Can you afford to lose $1500 a month?

If you file for Social Security at the wrong time, you could be leaving up to 76% of your benefits on the table. You need an expert by your side to help you get the most out of your benefits.

Schedule an Appointment

Your Security is Important

You deserve to enjoy the fullness of the benefits you worked so hard for, and you deserve to have the peace of mind that your family will be taken care of after you’re gone.

Social Security is Complicated

Your wealth profile is as unique as your fingerprint. With all of the variables of your family and employment history, on top of the over 2,700 rules and regulations, Social Security benefits get complicated quickly.

Timing is Everything

While you might be eager to start receiving the benefits you’re entitled to, you only get one shot to file. If you file too early, you could be leaving a lot of money on the table.

Advice is Difficult to Get

So where do you get filing advice from? You could ask your friends or family, but their circumstances are unique to them. Your CPA may have opinions, but they often don’t have full training on the unique rules and regulations. In fact, even the Social Security Administration can’t legally give you advice on how to file.

We Can Help

100% of the people we work with leave with more money than they would if they filed on their own. We can guide you to make the best choices for your benefits.

MEET YOUR EXPERT

James A. “Al” Hurt, Jr. CLU®, ChFC®, CSA®, RICP®

- Vice President

With more than 44 years of experience in the financial services industry, Al Hurt gives Ballew Wealth Management clients a level of knowledge and expertise that few can match. Even after four decades in the business, Al continuously works to master what he calls the “lost art of listening.” Al believes in leaving his preconceived notions behind and simply paying attention to what the client really wants and needs.

Al has focused the last few years of his career advising on Social Security, and he has a great understanding of the social security benefits election process and how to assist clients in reaching retirement goals. He hosts a weekly radio talk show, “Unlocking the Keys to Social Security” on radio station WJNT AM on Wednesday mornings at 7:30.

Al holds a Bachelor’s degree In Business and Economics from Mississippi College, in addition to his CSA, CLU, and ChFC designations; he is a FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) arbitrator and a Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP).

7 Facts You Need to Know

The Social Security office CANNOT give advice on when you should file.

By law, the Social Security Administration (SSA) cannot give you filing advice. They are not trained or equipped to analyze your financial situation. We are.

Depending on when you file, you could be giving up tens of thousands of dollars in potential benefit.

You can start filing for Social Security benefits at age 62, but your Full Retirement Age benefits are available between ages 66 to 67. Waiting until age 70 can result in even more benefits. The longer you wait to file, the more your permanent benefit will be.

You could owe taxes on up to 85% of your Social Security benefit.

Social Security taxes are calculated based on your Provisional Income, which includes a number of different earning and benefit factors. If your Provisional Income is greater than $44,000, then 85% of your Social Security benefit will be taxable.

If you file early and are still working, you could be penalized and lose some of your Social Security benefits.

Continuing to work after you’ve filed for Social Security can reduce those benefits. Ask us about the earnings test exception that may be available to you in your first year of filing.

If you’ve been married before, you may be entitled to spousal benefits.

If you have a prior marriage that lasted 10 or more years and you are currently unmarried, you could be eligible for a Spousal Benefit from your ex-spouse.

If you have a deceased spouse you may still be able to collect benefits.

If you were married for at least 9 months prior to your spouse’s death, you may be entitled to a Social Security benefit on their record.

If you were born before 1954, you could be entitled to a "hidden benefit."

Filing for a restricted benefit is available to those born prior to 1954. If you are eligible, you can file for your spousal benefit while allowing your own benefit to continue to grow.

Swipe to view facts

There is a lot to know when filing for your Social Security benefit. Let us handle the details.

Don't just take our word for it. Hear from some of our satisfied Social Security customers.

"Al has been a great resource to guide us through planning for the funding of our retirement resources. The Social Security planning he did to select from the possibilities for claiming Social Security benefits served to anchor a continuing source of income that we cannot outlive. Anyone who undertakes to do their own Social Security planning is making a significant mistake in trying to plan for their family's long term well-being."

- Gary Walker, Lyle, Walker, & Co.

"I had no idea that turning 65 would be so complicated. Between registering with Medicare, navigating health insurance plans for my wife and myself, and thinking about filing for Social Security, I felt like I was walking through a minefield. Thankfully a friend told me about Al Hurt.

When I sat down with Al he had an analysis put together with several options for me and my wife to consider. He cut through all the confusion and explained how everything worked. He found me some Social Security benefits that I was not aware of he even brought in a Health Insurance Specialist who educated us on Medicare. Al really is the 'King of Social Security'."

- Will Primos, Primos Hunting

"Upon my retirement, I reached out to Ballew Wealth Management to manage my Pension, 401k funds, and Social Security. After consulting with Al Hurt, he advised me that I also had access to my deceased wife’s Social Security funds. By utilizing these funds to increase my monthly income, I can allow my Social Security to grow until I reach the age of 70. Had it not been for Mr. Hurt, I would not have known I could supplement my retirement income this way. My thanks to Mr. Hurt for his professionalism and expertise."

- Mike Lynchard, AT&T