Social Security Essentials: Claim Smarter & Retire Stronger

Overview
Curriculum
Instructor

Social Security is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make — yet most retirees misunderstand how it works.

This course is designed to give you the knowledge, clarity, and confidence you need to make the right claiming decisions for your retirement.

In this step-by-step master class, you’ll learn how Social Security benefits are calculated, how your claiming age affects your monthly income, how spousal and survivor benefits work, how benefits are taxed, and how Social Security fits into a complete retirement income plan.

Whether you’re single, married, widowed, or divorced, you’ll discover strategies that can help protect your income, reduce taxes, and improve your financial security for life.

This course is ideal for pre-retirees, retirees, and anyone who wants to ensure they’re not leaving money on the table — or risking costly mistakes that could impact the rest of their retirement.

By the end of the course, you’ll understand how to optimize Social Security for your personal situation and how to build a stronger, more dependable retirement plan.

Please Note: The information presented in this course is for informational purposes only. The information in this course is believed to have been accurate at the time the course was developed. No representation or warranty is made regarding the continued accuracy of the information. This course is not intended to serve as personalized investment advice. Participants are encouraged to consult a qualified financial professional to address their specific financial situation. No portion of the content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results or satisfaction if Dan White & Associates or CoreCap Advisors, LLC are engaged to provide investment advisory services. Dan White & Associates provides investment advisory services through CoreCap Advisors, LLC. Dan White & Associates and CoreCap Advisors, LLC are separate and unaffiliated entities.

Curriculum

7 Sections
33 Lessons
Lifetime

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MODULE 1 — Why Social Security Matters
Social Security is far more than a monthly check — it is a core pillar of most retirement income plans. In this module, you’ll learn why Social Security is so valuable, what it’s designed to protect you from, and why your claiming decision can impact you for the rest of your life. We’ll establish the foundation for understanding the system, the risks it offsets, and why it remains financially reliable despite ongoing concerns about its future.
4
MODULE 2 — How Benefits are Calculated
This module explains exactly how Social Security calculates your retirement benefit. Many people assume the system looks only at recent income, or takes a simple average of their earnings—but that is not the case. Social Security uses a complex formula based on your highest 35 years of earnings, indexed for inflation, and translated through specific “bend points” to determine your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). Understanding this calculation is essential for making informed decisions about working longer, verifying earnings accuracy, and predicting future benefits. By the end of this module, you will understand how Social Security determines your monthly benefit and what factors truly make a difference.
4
MODULE 3 — When Should You Claim Benefits?
This module teaches learners how to properly evaluate the timing of their Social Security benefits. While many people assume they should claim as soon as they retire—or as soon as they’re eligible—timing is one of the most consequential financial decisions a person will make. This module explains why claiming age should be based on financial need, health factors, longevity expectations, and the structure of the overall retirement income plan. Students will finish this module with a clearer understanding of how to determine the ideal claiming age for their unique situation.
4
MODULE 4 — Spousal, Survivor & Divorced Benefits
This module explains the different Social Security benefits available to spouses, surviving spouses, and divorced individuals. Students will learn how these benefits are calculated, when they apply, and how they can be strategically used to enhance retirement security. Since these benefits can significantly increase household income, this module is essential for anyone who is married, widowed, or previously married for 10+ years.
5
MODULE 5 — Longevity, Inflation & Taxation: The “LIT” Factors
This module examines the three most significant risks every retiree faces: living longer than expected, the rising cost of living, and the impact of taxes on retirement income. Students will learn how Social Security interacts with each of these risks and why optimizing benefits is essential for building a secure, efficient, and sustainable retirement plan.
5
MODULE 6 — How Social Security Fits Into a Full Retirement Plan
This module connects all the concepts from the course and shows how Social Security interacts with pensions, IRAs, 401(k)s, taxes, income needs, and long-term financial stability. Students will learn how to integrate Social Security into a comprehensive retirement income plan, identify common pitfalls, and understand why professional guidance can be critical for making informed decisions.
6
FINAL MODULE — Conclusion & Next Steps
This closing module summarizes the most important concepts from the course and gives learners a clear, confident roadmap for applying what they’ve learned. It reinforces the value of strategic Social Security planning and guides students toward taking meaningful next steps in their own retirement preparation.
5

Andrew Wood

Andrew possesses a wealth of knowledge in a wide range of financial products including mutual funds, annuities, life insurance, and ETFs. Over the years, Andrew has assisted and educated other Financial Professionals across the country in creating financial plans that meet the specific and unique needs of their clients. He has in-depth knowledge of Social Security filing strategies, and has presented at a multitude of educational seminars. Andrew is passionate about helping retirees and pre-retirees create financial goals and individualized plans for their retirement.