National Social Security Advisor · NSSA®

Most Retirees Leave $110,000+ on the Table

The difference between a good and optimal Social Security filing strategy can be six figures. A free, personalized analysis changes everything — before you file.

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✓ No cost, ever 🎓 NSSA® Certified 🤝 No sales pressure 📋 You keep the report

Your Free SS Analysis Includes

Personalized to your age, earnings history & goals

$110K+

Average lifetime income forfeited by sub-optimal claiming
— Social Security Administration research

Optimal claiming age & break-even analysis
Spousal, survivor & divorced-spouse strategies
Side-by-side comparison of every filing option
Tax impact of each claiming scenario
Coordination with Medicare & IRMAA
Multi-page written report — yours to keep

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No credit card. No obligation. No sales call.

Lifetime SS Income · Sample Age 62 vs. Age 70

$148,200

Additional lifetime income from delaying to age 70 vs. claiming early — for a typical beneficiary

Age 62 (early)$312K lifetime

Age 67 (FRA)$396K lifetime

Age 70 (maximum)$460K lifetime

The Problem

Social Security Is the Most Underestimated Decision in Retirement

Social Security is the only guaranteed, inflation-adjusted, lifelong income source most Americans will ever have. Yet most people make their claiming decision in minutes — based on incomplete information or bad advice from friends.

A recent SSA analysis found that the average retiree household forgoes over $110,000 in lifetime income due to less-than-optimal claiming decisions. That's not a rounding error. That's real money that should be in your pocket — and your surviving spouse's pocket.

* SSA Office of Retirement Research analysis. Sample illustrations are hypothetical and vary by individual earnings history, age, and filing strategy.

The right strategy depends on your health, your spouse's benefits, whether you're still working, your tax situation, and dozens of other factors. This is not a one-size-fits-all decision — and that's exactly why Alan built a free, personalized analysis for people just like you.

See What the Analysis Covers →

What You Receive

A Complete Social Security Optimization — Free

This isn't a generic calculator. It's a professionally prepared, multi-page analysis built specifically around your Social Security earnings record, your spouse's situation, and your goals.

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Free

All Filing Options Compared

Every claiming age from 62 to 70 modeled side-by-side — with cumulative income projections for each scenario so you can see exactly what each choice means in real dollars.

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Free

Spousal & Survivor Strategies

Married? Divorced? Widowed? The strategies change dramatically. We analyze spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and divorced spouse entitlements to find the highest lifetime household income.

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Free

Break-Even Analysis

At what age does delaying pay off? We calculate your personal break-even point for every filing strategy so you can make an informed decision based on your health and longevity expectations.

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Free

Tax Impact of Each Strategy

Most people don't realize up to 85% of their Social Security can be taxable. We model the tax impact of each claiming scenario — because the highest benefit isn't always the highest after-tax benefit.

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Free

Medicare & IRMAA Coordination

Your SS filing age affects your Medicare Part B premiums through IRMAA surcharges. We make sure your income timing doesn't trigger unnecessary premium increases.

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Free

Written Report — Yours to Keep

A detailed, professionally prepared multi-page report specific to your situation. Take it to your CPA, share it with family, or simply file it. You own it — no strings attached.

The Process

Simple. Free. No Pressure.

Three steps from here to your personalized Social Security analysis

Complete the Data Form

Alan uses a secure online form to gather your Social Security earnings history, age, marital status, and goals. Takes about 10 minutes. Your information is never shared.

Alan Builds Your Report

Using professional Social Security analysis software, Alan personally prepares your multi-page optimization report — modeling every relevant scenario for your specific situation.

Free 1-Hour Consultation

Alan walks through your report with you page by page — answering questions, explaining trade-offs, and making sure you leave with complete confidence in your filing strategy.

Start My Free Analysis →

Or book a quick 15-minute call first: Schedule here →

Free Download

2026 Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet

The numbers every pre-retiree needs in one place — Social Security bend points, Medicare premiums, IRMAA thresholds, tax brackets, RMD ages, and more. Prepared by Alan Crawford, NSSA® · RICP®.

📊 SS Bend Points & Thresholds 🏥 Medicare Premiums & IRMAA 💰 2026 Tax Brackets 📅 RMD Ages & Rates

Get the Free PDF →

Instant download — no obligation

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2026 Cheat Sheet

Updated annually with current IRS & SSA figures

Download Free →

No credit card. No sales call.

What We Cover

Every Social Security Scenario, Addressed

Social Security is more complex than most people realize. Here are the key areas your analysis will address.

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Optimal Claiming Age

Age 62 through 70 — each year you delay increases your benefit by ~6–8%. We find your sweet spot.

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Spousal Benefit Strategies

A spouse can claim up to 50% of your benefit at full retirement age. Coordination matters enormously.

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Survivor Benefit Planning

The surviving spouse inherits the higher benefit. We model how your claiming decision protects your partner.

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Divorced Spouse Benefits

Divorced after 10 years of marriage? You may be entitled to benefits based on your ex's record — even if they remarried.

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Still Working? Earnings Test

Claiming before FRA while still working can temporarily reduce your benefit. We model the impact and timing.

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Government Pension Offset

Receive a government pension? WEP and GPO rules may affect your SS benefit. We account for both.

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COLA & Inflation Coordination

SS's annual cost-of-living adjustments make delaying even more valuable. We factor COLA into lifetime projections.

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Social Security Fairness Act

Recent legislation eliminated WEP & GPO reductions for many government workers. We assess your updated entitlement.

Advanced Planning

Beyond the Basics — What Most Advisors Miss

As a National Social Security Advisor (NSSA®), Alan goes deeper than just "when to claim." These strategies can significantly increase your lifetime household income.

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Spousal Benefit Optimization

A spouse who earned less (or didn't work) can claim up to 50% of the higher earner's Full Retirement Age benefit. Properly coordinating both spouses' claiming ages can dramatically increase lifetime household income — sometimes by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

↑ High Impact for Married Couples

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Survivor Benefit Strategy

When one spouse passes, the surviving spouse keeps the larger of the two benefits. Maximizing the higher earner's benefit by delaying to 70 is often the best longevity insurance you can buy — protecting a surviving spouse for potentially decades.

↑ Critical for Longevity Planning

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Divorced Spouse Benefits

If you were married for 10+ years and are currently unmarried, you may be eligible for benefits based on your ex-spouse's record — without affecting their benefit at all. Many divorced individuals don't know they qualify, missing significant income.

↑ Often Overlooked Opportunity

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Working While Claiming

If you claim before Full Retirement Age and continue working, Social Security withholds $1 for every $2 earned above the annual limit. At FRA, the earnings test disappears entirely. Understanding this is essential if you plan to phase into retirement gradually.

↑ Important for Part-Time Workers

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SS + Roth Conversion Coordination

Strategic Roth conversions in the years before you claim can reduce future taxable income, minimizing the portion of your SS benefit that's taxable. This coordination between SS timing and tax planning can save thousands over a retirement.

↑ Significant Tax Savings Potential

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SS + Medicare IRMAA Coordination

The timing of your Social Security claim directly affects your income in the 2-year look-back period that determines Medicare IRMAA surcharges. Done correctly, SS timing planning can reduce your Medicare premiums by hundreds per year.

↑ Reduces Medicare Surcharges

Often Overlooked

Social Security & Taxes — What You Need to Know

Up to 85% of your Social Security benefit may be taxable. How much depends on your combined income — and proper planning can reduce this significantly.

The IRS uses your "combined income" — your adjusted gross income, plus non-taxable interest, plus half your Social Security benefit — to determine what percentage of SS is taxable.

The interaction between Social Security, RMDs (Required Minimum Distributions), and other income can create what's called the "SS tax torpedo" — a zone where additional income is taxed at an unexpectedly high effective rate.

Planning opportunity: Strategic Roth conversions before age 73 (when RMDs begin), along with careful income sequencing, can dramatically reduce the percentage of SS that's taxable — potentially saving tens of thousands over a retirement.

Combined Income (Single)	% SS Taxable
Under $25,000	0%
$25,000 – $34,000	Up to 50%
Over $34,000	Up to 85%

Combined Income (Married)	% SS Taxable
Under $32,000	0%
$32,000 – $44,000	Up to 50%
Over $44,000	Up to 85%

These thresholds have not been indexed for inflation since 1983 — meaning more retirees are affected every year.

Critical Connection

How Social Security & Medicare Work Together

These two programs are deeply intertwined. Decisions about one directly affect the other — and getting both right requires looking at them together.

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Part B Premiums via IRMAA

Your income is used in the 2-year look-back to determine whether you pay IRMAA surcharges on Medicare Part B and Part D. Delaying SS — while doing Roth conversions — can temporarily increase income and trigger IRMAA. Alan plans around this to avoid unnecessary premium spikes.

✓IRMAA exposure modeled before recommending SS timing
✓In some cases, claiming SS earlier reduces IRMAA by lowering other income
✓Coordination saves hundreds to thousands per year in premiums

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The Age 65 Connection

If you're already collecting Social Security when you turn 65, you're automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. If you're not yet collecting SS, you need to enroll in Medicare manually. Missing this deadline results in permanent late enrollment penalties.

✓Delayed SS + turning 65 = manual Medicare enrollment required
✓Part B premiums can be deducted directly from SS payments
✓Timing of SS claim can simplify or complicate Medicare enrollment

NSSA®National Social Security Advisor

RICP®Retirement Income Certified Professional · The American College

CLTC®Certified Long-Term Care Specialist

Series 65Investment Advisor Representative · Sequent Planning

Your Advisor

Alan Crawford — Virginia's Social Security Planning Specialist

Alan Crawford has spent more than 35 years helping Virginians navigate the complexities of retirement. As a National Social Security Advisor (NSSA®), Alan brings rare, dedicated expertise to what is often the most underanalyzed piece of a retirement plan.

"Most of my clients have spent decades working and paying into Social Security. It's their money. I believe they deserve to know — with certainty — that they're getting every dollar they've earned. That's what this analysis does."

Alan also holds the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) designation from The American College and is a Certified Long-Term Care (CLTC®) specialist. He serves as a financial educator for the Society for Financial Awareness and The Retirement Planning Center, regularly speaking to groups across Virginia.

For clients who want comprehensive retirement planning beyond Social Security, Alan is an Investment Advisor Representative of Sequent Planning, LLC — a fee-only, boutique RIA focused on low-cost ETF portfolios. You can explore the full scope of his services at pcretire.com.

📍 Midlothian, VA 23113 · Serving Richmond Metro and clients nationwide via Zoom
📞 804-250-1034 | ✉️ alan@pcretire.com

Part of a Bigger Picture

Social Security Is Just One Piece of Your Retirement Puzzle

Once your Social Security strategy is locked in, there are three more critical decisions every person approaching retirement must make. Alan helps with all of them — at no cost for Medicare and Long-Term Care planning.

🏥 Medicare Planning 🏡 Long-Term Care 📈 Retirement Income Planning 💰 Investment Management

Medicare and Long-Term Care planning are always $0 — Alan is compensated by the carriers, never by you.

Peak Confidence
Retirement Planning

Alan's full-service retirement planning practice — Medicare, Social Security, Long-Term Care, and Investment Management

Visit pcretire.com →

Ready? It's Free.

Get Your Personalized Social Security Analysis

A multi-page, professionally prepared report built around your earnings history, your spouse's situation, and your goals. Plus a free one-hour consultation to walk through every page. Nothing to buy. Ever.

Start My Free Analysis →

Book a quick intro call first: Schedule 15 minutes →

Email Alan directly: alan@pcretire.com · 804-250-1034

✓ No cost — ever ✓ No sales pressure ✓ You keep the report ✓ Nationwide via Zoom