ThinkAdvisor | How to Minimize Taxes When Social Security, RMDs Kick In

Published: April 1, 2021

Financial advisors who have Social Security expertise and the understanding of tax consequences when withdrawing funds from retirement accounts and other income streams are extremely well-suited to providing retirement planning.

Kitces.com | Weekend Reading for Financial Planners

Published: March 25, 2021

The RSSA program includes a module on incorporating Social Security claiming strategies into the overall retirement income plan, and also covers Medicare (and where Medicare claiming overlaps with Social Security claiming strategies), with a particular focus on learning through Case Studies that apply the knowledge to practical sample client scenarios. All built around the recognition that as technology increasingly commoditizes the “basic” elements of financial and retirement planning, the pressure is on financial advisors to up their game and expertise to continue to add more value on top.

Yahoo Money | Retirees still have to pay ‘hidden’ taxes on Social Security, expert says

Published: March 25, 2021

“The taxation of Social Security income amongst all the other retirement income is kind of hidden,” Martha Shedden, executive director of National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, told Yahoo Money. “A lot of people don’t know that their Social Security income will be taxed.”

InvestmentNews | New option for Social Security training

Published: March 22, 2021

During the past two years of beta testing, more than 2,000 financial professionals have taken the online courses and more than 200 individuals have passed the national competency exam to earn the RSSA designation, said Martha Shedden, executive director and co-founder of NARSSA. The program is designed both for financial professionals and career changers.

ThinkAdvisor | There’s a New Social Security Certification in Town

Published: March 18, 2021

This new organization and program not only trains and tests advisors on the ins and outs of Social Security planning for clients — approved by the CFP Board for 8.5 hours of continuing education credits — but also has software available to create in-depth reports that project maximum Social Security benefits for clients.

ThinkAdvisor | 3 Things Advisors Should Know About Social Security and Taxes

Published: March 8, 2021

This all-inclusive type of retirement planning lends itself perfectly to financial advisors who are also certified as registered Social Security analysts (RSSAs). Having the Social Security knowledge and training provides financial advisors with an enormous advantage and a huge opportunity to help their clients plan ahead.