How to Maximize Social Security Spousal Benefits as a CRNA

What if you’re making a Social Security benefits mistake that could cost you 5 figures?It almost happened to a CRNA.Brett Fellows recently reviewed a retirement plan with a couple where the wife had worked full-time as a CRNA for 25 years while her husband worked part-time to raise their children. They assumed that because he had his own earnings history, he could not claim spousal benefits. That single assumption was a mistake that could have cost them tens of thousands of dollars over their lifetime.In this episode, Brett Fellows, CFP®, breaks down exactly how Social Security spousal benefits work and why they are critical for CRNA couples to understand.Brett explores:The fundamental rules of claiming 50% of a spouse's benefitWhy CRNAs with "gap years" or early retirement dates are specifically affectedThree real-world scenarios: The Traditional Family, The Dual High-Earner Couple, and The Career Gap SituationThe "Social Security Tax Tsunami" and how spousal benefits impact provisional incomeThe four biggest mistakes couples make, including claiming too early and failing to coordinate with tax planningKey Timestamps:(0:45) The costly mistake Sarah and Mark almost made (2:05) Fundamentals: How spousal benefits actually work (2:53) The 50% cap and full retirement age rules (4:05) Why the primary earner must claim first (5:35) Why this matters specifically for CRNAs (8:00) Scenario 1: The Traditional CRNA Family (9:45) Scenario 2: The Dual High-Earner Couple (10:35) Scenario 3: The Career Gap Situation (11:40) The Social Security Tax Tsunami (14:15) 4 common mistakes CRNA couples makeFor more information and resources related to this episode, please visit the show notes.