Social Security

Americans are leaving millions of dollars on the table by taking Social Security early. On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” 10% of Americans are actually finding the narrow gate of Social Security and taking it at the right time to maximize the benefit. Learn how to make the right Social Security timing decision with Hans and Robby!  

When first deciding when to take your Social Security, Hans and Robby both have ideas about where to start. Hans says first to get your Social Security statement from SSA.gov. It will give you information about where you stand currently. Robby says to start in prayer to get direction on what you should do. Robby hopes this prayer ends in pointing you towards getting professional help if you decide you do not have the time or the expertise to put toward making the decision yourself.  

Many people make decisions based on what their friends or family do, which Hans points out is never smart because they do not have the same earnings record or financial situation that you do. A lot of people take it early because they just want the money, some people go to the other extreme and wait until the last possible minute.  

There are 96 months that you can elect Social Security, and if you have already chosen to elect, it is not too late to change your decision. Hans tells a story about clients who have elected and then realized that they did it too early. The Social Security Administration will actually let you undo your election within a year, but you do have to pay back all the benefits you have already received.  

There are a lot of rumors that Social Security is going away. People use this to justify spontaneous decisions about their Social Security. The government is in the process of addressing people’s fear about Social Security, but nothing is set in stone. Hans explains why it is not worth it to worry about this when making your Social Security elections.  

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You can contact Hans and Cardinal by emailing hans@cardinalguide.com or calling 919-535-8261. Learn more at CardinalGuide.com.