Your Social Security Benefits: The Importance of Understanding the System
Getting the most out of your earned Social Security benefits is one of the keys to building the best financial situation for your retirement years. Achieving this desired situation, though, requires a clear understanding of the rules and complexities associated with various filing strategies, and those approaching Social Security decision points need to know how the choices they make will impact their future. Certified Financial Planner Dawn Doebler, in a post today on wtop.com, singles out three areas where a complete grasp of the long-term implications is essential to the goal of maximizing benefits. (Read her post here…)
Ms. Doebler’s post addresses the very common topics of “When to file,” “How long to stay in the workforce,” and “Coordinating spousal benefits,” citing the impact that various decisions in these areas can produce. The AMAC Foundation certainly agrees with the scenarios described in Ms. Doebler’s post, and notes that nearly half of the hundreds of requests for assistance fielded monthly by the Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Staff concern these very points. In fact, the absolute importance of obtaining clarification on Social Security’s myriad rules and regulations has been the driving force behind operation of the Social Security Advisory Service, a free-to-the-public program available via email or phone call. Check the Foundation’s website for more information on this highly-acclaimed service.