Patent Issued For Social Security Explorer

Social Security Explorer

Today we received the issue notification for patent number D688687. The patented design of  Social Security Explorer resulted from intensive research by team leads Maxey Sanderson and Gretchen Smith. Their initial design was further refined during our development process and field testing. Social Security Explorer is now the easiest way to explore filing options with your clients. The attractive interactive design gives immediate feedback and makes the process enjoyable. All the complicated logic and the exhaustive calculations are reduced to a display clients actually understand and want to explore.

Currently Social Security Explorer is only available to financial professionals. We’re currently developing products designed to be used by consumers that expand on the patented design with additional interactive educational components to contribute the explanations that a professional would normally provide.

A 5 minute video tour.

Posted August 14, 2013 filed under Announcement, News.

PlanLab and the DOMA ruling

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on DOMA opens new possibilities for using PlanLab with same sex couples who are legally married and living in a state that recognizes same sex marriage. The DOMA ruling will give these couples the same Federal benefits received by traditional married couples. The benefits affected in PlanLab include Social Security spousal and survivor benefits and federal estate tax calculations.

States that recognize same-sex marriage

If your clients are married and living in a state that recognizes same sex marriage as legal, you may simply check the Married box in Detailed Analysis or PlanFacts. PlanLab will then calculate Social Security benefits as married, with survivor and spousal benefits included. Any presentation with federal estate taxes displayed will use the unlimited Marital Deduction and the Deceased Spousal Unused Exclusion Amount for the estate tax calculations. State inheritance taxes if applicable will also reflect the married status.

States that recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships

For clients living in states that recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships but not same sex marriage, federal benefits for married person will not be available. In this case do not check Married.

Other states

If your clients live in a state that does not recognize same sex marriage, do not check the Married box. Estate Tax Analysis will not be available for non-married clients; however, Estate Tax Concepts could be used for a quick calculation of potential estate taxation issues.

PlanLab presentations and effects of DOMA ruling

Presentation If clients are legally married in their residence state
Estate Tax AnalysisWealth Distribution Analysis To illustrate as married in Detailed Analysis check Married in Household Information. Note, you cannot change back to unmarried in Detailed Analysis.Both Social Security benefits and federal estate taxes will reflect married status.
Quick ETA Check Married to illustrate Federal estate tax benefits of unlimited marital deduction. Single (Married not checked) may be used to show potential problems if clients move to a state that does not recognize the marriage.Both Social Security benefits and federal estate taxes will reflect the appropriate marital status.
Estate Tax Concepts Check Married to illustrate Federal estate tax benefits of unlimited marital deduction. Single (Married not checked) may be used to show potential problems if clients move to a state that does not recognize the marriage.
QPDAAnnuity Strategies Check Married in household information section for Federal estate tax and IRD tax treatment for objectives that demonstrate wealth transfer.
Financial Needs Analysis Check Married in household information to illustrate Spousal and Survivor Social Security benefits.
Life Goals Check Married in household information to illustrate Spousal and Survivor Social Security benefits.
Retirement Road Map Check Married in household information to illustrate Spousal and Survivor Social Security benefits.

Posted June 28, 2013 filed under News.

Social Security Explorer Version 2.1 Ready in June

Impact is pleased to announce the latest version (2.1) of Social Security Explorer.  This new release of Explorer adds the ability to illustrate Social Security benefits affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).  In addition, several new print features make the reports even easier to create.

The Social Security Explorer helps answer three important questions:

1.  What will we get?

2.  When should we start collecting?

3.  How do we know if we are getting as much as possible?

Click on this link for more details about the tool that has excited producers all over the country!  Take it for a test drive today.

Posted June 6, 2013 filed under Announcement, News.

Permanency Comes to Estate Planning

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 sets $5,000,000 indexed as Applicable Exclusion Amount, and limits top rate to 40%. The law includes DSUEA (deceased spouse’s unused exclusion amount). Our upcoming PlanLab 2012R1 release will include changes to reflect the new law. Here’s a calculator that will help you until our release is finalized.

Posted January 7, 2013 filed under News.

Posted September 11, 2012 filed under In The News.

New Product! Social Security Explorer

Social Security Explorer

 Social Security Explorer analyzes all 7 Social Security strategies, 81 age combinations, and 567 sets of calculations, picks the best option and puts a star on it!

Get your individual subscription now!

We’re pleased to announce a new, patent pending, web and iPad-ready application called Social Security Explorer (SSE).

SSE is an innovative way to help producers in the Retirement Planning Market.  With very little time or data, it is now possible to determine which planning strategy clients should use to best maximize Social Security retirement income benefits.

It is well known that qualified participants can start Social Security benefits between the ages of 62 and 70.  However, there is much more to consider.  With 7 available strategies and 81 age combinations, 567 different options areavailable.  Without SSE, it is nearly impossible to make one of life’s most important retirement planning decisions correctly.

This tool provides a powerful way to prospect and to set appointments with new or existing clients.  SSE is excellent for use in seminar selling or as a lead-in to retirement planning product sales.  Either way, SSE will help provide helpful guidance to clients.  Using SSE will increased productivity and client referrals!

Individual subscriptions are available. For details go to http://socialsecurityexplorer.com.

For enterprise sales, contact Doug Brisco, Direct of Business Development: (704) 927-3234

Posted August 16, 2012 filed under News.

Posted August 16, 2012 filed under News.