Social Security 101
For many Americans, Social Security makes up a significant piece of their retirement. The value of a stream of monthly payments over the course of a married couple’s retirement is oftentimes well over $1 Million! Because of this, it is critical to have a plan and to have a strategy before you ever decide to turn on your Social Security benefits. That is what this workshop is dedicated to… helping you to formulate a plan and a strategy.
Below are the topics that will be covered:
- When can I and when should I start receiving my benefits?
- Upcoming changes to Social Security… will it even be here for my whole retirement?
- How are my benefits calculated?
- How are my Social Security benefits taxed?
- How to reduce taxes on my Social Security.
- Can I work and still receive benefits?
- When is my Full Retirement Age and what does that even mean?
- When can my spouse collect spousal benefits?
- How is Social Security coordinated with Medicare and Disability?
- When can I receive benefits as a divorced spouse?
- When can I receive benefits as a widow or widower?
- What if I make a mistake?
- What will reduce my Social Security benefits?
- How to choose between taking my benefits early vs delaying?
- Social Security benefits vs inflation.
Register today and sleep easy knowing you have a plan!
Event Details:
- Course Name:
- Social Security 101
- Date and Time:
- Thursday: March 27th, 11:30am
Monday: March 31st, 6:30pm
- Registration Phone:
- (866) 995-4401
- Location:
- Downers Grove Rec Center
4500 Belmont Road Downers Grove, IL 60515 - Cost:
- Free
Instructor:
Joshua Bretl
View Instructor's Page
Joshua Bretl
Josh Bretl is a CPA who loves working with retirees. Josh teamed up with his father in 2003 at FSR Certified Public Accountants, Ltd. to build secure financial futures for retirees and pre-retirees in the greater Chicago area. He is proud to work at a family-owned firm that specializes in tax-focused retirement strategies.
Josh is a graduate of York High School and the University of Illinois, where he met his wife, Melissa. They were married shortly after college and now have three children: twin boys, Alex and Zach, and a daughter, Maggie.
“I have learned over two decades of working with retirees is that Social Security is a very confusing topic that is very rarely understood completely. For example, the decision you make with Social Security will impact the taxes you pay on your other assets, and vice versa the decisions you make on your other assets will impact how much of your Social Security is taxed.”
“While people are working, they must decide how much and where to save their money. In retirement it’s the opposite, they must decide how much to spend and where that money is going to come from. Social Security plays a major role in that decision, and I love talking people
through that decision making process.”
Josh currently serves on the board of directors for the Community Bank of Elmhurst. He is a lifelong Cubs fan and enjoys spending time with his family. Josh is sharing his love of baseball as he coaches his boys’ baseball team. Both he and Melissa love to travel and have an affinity for finding excellent restaurants.
