News and Media

ThinkAdvisor | Martha Shedden: Why Advisors Should Watch the Social Security 2100 Bill

Published: November 23, 2021

Martha Shedden is president of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, which she co-founded in 2016. An engineer by training, Shedden turned to financial and retirement education in 2011 when she opened her business, Shedden Social Security & Retirement Planning. In an email, Shedden responded to 10 questions on her professional and personal endeavors.

Forbes | The New Social Security Statements: Reasons To Check Yours Out

Published: November 19, 2021

Martha Shedden, co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, had a mixed review of the new Social Security Statement. She liked its short length, layout and colored formatting “which make it easier for workers to quickly understand their benefits,” Shedden told me. And she approved of the monthly benefit estimates, the Statement’s “Retirement Ready Fact Sheet” for people (based on their age decade) and links, rather than arcane wording, to some of Social Security’s claiming rules…

Next Avenue | The New Social Security Statements: Reasons to Check Yours Out

Published: November 16, 2021

“Martha Shedden, co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, had a mixed review of the new Social Security Statement. She liked its short length, layout and colored formatting “which make it easier for workers to quickly understand their benefits,” Shedden told me. And she approved of the monthly benefit estimates…”

TheStreet | Retirement Daily Learning Center Webinar: Social Security Primer

Published: November 8, 2021

In the first of several Retirement Daily Learning Center webinars about Social Security, Martha Shedden, CRPC, RSSA, co-founder and president of The National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, explores the following topics: full retirement age; qualifying for Social Security; calculating retirement benefits; average indexed monthly earnings; primary insurance amount; reductions and credits; life expectancy; and working while collecting.

ThinkAdvisor | What Does a Short-Term Boost Do for Social Security? Plenty, Says a Top Analyst

Published: October 29, 2021

Retirement expert Martha Shedden thinks Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., who introduced the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust bill Tuesday, has “done a great job overall.” But after going through the various sections, she called Larson’s office to ask why many provisions in the bill only last from early 2022 to year-end 2026.

TheStreet | Should I File for Social Security on My Own Record First and Spousal Benefits Later?

Published: October 28, 2021

The highest spousal benefit is 50% of her husband’s primary insurance amount, or PIA, the retirement benefit he is entitled to at his full retirement age of 67, according to Martha Shedden, the co-founder and president of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts.

TheStreet | How Inflation Hits Social Security Benefits

Published: October 26, 2021

The dual effect of rising healthcare costs in the form of Medicare Part B premiums and Social Security income taxation thresholds that are not indexed will continue this net decrease if changes are not implemented, said Martha Shedden, co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts. According to Shedden, the two are different problems with possible varied solutions.

ThinkAdvisor | Why Social Security Claiming Comes First in Retirement Planning

Published: October 26, 2021

For financial planners looking to attract retirement-age clients, Social Security advice is perhaps the most nearly universal, nonthreatening and sought-after retirement financial topic. The financial consequences that result from helping workers understand and make a smart Social Security election decision are numerous.

Yahoo Finance | How To Protect Yourself From Social Security Scams

Published: October 20, 2021

“Social Security telephone scams are common,” said Martha Shedden, RSSA(r), CRPC and president and co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts. “My tip is to hang up and to not share or verify any information…”

Newsday | Opinion: A joint effort to save Social Security

Published: October 4, 2021

The ongoing impact of the pandemic on Social Security has yet to be determined. But the death toll from COVID will continue to shrink employment and reduce FICA tax collection, affecting the longevity of funding for the Social Security system. FICA taxes, commonly known as payroll taxes, are withheld from employee paychecks for Social Security and Medicare. They help fund our Social Security program.