(DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX) Congress made changes to Social Security benefits at the end of 2015. Gone, for the most part, is the ‘file & suspend’ strategy that married couples could use to increase benefits. The penny-pinching Feds have also made other changes that are designed to ‘close the back door’ on the strategies that could be used to maximize benefits. Still, according to retirement planner Britni Levensailor, there are ways to maximize a monthly benefit. Levensailor is VP and retirement planner at DFW Retirement Planners. She’s heard weekly on the radio program, DFW Retirement Radio.
“Delaying is still key,” Levensailor says, “It’s generally always prudent to wait to start taking benefits. Waiting results in a larger monthly benefit which can be very meaningful for a surviving spouse.”
DFW Retirement Planners offers a complimentary retirement plan check-up, which includes a discussion on maximizing a client’s Social Security benefits. Levensailor added, “In our complimentary meetings, our goal is to discuss the entire 360 degrees of a person’s life in retirement, and Social Security is one of the important topics. We help our clients understand how they can maximize Social Security and get the most money possible.”
DFW Retirement Planners’ weekly radio program, DFW Retirement Radio, regularly addresses Social Security claiming strategies. Alan Maples, estate planning attorney and planner at DFW Retirement Planners, said the program has helped many people better understand their options. He added, “Every week on DFW Retirement Radio, we try to bring information to the airwaves that will help our listeners retire better. Social Security is a regular subject on the program. And now that Congress has changed the benefits, we’re talking about how people can adjust to the new rules.”
DFW Retirement Radio is broadcast Saturdays from 10-11 AM on 1080 KRLD Radio and 2-3 PM on 820 WBAP Radio. For more information on maximizing Social Security benefits contact DFW Retirement Planners at 888-7-Piggy Bank (888-774-4492). DFW Retirement Radio is produced by McQ Media, Dallas, TX.
