<![CDATA[RETIREMENTWORKSHOP2020 - Blog]]>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:37:14 -0700EditMySite<![CDATA[How Life Insurance Can Make Your Retirement Tax Free]]>Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:48:38 GMThttps://www.retirementworkshop2020.org/blog/how-life-insurance-can-make-your-retirement-tax-free
Many people don’t know that a whole life insurance policy can be a source of income for retirement. With a whole life policy, your premiums don’t change, and coverage lasts for the rest of your life. Whole life policies also accrue “cash value” over time, because a small percentage of the premium that you pay for insurance costs goes into a savings account that earns interest.
The rate of return varies from company to company, and the cash value of the policy can be withdrawn as an additional source of retirement income. If the amount withdrawn doesn’t exceed the amount you’ve paid in premiums, that money will be tax-free. Of course, withdrawing these funds will reduce the death benefit to your beneficiaries, and withdrawing any dividends earned could be taxed as income. Before deciding whether a whole life policy is right for you, you should understand all your options by speaking with a financial professional. To learn more about smart retirement savings strategies, give us a call, or visit our website today.
]]><![CDATA[3 Key Variables for Social Security Benefits]]>Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:45:07 GMThttps://www.retirementworkshop2020.org/blog/3-key-variables-for-social-security-benefits
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about Social Security. People receive information from a variety of different sources and often don’t know which information applies to their specific scenario. That’s why it’s critical to use a Social Security Optimizer to help you maximize your retirement benefits. It should take into account all applicable Social Security laws, you and your spouse or ex-spouse’s birthdays, and life expectancies. To optimize your custom filing strategy, consider three key variables:
First, consider your Primary Insurance Amount, also called your PIA This is calculated from your top 35 years of working at a job that paid into Social Security.

Second, consider any non-covered pension amount from working at a job that did not pay into Social Security. Having a non-covered pension amount will reduce the amount of retirement benefits that you receive from the Social Security Administration.

And third, consider Delayed Retirement Credits, also called DRC’s. Postponing collection of benefits can earn you an additional 8% in DRC’s every year that you delay filing until age 70.
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When choosing a filing strategy, we’ll work with you to help bridge the gap in income that may result from a delay in filing. It's not only about when and how to file, it's about all the layers of your retirement income working together to get you a tax-smart retirement paycheck.
]]><![CDATA[How To Maximize Social Security Survivor Benefits]]>Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:40:27 GMThttps://www.retirementworkshop2020.org/blog/how-to-maximize-social-security-survivor-benefits
Many people overlook the importance of benefits for the surviving spouse when they initially file for Social Security. Postponing collection of benefits can earn workers 8% in delayed retirement credits every year from full retirement age to age 70. 
Since survivor benefits will reflect any delayed credits, this is a very important strategy for the higher earning spouse. If the higher earning spouse dies first, the higher benefit transfers to the survivor and continues for the rest of their life. Even if the higher earning spouse dies before ever claiming a benefit, those credits earned will still boost the survivor benefits. To be eligible for survivor benefits, the survivor had to have been married for at least 9 months or be a caregiver of the deceased’s child under age 16. The surviving spouse can claim survivor benefits as early as age 60, or 50 if disabled, but the benefit will be reduced. By waiting until full retirement age, the surviving spouse can collect 100% of the late worker's benefits, including any delayed credits. Decisions on when to begin receiving Social Security benefits have a lifelong impact for you and your spouse – so call us today for more information.
]]><![CDATA[RetirementWorkshop2020 Blog]]>Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:37:18 GMThttps://www.retirementworkshop2020.org/blog/retirementworkshop2020-blogPicture
Welcome to our new insurance agency blog!
 
This is our very first post. We're not quite sure what we're going to write about here, but the plan is to create helpful content for customers and prospective clients about information that is relevant to you.
 
We hope you'll come to view this as a top resource for keeping your family and your finances safe.
 
Here are a few of the topics we may be writing about:
  • Answers to clients' frequently asked questions.
  • Helpful information about insurance shopping.
  • Safety and Health Tips and Ideas.
  • Local Community Information.
 
Stay Tuned!
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