only enter earnings up to the “maximum earnings” figure from column A. So for instance in 2001 if you earned $200,000 you would only enter $80,400 into column B because that is the maximum credit you can earn for that year. All earnings after $80,400 didn’t pay into social security for that year. For the years you didn’t have earnings or didn’t pay into social security enter $0 into Column B.

  • Step 2: Multiply the amounts in Column B by the index factors in Column C and enter the total in Column D. This gives you an estimated value of your past earnings in current dollars. 

  • Step 3: From Column D, pick 35 years with the highest amounts and add these amounts together.

  • Step 4: Divide the total from Step 3 by 420 (this is the number of months in 35 years); be sure to round down to the nearest whole dollar figure with whatever total you come up with. This figure is your average indexed monthly earnings

  • Step 5: Multiply the first $856 from Step 4 by .90; from $857 to $5,157 multiply by .32; and from $5,158 and up multiple by .15

    • This is probably the most confusing part so let me give an example:
      Step 4 average indexed monthly earnings = $8,000; 
      $856 * .9 = $770.40
      $5,157-$857= $4,300 * .32 = $1,376
      $8,000-$5,157= $2,843 * .15 = $426.45

  • Step 6: Add all the figures up from Step 5 and round down; if we use our previous example this would be $770.40 + $1,376 + $426.45 = $2,572.85 rounded down would be $2,572.

  • Step 7: Multiply the amount in Step 6 by 75%. Whatever figure you get is your estimated monthly retirement benefit if you retire at age 62.

I hope you find these 7 steps useful and easy to navigate. When it comes to retirement planning and Social Security benefits, if you have questions or concerns any of the planners here at The Center are willing and able to help you!  

Matthew Trujillo, CFP®, is a Certified Financial Planner™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Matt currently assists Center planners and clients, and is a contributor to Money Centered.

Social Security Filing Alert: Sometimes “No” just isn’t good enough

Contributed by: Timothy Wyman, CFP®, JD Tim Wyman

I recently had the opportunity to work with a long time client to maneuver the new Social Security filing rules; and if they would have taken the first “no” answer from the local SSA office the results would not have been good, to say the least.  As we have shared in the past, there have been significant changes to some of the Social Security filing rules, and specifically to the “file & suspend” strategy that we have worked hard to incorporate into many clients’ financial plans. Check out this blog by Nick Defenthaler, CFP®, for more information.

The most egregious part of this recent experience is that our client went to the SSA office with a copy of instructions specifically outlining “what” and “why,” and they still were turned away.

Here's part of the story:

Timothy Wyman, an adviser in Southfield, Mich., described a similar situation. His clients, a 67-year-old husband and 64-year-old wife, wanted to file and suspend the husband's benefits before April 30 to trigger spousal benefits for his wife. The wife plans to claim spousal benefits only when she turns 66.

The claims representative told the couple the husband only needed to file and suspend if the wife was planning on claiming her benefit now. Otherwise, they had nothing to lose by waiting.

Wrong! They would have a lot to lose. Miss the deadline and this couple would forfeit the opportunity to trigger benefits for the wife while his own benefit continues to grow until it is worth the maximum amount at age 70. It's an excellent strategy for married couples since it will also create a maximum survivor benefit for whichever spouse is left behind.

Anyone who is full retirement age has the right to request to suspend his or her retirement benefits that can trigger benefits for a spouse. The spouse does not have to be full retirement age at that time. -Mary Beth Franklin, Contributing Editor at InvestmentNews

Fortunately, our client knew better than to accept the “no” and emailed over the weekend for additional clarification. In the end, our client filed online and has preserved their right and benefit of filing and suspending. Please feel free to reach out if we can help you maneuver and maximize your Social Security benefits.

Timothy Wyman, CFP®, JD is the Managing Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. and is a contributor to national media and publications such as Forbes and The Wall Street Journal and has appeared on Good Morning America Weekend Edition and WDIV Channel 4. A leader in his profession, Tim served on the National Board of Directors for the 28,000 member Financial Planning Association™ (FPA®), mentored many CFP® practitioners and is a frequent speaker to organizations and businesses on various financial planning topics.

This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Timothy Wyman and not necessarily those of Raymond James. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete.

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How Your Retirement Age Could Affect Your Social Security Benefits

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Contributed by: Melissa Parkins, CFP® Melissa Parkins

When planning for retirement, one of the biggest factors to figure out is how you will recreate your paycheck when you are no longer working to receive one from an employer. A couple of questions to think about:

  • Do you have a pension through your employer and if so, when are you eligible to start receiving income?

  • Will you live off of your portfolio?

  • Is Social Security the only income stream you have access to?

Many people (including myself!) long to retire early, but doing so could reduce your Social Security benefits. Your benefit will depend not only on how much you have earned in the past, but also when you decide to leave the workforce.

If you stop working before you have 35 years of earnings reported, then a zero is used for each year without earnings when your benefit amount is calculated. Any zeros will bring down your earnings average and reduce the benefits you will receive. Even if you have 35 years of earnings reported, if some of those years are low earning years (maybe at the beginning of your career), they will be averaged into your calculation and bring your benefits down lower than if you had continued to work for a few more years while, ideally, earning higher wages during your peak earning years.

One potential point of confusion when planning to retire early comes on your Estimated Benefits statement. When you look at your Social Security statement, your reduced expected benefit at age 62 actually means the amount you are expected to receive if you work until age 62 and begin collecting benefits at that time. Likewise, your increased expected benefit at age 70 means the amount you are expected to receive if you work until age 70 and then begin collecting benefits. So if you do retire early or at different ages than the two listed, the number shown as your estimated benefit could be different.

At my current age of 25, retiring early is something I aspire towards – I picture a long, lavish (read: expensive) life of luxury! Hey, a girl can dream! Many people (maybe more realistically than me) also strive to retire early, and if you don’t have access to a pension, then you may be depending more heavily on your Social Security benefit. If you do retire early, then you may receive a reduced benefit. However, retiring early is not unrealistic; but in order to have enough money to live at your comfort level, it may require working part time for a bit after retirement or even saving more now to make up for a potentially lower Social Security benefit. When making these decisions, talk with your Financial Planner about your retirement goals to see how best to build your plan to financial independence.

Melissa Parkins, CFP® is an Associate Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.

This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Melissa Parkins and not necessarily those of Raymond James. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete.

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Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment in 2016

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Contributed by: James Smiertka James Smiertka

You may have already heard, but there will be no Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2016. This doesn’t happen incredibly often—it’s only the third instance in the past 40 years. Over the past 8 years, the total of annual social security COLA has been only 14.3%, compared to 69.6% in the period from 1975 to 1982. Yearly Social Security COLA depends on the Consumer Price Index as the Social Security Administration states, “monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will not automatically increase in 2016 as there was no increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2014 to the third quarter of 2015”.

The CPI-W value was affected by the significant decrease in the price of gasoline and fluctuations in other areas as well, but as the prices of housing and medical care continue to rise, critics argue that the CPI-W does not accurately reflect the spending of older, retired individuals. Experts argue that the actual cost-of-living for a Social Security beneficiary is increasing as many costs to retirees have increased at a higher rate than the 2.2% average COLA increase since 2000.

It’s known that the lack of a 2016 COLA will impact nearly 70 million people, including retirees, disabled workers, spouses, and children who receive benefits. Some retirees may actually see a drop in their Social Security benefit for 2016 due to the 0% COLA and the potential increase in Medicare Part B premiums (see Matt Trujillo’s blog on Medicare Part B increases for more information).

Everyone’s retirement scenario is unique, and although the 2016 COLA is not likely to have a huge impact, you can contact your financial planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. with any questions or concerns about your specific plan.

James Smiertka is a Client Service Associate at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.

This material is being provided for information purposes only. Any opinions are those of James Smiertka and not necessarily those of Raymond James. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete.

Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website's users and/or members.

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Social Security: Earliest Age to File & the Benefit of Waiting

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Contributed by: James Smiertka James Smiertka

According to a recent Gallup poll, 36% of unretired individuals in the U.S. expect to rely on social security as a major source of income. Many of these people don’t completely understand all of the rules of the complex social security system. Fortunately, it’s our job at The Center to know and to educate our clients.

Why Wait to File for Benefits?       

When it comes to your social security benefit, you should know a couple basic things:

  1. You reduce your benefit by receiving benefits earlier than your full retirement age.

  2. You can increase your benefit by waiting until age 70 to collect.

There are certain circumstances in your financial plan that may affect when you file, but you can obtain an 8% increase in your benefit for each year past your full retirement age that you delay receiving your benefit. These “delayed retirement credits” end at age 70. But how much will you lose by filing early? The earliest filing age in a normal situation is 62, and by filing at this age your benefit will be reduced at least 20%. Depending on your full retirement age, your benefit can be reduced up to 30% by filing at age 62 (those born in 1960 or later). Here’s a chart that breaks it down by birth year and filing date:

Source: Social Secuirty.org

Source: Social Secuirty.org

Special Benefits for Widows and Widowers

It gets even more complicated with widow/widower benefits. A widow/widower can receive reduced benefits as early as age 60 or benefits as early as age 50 if he/she is disabled and their disability started before or within 7 years of their spouse’s death. If the widow/widower remarries after they reach age 60, the remarriage does not affect their survivors benefits eligibility. In addition, a widow/widower who has not remarried can receive survivors benefits at any age if he/she is taking care of their deceased spouse’s child who is under the age of 16 or is disabled and receives benefits on their deceased spouse’s record.

In conclusion, you will receive a reduced benefit if you claim before your full retirement age, and waiting until age 70 to collect is a great way to maximize your own benefit and/or the benefit you leave to your surviving spouse. If anything is certain, it is that the social security rules can definitely be enough to make your head spin, so remember to consult your CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional here at The Center for Financial Planning if you have any questions.

James Smiertka is a Client Service Associate at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.

This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Jim Smiertka and not necessarily those of Raymond James. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Prior to making a financial decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

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Year End Planning Opportunities – How to Prepare for 2016

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Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP® Nick Defenthaler

Last week, Melissa Joy and I had the pleasure of hosting a webinar to discuss Year-End Planning Opportunities for clients to consider. In the webinar we outlined certain action items that you may want to keep on your radar going into 2016. As our largest attended webinar for the year, we were eager to review some important, timely planning items to consider before 2015 comes to a close and also touch on some of the more common items we see clients miss throughout the year that we’d like to see avoided if possible. 

Below you will find the links to handouts that we referenced throughout the presentation that contain some key dates and financial planning ideas to consider. 

  • 2015 Year-End Planning Opportunities: These important tax and financial planning moves can help prepare you for the upcoming tax season and better align your portfolio with your short- and long-term goals.

  • Year-End Tax Planning Worksheet: This worksheet is designed to make organizing your year-end tax planning a little easier. While not intended to be comprehensive, it can help you get ready to discuss your tax situation with your financial advisor and tax professional.

As we stressed several times throughout the webinar – we encourage you to keep us in the loop when things change in your life during the year.  Job changes, large bonuses, early retirement, job loss, moving, starting Social Security, etc. are all examples of events we want you to reach out to us about for guidance and to see if there are opportunities we can help you take advantage of.  Sometimes it will be as simple as us letting you know you’re doing everything you should be doing but other times, there might be items we can help you uncover that otherwise would have been missed.  We are your financial teammate and are here to help you whenever you need us!   

Below is a link to the recording of the webinar that we’d encourage you to share with any friends or family members who you feel could benefit from the information as well.

Nick Defenthaler, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Nick is a member of The Center’s financial planning department and also works closely with Center clients. In addition, Nick is a frequent contributor to the firm’s blogs.

This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete.

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What the End of “File and Suspend” and “Restricted Application” Means for You

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Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP® Nick Defenthaler

On November 2nd, President Obama signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 into law. It contained the first major change in Social Security since 2000, eliminating popular Social Security strategies “file and suspend” and “restricted application”.  The result of this legislation is less lifetime Social Security benefits for many who planned on delaying retirement benefits until age 70.

Let's take a look at an example of how the strategies were most widely utilized:

Mark and Carrie are 65 years old and recently both retired from Microsoft.  They were both highly compensated and paid the maximum into Social Security for several decades, thus creating a $30,000/yr benefit for Mark and a $32,000/yr benefit for Carrie upon reaching full retirement age (FRA) – in their case, age 66.  Because they are both in great health, have longevity in their family and have accumulated a $1.5M portfolio to supplement retirement income, they planned to delay filing until age 70 to both get the highest possible annual benefit for life (benefits increase 8% each year you delay until age 70).    

Mark and Carrie’s financial planner suggested one change to this plan.  If Carrie were to file and immediately suspend her benefit at her Full Retirement Age  of 66, this would allow Mark to file a “restricted application”.  Filing the “restricted application” would entitle Mark to 50% of Carrie’s FRA benefit, or $16,000/yr (50% of $32,000) from age 66 until age 70.  During this same time frame, Carrie would not be receiving any benefit because she “filed and suspended” in order to receive an 8% annual benefit increase until age 70. 

When Mark turns 70, he would switch from the “restricted application” benefit of $16,000/yr to his own maximized benefit of approximately $41,000/yr (compared to $30,000/yr at age 66). At 70, Carrie would finally start to collect on her own benefit that has now grown to approximately $43,000/yr (compared to $32,000/yr at age 66) after receiving no benefits from age 66 – 70. 

It made perfect sense for Mark and Carrie to both delay benefits until age 70 because of the reasons mentioned earlier, however, by taking advantage of the “file and suspend” and “restricted application” strategies, they were able to bring home another $64,000 in total lifetime benefits ($16,000 x 4 years)! 

So why are these strategies going away? 

Lawmakers saw “file and suspend” and “restricted application” as unintended loopholes that emerged from legislation in 2000.  An additional $64,000 in total lifetime benefits really adds up, especially as more and more retirees are maximizing their benefits using this strategy.  The reforms in this year’s budget bill are projected to save Social Security an estimated $168 billion over 75 years – WOW!

Some important things to consider:

What if I’m currently receiving benefits from the “file and suspend” or “restricted application” strategies?

Don’t panic!  You are “grandfathered” in and your benefits will not change or be interrupted whatsoever.

When will the “file and suspend” strategy be eliminated and is there an age requirement?

If you attain age 66 (full retirement age for those born between 1943 and 1954) by April 29, 2016 you are eligible to still take advantage of the strategy but you must also apply for this benefit strategy by the same date.  If you wait beyond April 29, 2016 or attain age 66 after this date, you will not be able to “file and suspend”.  

When will the “restricted application” strategy be eliminated and is there an age requirement?

If you attain age 62 by the end of 2015, you are “grandfathered” in and are able to take advantage of this filing strategy if it makes sense for your situation.  Those who will not be 62 by year-end will unfortunately not be able to employ this filing strategy.

Obviously with this being a very new piece of legislation, there are still questions that need to be answered and details that need to be shaken out.  Keep your eyes open for additional communication regarding this important change in Social Security and as always, don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly if you have questions about your own personal situation!

If you are interested in more on this topic, register for our April 7th webinar here.   

Nick Defenthaler, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Nick is a member of The Center’s financial planning department and also works closely with Center clients. In addition, Nick is a frequent contributor to the firm’s blogs.

The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Nick Defenthaler and not necessarily those of Raymond James

Where is my Social Security Benefits Statement?

Contributed by: Melissa Parkins, CFP® Melissa Parkins

You may recall that Social Security benefits statements used to be mailed out to workers every year a few months before your birthday. Then in 2011, due to budget cuts, the Social Security Administration (SSA) decided to stop mailing annual statements to save money. Another change came in 2014 when the mailing of paper statements partially resumed. Since then, paper statements are mailed at five-year intervals to workers who have not signed up to receive their statements online. These annual mailings are sent to workers at ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 and over.

Why Wait 5 Years? Sign up Online!

An easy alternative to waiting every 5 years to receive a Social Security benefits statement is to sign up for a My Social Security account. You can follow the easy step-by-step directions Jim Smiertka shared in his recent blog on how to sign up.  Once you are enrolled, you will no longer receive paper statements in the mail at the five-year intervals. Instead, you will have access to them on a continual basis through your My Social Security account. You will need to log in first, but then your statements are always at your fingertips.

The Benefits of Tracking Your Benefits

No matter your age, reviewing these statements annually is important. They provide a valuable reminder of what you can expect to get back in the future from payroll taxes paid. It is also important to review your earnings history to make sure there are no missing years or discrepancies. It is better to catch it early and get it corrected than having it go unnoticed for years and having to deal with getting it corrected when it is time to apply for benefits. Whether you are still working or not, your social security benefits are an important part of your financial plan. Please share your statements with us on an annual basis so we can better help you plan for your future!

Melissa Parkins, CFP® is an Associate Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.

This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Melissa Parkins, CFP® and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website's users and/or members.

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Impact of the 2016 Medicare Part B Premium Increase

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Contributed by: Matt Trujillo, CFP® Matt Trujillo

You may have heard of the pending Medicare part B premium increase for 2016.  If this is news to you, the most recent Medicare Trustees Report is estimating the baseline premium to increase from $104.90 to $159.30 beginning in 2016 (approximately a 52% increase). The reason why premiums are estimated to increase so much next year is mainly attributable to the way the program is currently structured.

Hold Harmless Clause May Protect You

Currently, the law does not allow higher premiums for all participants. In fact, if you are currently receiving social security benefits, have an adjusted gross income under $170,000 (or $85,000 if single), and are having your Medicare part B premiums taken directly from your social security benefit, then you probably won’t see any increase in your Medicare part B premiums for 2016. This is due to the “hold harmless” clause that protects current Medicare recipients from large rate hikes.

Ordinarily the increase in Medicare premiums is pegged to the annual cost of living adjustment from the social security administration. However, next year the administration says there will be no cost of living adjustment, which has left the Medicare Trustees unable to raise the premiums on 70% of current Medicare recipients.

Am I at Risk for a Medicare Part B Rate Hike?

So how will the Medicare Trustees keep up with the rising cost of healthcare? Simple: they will pass along the costs to future recipients. If you’re not currently receiving social security benefits, but are slated to start soon, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise.

You might be a candidate for a rate hike if:

  • You pay your Medicare Premiums directly and don’t have them deducted from your social security benefit.

  • You have filed for social security benefits but have suspended payment to take advantage of delayed retirement credits (i.e. file and suspend strategy).

  • You have an adjusted gross income higher than $170,000 filing a joint tax return or higher than $85,000 as a single filer.

Talk to your financial advisor to find out more about this pending rate hike, and whether or not you will be affected.

Matthew Trujillo, CFP®, is a Certified Financial Planner™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Matt currently assists Center planners and clients, and is a contributor to Money Centered.

This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete.

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How to Increase Your Social Security Benefit by 8% per Year

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Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP® Nick Defenthaler

Most people have either received their Social Security statement in the mail or have reviewed it online but do you know what your “full retirement age” is and what it actually means?  Full retirement age (FRA) is defined as the age at which a worker is entitled to 100% of their Social Security benefit.  Below is a summary of the current full retirement age “schedule” according to year of birth:

Source:  ssa.gov

Source:  ssa.gov

The earliest you can collect benefits on your own earnings record is 62, however, the benefit will be permanently reduced, and in most cases, is not something we recommend to clients.  Each year benefits are delayed, you are entitled to a permanent, 8% increase in benefit.  You can also continue to delay beyond your full retirement age until age 70 to fully maximize your benefit. 

Knowing your full retirement age, given your date of birth, is very important because it can impact when you ultimately decide to file and what your actual benefit will be.  As many of you have noticed, several years ago, the Social Security Administration stopped mailing annual Social Security statements out to most Americans as a cost savings measure.  However, creating an account and checking your Social Security statement online has become very easy and is something we recommend to all clients who are still working.  You should check the statement for accuracy as it relates to your wages for the year and to see if your benefits have changed in any way. For step-by-step instructions to quickly set up your own online Social Security account, click here.

Social Security is a critical part of most retirees’ financial game plan, so knowing things such as your full retirement age, is important to make sure you are making the most of the benefits that you’ve earned.  If you have questions about Social Security, we’ll find the answers.  We have a team of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals who can help guide you through one of the most important financial decisions you will make in your lifetime.  

Nick Defenthaler, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Nick is a member of The Center’s financial planning department and also works closely with Center clients. In addition, Nick is a frequent contributor to the firm’s blogs.

This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Nick Defenthaler, CFP® and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

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