Barron's | Social Security Benefits Could Shrink in 10 Years. How to Plan.

Published: August 17, 2023

“Numbers aside, uncertainty about Social Security’s future is frightening. But it’s important not to panic and make an emotional decision, says Martha Shedden, co-founder and president of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, which provides benefit claiming analyses. Shedden is in the camp that doubts benefit cuts will come to pass. But even if they do, she notes, a 23% cut to a bigger check will leave more in your pocket than a 23% cut to a smaller one.”

U.S. News & World Report | Here’s How Much Money You Could Lose if Social Security Goes Bankrupt

Published: August 16, 2023

“The future of the Social Security program will depend on several factors, including upcoming decisions by lawmakers. “Social Security cannot go bankrupt since money is continuously being paid into the trust funds by those who are currently working and paying taxes,” says Martha Shedden, president and co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts in the San Francisco Bay area. “However, if Congress makes no changes, it is possible that a portion of Social Security benefits will be cut sometime around 2034,” Shedden says.”

ThinkAdvisor | 5 Reasons to Pause Social Security Benefits

Published: July 25, 2023

“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

Published: July 21, 2023

“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

Published: June 27, 2023

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

Published: June 13, 2023

“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.”