Social Security – Bananas

December 18, 2019 by Backnineadmin
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As I write my last newsletter for the year, I struggle to capture any specific topic, so I’ll call this my potpourri newsletter:  Things to consider for our clients and ourselves: DIVORCE HAPPENS – I received an email from a CPA in Dallas this morning regarding a client of his.  She recently got divorced after 10+ years of marriage and is in her mid 50’s, during the marriage SHE had a small Sch C business that she operated out of their home.  For whatever reason Continue reading →

The End of Retirement

November 21, 2019 by Backnineadmin
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Each month when I sit down to consider the topic for my monthly newsletter, I pretty much let the topic come to me and see where it leads me.  This month several sources pointed me to this month’s topic.  On Saturday I spoke with my brother in law and he told me they just got back from a wedding in Maine for one of their friend’s daughters, and the father of the bride and another friend discussed their recent retirements.  They shared that after an Continue reading →

Cover the Nut?

October 28, 2019 by Backnineadmin
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2006 “‘cover your nut’ is an accounting term meaning to sell enough goods or services to meet your expenses. The term originally came from the Old West, he said. When a peddler came into a hotel and needed a room but didn’t have any money, the hotelkeeper would take their hub, or ‘nut,’ from the wagon wheel as a deposit. If the peddler sold enough, the nut was covered.”—Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska), 6 August> I was recently hired by one of the largest car dealers in Continue reading →

Survivorship and Widows Benefit Options

September 23, 2019 by Backnineadmin
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  Lately I’ve had several cases pertaining to divorce or survivorship benefits, this can be an extremely confusing due to Social Security law changes that took place back in 2015. Divorced Claiming Options Must have been married for at least 10 consecutive years to the same person Must be currently unmarried If you claim benefits prior to FRA (Full Retirement Age) and are still working, you are subject to the Earning Test (lose $1 for every $2 you earn above $17,640 per year) If you Continue reading →

Do You Drag Chips?

August 21, 2019 by Backnineadmin
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A couple of weeks ago I was up in Ruidoso, NM escaping the Texas heat and we decided to go over to Inn of the Mountain Gods for dinner.  While there I took the opportunity to sneak into the casino to play a little Blackjack.  Now when I play Blackjack I have a predetermined amount of money I’m willing to lose, but I also drag chips if I’m on a winning streak.  Dragging chips means I take chips off the table and put them into Continue reading →

$3.4 TRILLION LOST

July 23, 2019 by Backnineadmin
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A just released study using Government statistics, published by United Income called “The Retirement Solution Hiding in Plain Sight” highlighted the fact that American’s have lost and are losing $3.4 Trillion or $111,000 per household in Social Security benefits by claiming benefits incorrectly!  Claiming benefits too early is the cause of this loss in lifetime benefits! 40% claim benefits at age 62, while only 4% wait until the optimal age of 70. So why is that so many people make this mistake?  It is my Continue reading →

Taxes and Social Security Benefits

June 25, 2019 by Backnineadmin
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A recent reader asked me to write on the taxation of Social Security benefits, so here goes.  Social Security can be non taxed or partially taxed based upon their income in that year.  The IRS calculation is based upon one’s Provisional Income and includes 1) Adjusted gross income (AGI) without the Social Security income, plus 2) one-half of their Social Security income + tax-exempt bond interest. The first step is to see if Social Security income is taxed by comparing Provisional Income to the attached Continue reading →

How Old Are You?

May 22, 2019 by Backnineadmin
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What’s your date of birth is the first question always asked when I run a Social Security analysis, but is it the right question to ask?  Your chronological age is used to determine when is the earliest you claim, your FRA (Full Retirement Age) allows you to claim without worrying about the Earnings Test and if you delay until age 70 you receive maximum benefits.  But is using one’s Birthday the best or most important parameter as to when to claim benefits? What’s your check Continue reading →

Life Happens – Things Change

March 29, 2019 by Backnineadmin
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  March 2019 Newsletter Mistakes are being made, opportunities are being lost and ignorance is not bliss!  In the last month I’ve received several phone calls from clients and referrals regarding Social Security claiming, below is a brief synopsis of several calls; Joe will turn 70 in August 2019, he’s planning on postponing benefits until his 70th birthday.  In March of 2018 his wife had passed away.  Joe did not realize that he could have received survivorship benefits (100% of his wife’s benefits) starting last Continue reading →

Proposed Changes to Social Security Benefits

February 21, 2019 by Backnineadmin
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With the Democrats now in charge of the House, they recently introduced The Social Security 2100 Act.  I thought it would be timely and appropriate to look at their proposed changes and see how it might affect my ongoing consultations and the clients I serve.  The objective of the bill would be to increase benefits while at the same time increasing the solvency of Social Security for the rest of the Century. Positives Provide an across-the-board benefit increase of 2% of the average Social Security Continue reading →