News & Media Resources

ThinkAdvisor | 5 Reasons to Pause Social Security Benefits

“So, it may come as a surprise that, in certain limited circumstances, it can actually make sense for a client to temporarily stop their Social Security benefit. In fact, as explored in a new blog post published by Norm Haug, an analyst and staffer at the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, there are a number of reasons a client might want to stop receiving benefits after they’ve made their claim or may even want to repay money they have received.”

Yahoo | I’m a Financial Advisor: Why You’re Probably Wrong About Social Security Cuts

“Is this report saying Social Security would go bankrupt? Not exactly. Martha Shedden, president and co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, said, “Social Security cannot ‘run out of money.’ Money is continuously being paid into the trust funds by those who are currently working, and those funds are providing the current benefits for retired, widowed and disabled individuals.” That doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be a negative impact. If no action is taken by policymakers, there would be disruptions to benefits if the trust funds did become totally depleted.”

ThinkAdvisor | 5 Social Security Calculators to Share With Your Retirement Clients

According to Carroll, the RSSA Roadmap is “the essential Social Security planning tool” that will calculate the best filing strategy for a person’s unique set of circumstances. Designed by Social Security educators, RSSA Roadmap presents all filing options in an easy-to-read heatmap showing you monthly, annual and lifetime benefits based on when you choose to file,” Carroll says.

Social Security Intelligence | Finding the Best Calculator for Social Security Retirement Planning: A Comprehensive Guide

“Selecting the best calculator for Social Security retirement planning depends on your specific needs and the level of customization and detail you desire. Out of all of these options, my personal favorite is the RSSA Roadmap because it includes free live help from a ​​Registered Social Security Analyst. While it may cost slightly more than the other options, having a knowledgeable person to walk through the output and answer other Social Security related questions makes it well worth the extra cost.”

InsuranceNewsNet | Social Security: The insurance professional’s secret edge

“Social Security is complex and confusing, consisting of more than 2,700 rules. Considering the intricacies in this area, it is easy to make a mistake that could be costly for the client. The advisor and the client have one chance to get Social Security right. A professional who is a Registered Social Security Analyst would be valuable to your team.”

CBS News | Hundreds of thousands of Black children who lost a parent could be missing out on Social Security payments

Even if a grieving family is aware of the benefits, the application process can be complicated and difficult to navigate. Martha Shedden, president of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, noted that there is no option to apply for survivor benefits online. Instead, family members must apply in-person or over the phone, which have backlogs that built up after offices shut down and staff left during the pandemic.”Survivor benefits are the most-under collected of all of the benefits because I think many people may not know that they are eligible for them,” Shedden said…

ThinkAdvisor | How to Help Clients With Make-or-Break Social Security Claiming Decisions

“That’s why Birkett-Brunkhorst recently went through the effort of becoming a registered Social Security analyst via a course administered by the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts. She said the course (in addition to her extensive planning experience) has given her deeper insight into the critical considerations that go into Social Security claiming — when to claim, how to claim and what these decisions mean for a client’s lifetime benefit.”

Yahoo | Social Security 2023: 5 Things Millennials Should Be Focusing on for Retirement

Millennials should expect Social Security will be a large part of their retirement planning process. Martha Shedden — president and co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts — said Social Security is a retirement program millennials, and their employers, contribute to with every paycheck through the FICA deduction. Essentially, it’s like how millennials contribute to their Roth or traditional IRA accounts and employer sponsored retirement plans.

CNET | The Social Security Administration Overpaid Me. What Should I Do?

“If you need some additional support outside of the Social Security Administration, programs like Registered Social Security Analysts and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives can assist beneficiaries with these sorts of disputes and help them further understand the complexities of their benefits.”

Yahoo | Social Security 2023: Can You Be Asked To Pay Back Past Benefits?

Martha Shedden, president and co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, said that there are two particular scenarios that are common reasons for overpayment. The first is “working while claiming early benefits (between age 62 and full retirement age),” she said. “There are specific limits on earnings allowed in this age group, and Social Security benefits will be withheld if over those amounts. If the SSA does not know of your income, when they eventually see it reported, they will send an overpayment notice.”