Social Security Basics and Strategies for Maximizing Benefits 26-27

Though many clients see Social Security as a government benefit, it is really a covered worker's investment asset to be managed like any other ass...

8/19/2026 10:00am - 5:30pm  |  Online  |  CalCPA

Members: $329.00, Non-members: $439.00

CPE Categories: Taxation (8 CPE)

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Description

Though many clients see Social Security as a government benefit, it is really a covered worker's investment asset to be managed like any other asset. This course examines how Social Security benefits are calculated, identifying benefit-claiming strategies and what spouses can do now to maximize benefits at retirement. You'll learn how Social Security works and explore common planning situations’including workers with and without spouses, sandwich-generation families with dependent parents and minor children, and surviving and/or divorced spouses’with the focus on techniques to maximize your clients' benefits.

Target Audience

CPAs, financial advisers, attorneys, insurance and other professionals.

Course Objectives

• Determine how Social Security works, how benefits are calculated, who are beneficiaries, and techniques to maximize your clients' benefits • Recognize the language and forms of the Social Security Administration • Outline the earnings test and other drawbacks to drawing benefits early and how to plan around them

Subjects

• Social Security planning, benefit calculation, and beneficiaries • Recent changes to "file and suspend" and "restricted application" strategies • Increasing benefits for divorced and surviving spouses • Early retirement and the earnings test • An overview of the obstacles beneficiaries face when claiming Social Security disability benefits • Integrating retirement plan distribution strategies with Medicare and Social Security claiming strategies