BOSTON COLLEGE WORLD-WIDE WEBINARS
Maximizing Social
Security
September 22, 2016
Sean Cavanaugh ’91
Presented by:
Sean J. Cavanaugh M.S. Finance, CFP®, ChFC®
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Branch Manager
Penn State, M.S. Finance
Boston College, B.S. Economics
Sean and his wife, Lisa, live in San Diego, California, with their four children, Kelsey,
Jordan, Makenna (BC 2019) and Riley. Outside of the office, he enjoys theater and the
arts, and serves on the Canyon Crest Academy Foundation Board as VP of Finance.
3111 Camino Del Rio N., Suite 920
San Diego, CA 92108
(877) 462-2011
Today’s agenda
•
•
•
Social Security—The choice of a lifetime
Social Security basics
Making your Social Security decision
3
Social Security
— The choice of a lifetime —
4
WHY SOCIAL SECURITY IS THE CHOICE OF A LIFETIME
Most file at the earliest possible time
New Social Security claimants in a calendar year1
Almost two in three
individuals filed early for
reduced benefits2
38%
32%
24%
4%
2%
1
Source: SS Supplement 2014. Table 6.B.1, Social Security Administration
2
FRA = Full retirement age. For this data, FRA is 66.
5
WHY SOCIAL SECURITY IS THE CHOICE OF A LIFETIME
Will Social Security be there for you?
Based on combined trust fund reserves and current
assumptions6:
• Full benefits payable to at least 2034
• With no legislative changes, Social Security would pay 79%
of benefits afterward
6
Source: 2016 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds.
6
WHY SOCIAL SECURITY IS THE CHOICE OF A LIFETIME
Proposals to address Social Security solvency
Link COLAs to different
inflation indexes
• May increase solvency
without significant effect on
most Americans
• Current retirees will see
smaller annual benefit
increases
Increase FRA beyond 67
• Expected to impact workers
age 45 and younger to allow
time to plan for retiring later
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WHY SOCIAL SECURITY IS THE CHOICE OF A LIFETIME
Proposals to address Social Security solvency
Increase or eliminate
wage cap
• Raises amount of earned
income subject to Social
Security taxes
• 2016 cap is set at earned
income up to $118,500
Increase payroll taxes
• Currently set at 12.4% split
evenly between workers
and employers
8
WHY SOCIAL SECURITY IS THE CHOICE OF A LIFETIME
Will you be there for Social Security?
AGE 65
AGE 65
86
89
93
95
50%
50% chance of
chance of
reaching age147
reaching age
25%
25% chance of
cnce
of age7
reaching
reaching age14
7
For married
couples,
there is a
50% chance
one spouse
will reach
age 93
2015 LIMRA Retirement Income Reference Book.
9
An Option for Jim and Linda After the April 29, 2016 Rule Change
Meet Married Couple Jim & Linda
Jim is 66 and Linda is 64
$2,400
$1,300
Jim’s SS benefit at FRA
Linda’s SS benefit at FRA
This example is hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only
$195,792
Cumulative benefit
lost by filing early
4
Figures as shown represent future value and assume average life expectancy of 85
for men and 88 for women and 2.5% annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA).
Cumulative
benefit if
they started
today
Cumulative
benefit
if Jim files at
70 and Linda
files restricted
at 684
$1,275,314
$1,471,106
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Social Security
— The basics —
11
SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)
• Amount received each month if benefits start at
full retirement age
• Based on lifetime Social Security earnings adjusted
for inflation
o
o
o
o
Average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) over highest 35 years of earnings
Benefit reflects a percentage of avg. monthly earnings
Higher earners receive a smaller % than low-wage earners
Maximum PIA for 2016 is $2,639
• Social Security statements available on mySocialSecurity
(Sign up at ssa.gov/myaccount)
12
SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
Full Retirement Age (FRA)
13
SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
Early and delayed filling affects monthly benefit
Delaying benefits
from FRA of 66 - 70
can increase monthly
benefit by 32%
Delaying benefits
from 62 to age 70
can increase monthly
benefit by 76%
116%
75%
80%
86%
93%
100%
124%
132%
108%
% of PIA received
FRA
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
Starting age of SS benefits
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SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
Filing rules for different situations
Surviving spouses
Spouses
Dependent children
Divorced spouses
Disabled individuals
15
SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
Spousal filing rules
Eligibility
• Eligible at 62*
• Married for at least
one year
Benefits
• Up to 50% of
spouse’s PIA
• One spouse must file
for the other to claim
benefits
* Filing from 62 and up to FRA will permanently reduce monthly benefits
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SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
For surviving spouses
Eligibility
Benefits
Eligibility
Benefits
• Married for at least
9 months
• Benefits can be taken
as early as age 60*
• Currently unmarried or
remarried after age 60*
• Up to spouse’s
PIA including delayed
retirement credits earned
• Survivor benefits can
be received independent
of individual benefits
* Filing from 60 and up to FRA will permanently reduce monthly benefits
* Marriage lasted 10 years or more
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SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
For divorced spouses
Eligibility
Benefits
• Married for at least
10 years
• Spousal, then
survivor benefits
• Currently unmarried
• No impact on
ex-spouse’s benefit
• Ex-spouse does not
have to file beyond
two years after divorce
• Not subject to the
family maximum
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SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
For government employees
Windfall elimination provision (WEP)
• Reduces individual benefit to prevent higher benefits
on top of pension income
• Changes formula used to calculate PIA and reductions
o As little as 40% of first $856 instead of 90%10
o Reduction cannot be more than ½ of pension amount
o Maximum PIA reduction for WEP for 2016 is $428
10
Source: Social Security Administration. Based on 2013 formula
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SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
Effect on spousal or survivor’s benefit
Government Pension Offset (GPO)
•
Reduces a government employee’s Social Security spousal
or survivor’s benefits
•
Benefits are reduced by 2/3 of their government pension
•
If government pension is large enough, spousal or survivor’s
benefit may be eliminated
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SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
How GPO reduces benefits
Spouse 1
Spouse 2
• Worked in government
throughout career
• Worked in private sector
• Receiving $2,100 monthly
pension
• Paid FICA taxes
• PIA: $2,000/month
• GPO = $1,400 (2/3 of $2,100)
FOR BROKER/DEALER USE ONLY – NOT FOR USE WITH THE PUBLIC
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SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
How working impacts Social Security
If under FRA
for the full year
• $1 withheld
for every
$2 above
annual limit
($15,720 or $1,310/month)
In the year of FRA
(Up to FRA month)
• $1 withheld
for every
$3 above
annual limit
($41,880 or $3,490/month)
At FRA
and beyond
• No limit
on earnings
• Withheld
earnings are
returned
22
SOCIAL SECURITY BASICS
How working impacts Social Security
If under FRA
for the full year
• $1 withheld
for every
$2 above
annual limit
($15,720 or $1,310/month)
In the year of FRA
(Up to FRA month)
• $1 withheld
for every
$3 above
annual limit
($41,880 or $3,490/month)
At FRA
and beyond
• No limit
on earnings
• Withheld
earnings are
returned
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MAKING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY DECISION
Taxation
Taxable retirement
income
Partially taxable
retirement income
Tax-free
retirement income
Pension Income
Social Security –
Up to 85% taxed
Roth IRAs and
401(k)s
Immediate
annuity income
Interest from
municipal bonds
Cash-value of
life insurance
Loans from life
insurance policies
Traditional
Retirement accounts
(401(k), IRA)
Interest and
dividend income
Please note that Nationwide does not provide legal, tax or accounting advice. You should consult
with your accounting or tax professional for guidance regarding your specific financial situation.
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MAKING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY DECISION
Taxation
Reduced
benefits
Maximum
benefits
Target pre-tax income
$90,000
$90,000
Social Security benefits
$30,690
$54,014
Traditional retirement
income
$59,310
$35,986
Provisional income
$74,655
$62,993
Total taxable income
$85,397
$58,130
AGI + income after Social Security
income test
Delayed
filing
increases
Social
Security by
76%
Taxable
income
decreases
by 47%
25
— Making your —
Social Security
decision
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MAKING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY DECISION
Simplifying Social Security decisions
Nationwide’s Social Security 360 AnalyzerSM tool
• Identifies optimal filing methods and allows you to adjust parameters
to compare different strategies
• Provides instructions on how to file
• Helps you integrate Social Security into your comprehensive
retirement income plan
27
MANAGING THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISCUSSION
Social Security Assessment
This report is provided for informational purposes only and should not
be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice or a solicitation to buy
or sell any specific securities product. You should work closely with
your financial professional to develop a plan that incorporates your
investment objectives, goals, risk tolerance and time horizons based on
your specific situation. This report relies upon the accuracy of the data
you provide and is an estimate of the social security benefit you may
receive which will differ from the actual benefit amount you receive at
the time of application with the Social Security Administration. The
information provided is based on current laws which are subject to
change at any time. This report has not been reviewed or endorsed by
any government agency.
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MANAGING THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISCUSSION
Social Security Assessment
29
MANAGING THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISCUSSION
Compare filing strategies
The client’s Social Security report shows cumulative benefits of an
optimization strategy vs. early filing and alternative filing strategies
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WHY SOCIAL SECURITY IS THE CHOICE OF A LIFETIME
Changes to filing options
• On November 2nd, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 was
signed by the President, causing major changes to filing options
• The filing restricted option is being phased out; when an individual
files, he or she is only eligible for the higher of his or her own
benefits, spousal or divorced benefits
• As of May 1, 2016 file and suspend will no longer allow
spousal or dependent benefits to be paid while the worker earns
delayed retirement credits
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WHY SOCIAL SECURITY IS THE CHOICE OF A LIFETIME
Comparing options
The hypothetical examples presented above are for illustration purposes only and do no represent any actual investor experience. Actual client results will vary.
Jim files and suspends; Linda files restricted at age 66 (Prior to April 30)
Cumulative benefits: $1,501,858
Jim delays until age 70; Linda files restricted at 68 switches at 70
Cumulative benefits: $1,471,106
2% less in benefits
Jim files at 66; Linda files restricted at 66 switches at 70
Cumulative benefits: $1,368,638
9% less in benefits
Jim files at 66; Linda files at 64
Cumulative benefits: $1,275,314
15% less in benefits
The hypothetical examples presented above are for illustration purposes only and do not represent any actual investor experience. Actual client results will vary.
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MANAGING THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISCUSSION
Analyze break-even points
Illustrates which of the outlined strategies provides the best outcome
at any given set of mortality assumptions for SS claimants
33
MAKING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY DECISION
Your First Alternate Social Security Strategy
The expected lifetime family benefit using this strategy is: $1,471,106
Note that this illustration is for educational purposes only.
Jim
Linda
• File a standard application for
benefits at 66 years, 2 months.
Immediately suspend your
benefit. At age 70 years request
that your benefit resume.
• Files a restricted application for
spousal benefits at your age 68
years. At age 70 file for your
own benefit.
Your approximate monthly benefit would be: $3,496.
Your approximate monthly benefit would be $1,324. It
would then increase to $1,989 at age 70.
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MANAGING THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISCUSSION
Identify income gaps
The report illustrates annual Social Security cash flow for the
suggested filing strategy vs. projected retirement income needs.
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MANAGING THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISCUSSION
Cashflow analysis helps identify income gaps
Jim and Linda both
claim their own
benefits at age 70
After Jim passes away,
Linda begins her
survivor benefit.
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Resources
• Social Security Estimator: https://www.ssa.gov/retire/estimator.html
• Calculating Provisional Income to determine how much if any of your
social security benefits are taxable: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irspdf/p915.pdf .
• https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
• 360 Analyzer tool: see handout
37
MANAGING THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISCUSSION
Where do I go from here?
Sean J. Cavanaugh M.S. Finance, CFP®, ChFC®
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Branch Manager
3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 920
San Diego, CA 92108
T 877.462.2011
F 619.462.2015
[email protected]
www.raymondjames.com/cavanaughgroup
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification
marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® in the U.S.
The information herein has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete.
This information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making a decision and does not constitute a recommendation. You
should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.
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