Unpacking Social Security Changes (Ep. 88)

By Relax, It's Retirement | February 18, 2025

Social Security remains a critical foundation for retirement, but recent changes bring new opportunities and challenges for retirees.

What strategies can maximize your Social Security benefits? How do recent legislative changes impact your retirement income plan?

In this episode, Josh Leonard explains the updates to Social Security regulations, including the removal of provisions like WEP and GPO, and their potential impact on retirees. He also shares actionable strategies to optimize benefits and maintain a stable financial future.

Josh discusses:

How Social Security benefits are calculated and ways to maximize them based on retirement age and income
The removal of WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) and GPO (Government Pension Offset) under the Social Security Fairness Act of 2025
The potential implications of retroactive payments and strategies to manage tax liabilities from lump sums
The importance of evaluating spousal and survivor benefits to enhance financial security for couples
Balancing Social Security with other income sources, such as 401(k)s and pensions, to create a comprehensive retirement plan
And more!