Protecting the Vulnerable: How a Savvy Advisor Won Social Security Benefits for a Widow and Her Kids

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The rules are convoluted and tricky. However, good postmortem planning means that your clients will receive all of the benefits due. It may benefit your clients to conduct a Social Security review—particularly for newly widowed clients or those already receiving survivor's benefits.

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Determining when to take benefits—as well as what kind—can make a significant difference in your clients' lifestyles throughout their golden years. These guidelines can help you counsel singles and couples on the right course of action for them.

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Working with recently widowed clients requires sensitivity and understanding—along with confident guidance that helps minimize potentially costly financial missteps. Use these sample questions as the basis for conversations with clients who are grieving the death of a loved one.

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Most of us associate Social Security with retirement, but advisors should also be familiar with disability and survivor benefits. A client who contracts heart disease, cancer, HIV, or any number of other serious impairments before reaching retirement age may need all the income he can get.