Surgent's Social Security and Medicare: Planning for You and Your Clients

Objectives:

• Identify who is entitled to retirement benefits and in what amounts
• Identify factors to consider in determining when to take benefits
• Discuss taxation of Social Security benefits and how this impacts other income tax planning
• Identify and describe the potential effects of retirement and estate planning strategies and tactics that can enhance overall retirement
• Explain Medicare and the prescription drug provision; describe the basic supplementary insurance plans that are available to fill in the gaps in basic Medicare coverage

Major Topics:

• Legislative developments
• A full chapter devoted to determining the best planning options for maximizing joint Social Security benefits
• Retirement benefits: Amount of benefits in various circumstances; how the amounts are distributed within the family unit
• Qualification: Has the client retired? How business entities may be used for Social Security advantage
• Income taxation of Social Security: avoidance tactics
• Spousal benefits: Should a spouse return to work? What benefits does a spouse have and when and how do they relate to benefits decisions by the client?
• When can hiring the spouse increase overall benefits?  Why should both spouses qualify for survivor benefits?
• Disability benefits
• When to start Social Security benefits: Advantages and disadvantages at ages 62, full retirement age, and 70
• Coordinating benefits: Should you take Social Security first and higher-balance IRA distributions later, or take IRA balances first and enhanced Social Security benefits later?
• Pensions: Distribution strategies; how to use the minimum distribution rules in concert with Social Security benefits
• IRAs: Is it time to convert to a Roth?
• Medicare, Part D prescription drugs: what retirees need to know

Designed For:

Prerequisite:

Additional Info:

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