#180 - Q&A edition...Social Security spousal and survivor benefits, finding an advisor who doesn't require investment management, how a decedent's income is taxed and MORE!

Retirement Planning Education, with Andy Panko

Listener Q&A where Andy talks about:

• Starting Social Security benefits early so your minor children can claim dependent benefits, and how the earnings test can come into play if you're still working ( 5:53 )
• Social Security spousal benefits, and what happens when the lower earning spouse starts their own benefit early at a reduced amount, then later switches to spousal benefits ( 10:35)
• Social Security survivor benefits and whether the surviving spouse should start their own benefits earlier before eventually starting the survivor benefit, and whether there will be a reduction to the survivor benefit as a result ( 13:46 )
• If spouses each have IRAs, does it matter from which IRA they take distributions ( 18:28 )
• How income from a decedent's investments is taxed after the death of the decedent ( 23:01 )
• Whether tax withholdings from wages is treated the same as tax withholdings from IRA distributions with regards to the IRS viewing the amount withheld as having happened evenly throughout the year to help avoid underpayment penalties and interest ( 30:57 )
• How to find a financial advisor/planner who works on a limited engagement basis for just certain guidance or questions (such as Social Security claiming questions and tax return reviews), without requiring management of investments ( 36:49 )
• Why do so many advisors require management of investments to provide their planning services, and how to find an advisor who doesn't (this is an extension of the previous question) ( 41:14 )
• Using zero-coupon Treasury STRIPS in retirement for income after wages stop but before Social Security or other income sources start ( 45:40 )

To send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email [email protected]

Links in this episode:

• Devin Carroll's Social Security Spousal Benefit Calculator
• Finding an "advice-only" advisor - www.AdviceOnlyNetwork.com

• My company newsletter - Retirement Planning Insights
• Facebook group - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Taxes in Retirement)
• YouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)
• Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.com