Posts
Voluntary Suspension: How to “Pause” Your Benefit to Grow It Later
Did you file early and regret it? Once you reach Full Retirement Age, you can ask Social Security to stop sending you checks. What Is Voluntary Suspension? For every month…
The “First Year” Earnings Test Rule: How to Retire Mid-Year Without a Penalty
Retiring mid-year? You might earn over the annual limit but still get a full check thanks to the Monthly Earnings Test. How It Works In your first year of retirement,…
Q1 Strategy Review: Is Your 2026 Plan on Track?
We are three months into the year. This is the perfect moment for a 15-minute Strategy Checkup. 3 Things to Check Right Now Your Earnings: Are you on pace to…
The “Child-in-Care” Spousal Benefit: Claiming Before 62
We usually say you can’t claim spousal benefits until age 62. But if you care for a child under 16, the rules change. How It Works If one spouse files…
Retired Recently? How to Appeal Your IRMAA Surcharge (Form SSA-44)
You retired last year, but Medicare is charging you high premiums based on your income from two years ago. Why? IRMAA. You Don’t Have to Pay It You can appeal…
Why Online Life Expectancy Calculators Are Costing You Money
“I’ll probably die by 78, so I should file early.” I hear this all the time. But standard actuarial tables use averages that include smokers and the sick. You Are…
Single vs. Married: Why Single Filers Have Less Room for Error
If you are single, your filing decision is high stakes. You don’t have a spousal benefit as a safety net. Your check is your primary guaranteed income for life. The…
Is the “Restricted Application” Truly Dead? (And What Replaced It)
The “Restricted Application” allowed people to claim spousal benefits while letting their own grow. Is it gone? Mostly, yes. The Cutoff: January 1, 1954 Unless you were born before 1954,…
Social Security vs. HSAs: The Hidden Conflict You Need to Know
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have a kryptonite: Medicare Part A. Once you enroll in Medicare (triggered by Social Security), you cannot contribute to an HSA. The “6-Month Lookback” Trap If…
The “Public Servant” Penalty: A Deep Dive into WEP and GPO
If you are a teacher, police officer, or firefighter with a non-covered pension, two rules can slash your Social Security: WEP and GPO. 1. WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) Affects your…
Does Your State Tax Social Security? The 2026 List
Most states have stopped taxing Social Security, but about 10–12 states still do. If you live in one, you need to plan for it. The Landscape for 2026 States like…
Tax Season Prep: Understanding Your SSA-1099 and How to Lower Your Tax Bill
It’s late January, which means Form SSA-1099 is arriving. This document tells the IRS how much Social Security you received—and how much is taxable. The “Provisional Income” Test Just because…
