Social Security Planning in Orange County, NY
Turn a Complex Decision Into a Confident Strategy.
When and how you claim Social Security can affect your income for the rest of your life—and often your spouse’s life too. At Cammareri Wealth Management Group, we help individuals and couples in Orange County, NY and beyond make thoughtful Social Security decisions that support their retirement plan instead of relying on guesswork or generic advice.
Social Security Planning, Made Clear
From “When Should I File?” to “Here’s Our Plan.”
Social Security is one of the most misunderstood parts of retirement. There are questions about timing, spousal and survivor benefits, taxation, and how working in retirement might affect what you receive. Our role is to translate the rules into plain English and show you how various claiming strategies could impact your income over time.
Grounded in our five core commitments—communication, consolidation, customized strategies, comprehensive planning, and long-term commitment—we look at Social Security in the context of your entire financial picture. We don’t work for or represent the Social Security Administration, but we help you understand your options so you can make informed decisions before you file.
Four Pillars of a Thoughtful Social Security Strategy
A good Social Security decision is about more than “break-even” math—it’s about your life, your health, and your goals. We focus on four pillars:
Understanding Your Eligibility and Benefit Estimates
We start by reviewing your earnings record and estimated benefits at different ages. We discuss your work history, marital status, and health considerations so you have a clear sense of what you’re entitled to and how your decisions may affect future benefits.
Evaluating Claiming Ages and Spousal Options
Next, we walk through different claiming ages—early, full retirement age, and age 70—and how each affects your monthly benefit. If you’re married, divorced, or widowed, we also explore spousal and survivor benefit options so your strategy supports both of you, not just one person.
Accounting for Taxes and Working in Retirement
Many people are surprised to find that Social Security benefits can be taxable, and that working while collecting can temporarily reduce checks before full retirement age. We help you understand these rules so you can avoid unpleasant surprises and plan around potential “gotchas” in your strategy.
Coordinating Social Security With Other Income
Social Security doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We look at how your benefits interact with withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s, pensions, part-time work, and taxable investments. This coordination helps you decide when to claim benefits in a way that fits your tax picture, income needs, and longevity expectations.
Key Areas We Help You Think Through
Choosing When to Claim Benefits
We help you compare scenarios—claiming early, at full retirement age, or delaying—to see how each option affects your lifetime income and your spouse’s potential survivor benefit. Together, we consider health, family history, work plans, and risk comfort to arrive at a choice that feels right for your situation.
Coordinating Spousal and Survivor Benefits
If you’re married, divorced, or widowed, the rules around spousal and survivor benefits can be especially important. We help you understand what you may be eligible for and how coordinating two benefits (or more) can support your household over both lifetimes.
Understanding How Work Affects Your Benefits
If you plan to work while receiving Social Security, we explain how the earnings test works before full retirement age and what it means for your monthly checks. We also talk about how continued work can affect your benefits over time.
Managing Social Security Taxes and “Hidden” Cliffs
Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be taxable, depending on other income. We help you see how benefits interact with withdrawals, pensions, and investment income so you can plan around tax thresholds and avoid unexpected jumps in your tax bill where possible.
Integrating Social Security With Your Broader Retirement Plan
Social Security is a foundational piece of your retirement income, but it’s not the only piece. We connect your claiming decision to your withdrawal strategy, investment approach, Medicare planning, and legacy goals so everything works together in one cohesive plan.
