Episode 115: When Should I Take My Social Security? with Brian Minier

**CORRECTION – in the episode we state that 85% of your benefit is taxed.  To clarify, 85% of your Social Security can be exposed to taxation at whatever your tax rate is. For example if your Social Security monthly benefit is $1000/mo, $850/mo of that would be exposed to your tax rate, (which might be 20%...

**CORRECTION – in the episode we state that 85% of your benefit is taxed.  To clarify, 85% of your Social Security can be exposed to taxation at whatever your tax rate is.

For example if your Social Security monthly benefit is $1000/mo, $850/mo of that would be exposed to your tax rate, (which might be 20% for example.)**

In this episode, we ask:

Do you have a 401(k)? Do you have an IRA? Do you have a Bank on Yourself type whole life insurance policy?
Who is Brian Minier?
What is customized Social Security planning?
Are you walking away from benefits?
Are you allowing your credits to accrue?
Are you eligible to take a spousal benefit?
Is Social Security secure?
What is the reality of the Social Security benefit system?
Have you read the Social Security statements?
What is the history of Social Security?
What was the life expectancy when Social Security started?
At what age did the Social Security pay?
What are the issues?
What is happening with the baby boomers?
What is the decline in worker to beneficiary ratio?
How many people are taking the benefits?
What can politicians do?
How long can you delay benefit?
What are reduced cost living adjustments?
What makes Social Security complex?
What are the 561 different calculations to consider?
Should you always take Social Security early?
Should you wait until age 70 to take benefits?
What are the factors to consider?
Are you married?
Are you receiving a pension?
What should the benefit be?
When should I take the benefit?
How do you qualify for Social Security?
How long do you need to work to collect Social Security?
How do you receive a spousal benefit?
How do you know if Social Security has calculated your statement accurately?
How do you know what you’re going to receive in benefits?
Where can you go to view your current benefits?
Can you view your future benefits, even if you’re young?
Have you visited ssa.gov?
Why is maximizing Social Security so important?
Why is looking at the big picture of a couple so important?
What factors influence the timing?
Have you been diagnosed with a terminal illness?
Are you married and did your spouse work?
Are you married and you have a child who is less than 18 years of age?
What is the most thing that most people never consider?
What about survivorship?
Who usually dies first?
How to plan for a surviving spouse?
What’s the best way to put Social Security to use?
How is Social Security taxed?
What is provisional income?
What types of income are not listed as provisional income?
What are some of the things you can do?
Can converting to a Roth IRA help?
How might using a life insurance vehicle help?
What are the taxes due on Social Security?
How might you lower your provisional income?
What happens if you make more than $44,000 joint income annually?
How much will the government tax your Social Security benefit?
What nuances would affect your benefit amount?
Why is distribution planning important?
Why should Social Security and retirement planning be a combined effort?
Do you know someone who understands the benefits of Social Security?
Where might you learn more?
Do you have a question on Social Security?
Are you age 62 or older?
Would you like to see what’s possible in your situation?

Brian Minier is a Certified Financial Fiduciary® with over 10 years of experience in the insurance and financial service industry. He has an MBA from Malone University and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Akron. Brian is a Certified Bank on Yourself Advisor and assists his clients with many areas of retirement planning and investments.

He specializes in helping seniors plan for retirement and develop smart Social Security strategies, and also provides financial advice and guidance to help individuals weather both good and bad financial markets.

Brian’s particular expertise lies in customized Social Security planning, designing personalized retirement plans to help his clients achieve their individual retirement goals, and income and distribution planning – an area which Brian feels is too often neglected by most traditional advisors.

Brian lives in New Albany with his wife and two children, and is active in his church and community. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, participating in missions work, and working out.

You can reach Brian Minier at Keystone Financial, by calling 614-300-9501.