Social Security faces long-term funding shortfalls due to increasing life expectancies and decreasing birth rates. While current retirees are secure, reforms will likely be needed to maintain benefits for younger generations. Options include raising taxes, raising the retirement age, and investing funds in private accounts. However, the future of the program remains uncertain as politicians debate solutions.

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Ameriprise Financial
Greg Younger, CRPC®
14755 N. Outer
Chesterfield, MO 63017
636.534.2092
gregory.d.younger@ampf.com
How Secure Is Social Security?
If you're retired or close to retiring, then you've probably got
Birth date Normal retirement age
nothing to worry about--your Social Security benefits will likely
be paid to you in the amount you've planned on (at least that's 1940 65 years, 6 months
what most of the
politicians say). But what 1941 65 years, 8 months
about the rest of us?
1942 65 years, 10 months
The media onslaught
1943-1954 66 years
Watching the news,
listening to the radio, or 1955 66 years, 2 months
reading the newspaper,
1956 66 years, 4 months
you've probably come
across story after story 1957 66 years, 6 months
on the health of Social Security. And, depending on the actuar-
ial assumptions used and the political slant, Social Security 1958 66 years, 8 months
has been described as everything from a program in need of
1959 66 years, 10 months
only minor adjustments to one in crisis requiring immediate,
drastic reform.
1960 and later 67 years
Obviously, the underlying assumptions used can skew one's
You can begin receiving Social Security benefits before your
perception of the solvency of Social Security, and even ex-
full retirement age, as early as age 62. However, if you retire
perts disagree on the best remedy. So let's take a look at what
early, your Social Security benefit will be less than if you had
we do know.
waited until your full retirement age to begin receiving benefits.
Just the facts, ma'am Specifically, your retirement benefit will be reduced by 5/9ths
of 1 percent for every month between your retirement date and
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), over 50
your full retirement age, up to 36 months, then by 5/12ths of 1
million Americans currently collect some sort of Social Security
percent thereafter. For example, if your full retirement age is
retirement, disability or death benefit. Social Security is a pay-
67, you'll receive about 30 percent less if you retire at age 62
as-you-go system, with today's current workers paying the
than if you wait until age 67 to retire. This reduction is perma-
benefits for today's retirees.
nent--you won't be eligible for a benefit increase once you
How much do today's workers pay? Well, the first $106,800 of reach full retirement age.
an individual's annual wages is subject to a 12.4% Social Se-
Demographic trends
curity payroll tax, with half being paid by the employee and half
by the employer (self-employed individuals pay all of it). This Even those on opposite sides of the political spectrum can
money is put into a big holding tank--the Social Security trust agree that demographic factors are exacerbating Social Secu-
fund--and is used to pay out current benefits. rity's problems, namely, life expectancy is increasing and the
birth rate is decreasing. This means that over time, fewer
The amount of your retirement benefit is based on your aver-
workers will have to support more retirees. According to the
age earnings over your working career. Higher lifetime earn-
SSA, in 1950, there were 16 workers per beneficiary, today
ings result in higher benefits, so if you have some years of no
there are 3 workers per beneficiary, and within 25 years there
earnings or low earnings, your benefit amount may be lower
will be just 2 workers per beneficiary.
than if you had worked steadily.
The SSA predicts that in 2017, Social Security will begin pay-
Your age at the time you start receiving benefits also affects
ing out more money than it takes in. However, by drawing on
your benefit amount. Currently, the full retirement age is in the
the Social Security trust fund that, on paper, is supposed to
process of rising from 65 to 67 in two-month increments, as
receive today's payroll surpluses, the SSA estimates that
shown in the following chart:
See disclaimer on final page May 10, 2009

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Ameriprise Financial
Social Security should be able to pay promised benefits until Uncertain outcome
2041.
Members of Congress and the President still support efforts to
The caveat is that money in the trust fund isn't exactly like reform Social Security, but progress on the issue has been
money in your pocket--various slow, and domestic priorities are shifting. However, the SSA
administrations have used the continues to urge all parties to address the issue sooner rather
money to pay for general gov- than later, to allow for a gradual phasing in of any necessary
ernment spending, leaving the changes.
trust fund with only a legal
Although debate will continue on this polarizing topic, there are
obligation to be paid back. To
no easy answers, and the final outcome for this decades-old
do so, the federal government
program is still uncertain.
would need to reduce other
spending, borrow money, or In the meantime, what can you do?
raise taxes--a hurdle that might factor into the final solution.
Aside from following the news to learn of any legislative devel-
Possible fixes opments, you should periodically check your Social Security
earnings record to make sure that your earnings have been
While no one can say for sure what will happen (and the politi-
properly credited. You
cal process is sure to be contentious), here are some solutions
can find this information
that have been proposed:
on your Social Security
• Statement, which the
Allow individuals to invest some of their current Social
SSA mails annually to
Security taxes in quot;personal retirement accountsquot;
every worker over age
• Raise the current 12.4% payroll tax 25. You will receive this
statement about three
• Raise the current ceiling on wages currently subject to the
months before your
payroll tax
birthday. Review it
• Raise the retirement age beyond age 67 carefully to make sure your paid earnings were accurately
reported--mistakes are common. Call the SSA at (800) 772-
• Reduce future benefits, especially for wealthy retirees 1213 for more information.
• Tie initial benefit levels to a more modest price index in- This statement will also estimate the amount of Social Security
stead of the current wage index benefits you will be eligible to receive in the future, based on
your actual earnings and projections of future earnings. If you
• Allow the Social Security program itself to invest in assets
don’t receive this statement in the mail, you can request one
other than government bonds
by calling your local SSA office or through the Social Security
website at www.ssa.gov.
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Prepared by Forefield Inc, Copyright 2009
May 10, 2009