Many retirees and even some financial planning practitioners may not be aware of the ability for a specific subset of folks to be able to claim retroactive social security benefits. The benefits come as a lump sum and cover months in which the individual qualified for benefits but had not yet filed a claim. This strategy can be used for both retirement and disability benefits. Supplemental Social Security Income has no retroactive feature. Understanding how these benefits work, who qualifies, and the implications of retroactive payments is crucial for effective retirement or disability planning.
2 min read
Retroactive Social Security Benefits
By Ryan Naples, CFP®, EA on Sep 2, 2025 10:30:00 AM
Topics: Retirement Planning Financial Planning Centers of Excellence Social Security
3 min read
Key Differences in Investment Risk Between Women and Men
By Rick Hedderick, MBA, CFP on Aug 29, 2025 8:00:00 AM
In the growing career of personal finance, understanding the behavioral attitudes of investors is essential for delivering effective and personally tailored advice. One area where differences have been observed is how women and men see and manage investment risk. These gender-based differences are not only shaped by individual preferences but also by psychological and economic factors. As financial advisors, recognizing these patterns can improve communication, client satisfaction, and lead to better investment outcomes for our clients.
Topics: Financial Planning Investing Centers of Excellence
3 min read
The Big Beautiful Bill and Retirement Planning: Senior Bonus Deduction
By Ash Brokerage on Aug 19, 2025 1:00:00 PM
With more than 800 pages, the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) can seem overwhelming. In this blog series, we break down specific segments focused on retirement planning and how they affect your clients. If a topic piques your interest, consider researching it further or reaching out to our team to talk strategy.
First up: The Senior Bonus Deduction.
What is the Senior Bonus Deduction?
A temporary tax deduction available to eligible American taxpayers who are 65 and older. It is included as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law by President Trump in July 2025.
Topics: Retirement Planning Tax Reform Centers of Excellence
4 min read
The Great Wealth Transfer: Managing Assets for the Next Generation
By Commonwealth Financial Network on Aug 12, 2025 12:15:00 PM
There’s nothing like using the word “great” in a phrase to get people to sit up and take notice, especially in our industry. The Great Depression, the Great Prosperity, and the Great Recession all identified periods in our history with significant economic impacts.
Now, the Great Wealth Transfer is coming. Or, considering that the oldest baby boomers are nearly 80 and the oldest Gen Xers turn 60 this year, it’s no doubt already here. So, what does that mean for you? Two crucial statistics stand out: 1) It’s estimated that $124 trillion will change hands by 20481 and 2) More than 80 percent of heirs fire their parents’ advisors after inheritance2. This could present a serious risk—but also a “great” opportunity—for the future of your advisory business.
Topics: Financial Planning Estate Planning Centers of Excellence
4 min read
Planning for a 9, Not Just a 3: A Personal Take on Life Insurance
By Midland National® Life Insurance Company on Jul 21, 2025 9:45:50 AM
Ask your clients to rate the life they’re living on a scale from 1 to 10.
Their car? An 8 or 9.
Their home? Maybe a 7 or 8.
Their kids’ school? An 8, maybe higher.
Your clients work hard to provide a life they’re proud of. But when it comes to protecting that lifestyle, too many are only planning for a 3. To me, that’s a disconnect. If your clients are working hard to give their families the best, why would the plan to protect it fall short?
Topics: Life Insurance & Annuities Centers of Excellence
4 min read
Debunking the Myths of Retirement Income Planning
By Ash Brokerage on Jul 15, 2025 10:55:23 AM
Retirement income planning is one of the most critical, yet misunderstood, aspects of financial advising. Many advisors and clients alike hold on to outdated beliefs that can negatively impact long-term financial security. In a recent McGSpeaks podcast, I interviewed Randy Kitzmiller, ChFC, CLU, FLMI, RICP and tackled five of the biggest myths surrounding income planning and revealed how advisors can better serve their clients by challenging conventional wisdom. Below, we explore these myths and present actionable insights that can transform retirement planning strategies.
Topics: Retirement Planning Centers of Excellence IREAP
4 min read
Up in the Heir: Retirement Planning for Solo Agers
By Commonwealth Financial Network on Jun 24, 2025 9:34:20 AM
Can you identify the “solo agers” among your client base? They’re broadly defined as unmarried, divorced, or widowed adults with no close heirs. It’s a growing demographic and one that’s often overlooked when it comes to financial planning. Given the lack of traditional planning models for this group, there are several things to keep in mind when working with them.
Topics: Retirement Planning Gerontology/Aging Centers of Excellence
6 min read
Create a Tax-Efficient Legacy with Predictable Lifetime Retirement Income
By Ash Brokerage on Jun 13, 2025 2:22:12 PM
Buy low in one market. Sell high in another.
It’s the basic philosophy of investing, driven by arbitrage. Many clients are taking advantage of arbitrage in some form, be it stocks, bonds, currency, real estate or another leveraged investment to build portfolio wealth.
But what about leveraging the price discrepancies between insurance products?
Topics: Life Insurance & Annuities Retirement Tax Savings Centers of Excellence
3 min read
The “Quiet Wealth” Strategy: Why Boring is the New Brilliant
By Phil Stuczynski on May 15, 2025 3:15:00 PM
In a market dominated by meme stocks, crypto surges, and constant noise, it’s easy to lose sight of the fundamentals. But repeatedly, consistent planning, diversification, and disciplined habits outperform impulse and hype.
The role of a financial professional isn’t just to set the course; it’s to help clients stay on it when the water gets rough or distractions emerge. This opportunity is key to reframing the conversation, shifting focus away from short-term speculation, and highlighting the quiet strength of long-term, intentional planning.
Topics: Financial Planning Investing Centers of Excellence
3 min read
Guiding Clients Through Volatile Markets
By Eric Robbins on May 12, 2025 6:00:00 AM
In times of market volatility, investors often find themselves riding an emotional roller coaster of uncertainty, fear, and frustration. Sometimes, irrational optimism can also creep in. For financial advisors, these moments are not just about numbers and asset allocations but people and relationships. That’s where a nuanced understanding of communication and conflict resolution becomes just as essential as market analysis, which can be unreliable over short time horizons.
Volatile markets test even the most disciplined investor. Stories are everywhere talking about the potential for a recession (or not), inflation (or not), and rate cuts (or not). Information overload and filtering become real concerns. Hype from news services and social media can lead clients to second-guess their strategy or fight the urge to panic-sell at the wrong time. Advisors serve as the emotional anchors in these moments, providing perspective, patience, and a long-term view.