Social Security, IRMAA, ACA Planning, IRA to HSA Transfer, Annuities: Q&A #2552

The Retirement and IRA Show

Jim Saulnier, CFP® & Chris Stein, CFP®

Business, Investing

4.3 • 729 Ratings

🗓️ 27 December 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Social Security filing timing and online claiming language, a listener PSA on IRMAA and the online SSA-44, ACA income planning before Medicare, an IRA to HSA transfer, and annuity income needs.

(6:45) The guys address how to word an online Social Security application so the first check is paid for a specific month when claiming at age 70, and whether applying 2–3 months before the 70th birthday is the right approach.

(14:00) A listener shares a PSA on filing SSA-44 online after retirement, including how IRMAA recalculations reflected estimated future-year income and how the resulting tier was communicated in the approval letter.

(25:00) Jim and Chris discuss whether it makes sense, from a planner’s perspective, to stop working and manage income in a way that keeps health insurance affordable until Medicare eligibility.

(38:45) George asks about doing the once-in-a-lifetime tax-free IRA-to-HSA transfer, how the HSA testing period works, and whether it’s worth doing before starting Medicare to reduce future RMDs.

(49:00) A listener asks whether annuity income is still useful for covering a minimum dignity floor gap when assets are high and spending needs are modest, and how to think about guaranteed income given planned retirement timing and gifting goals.

The post Social Security, IRMAA, ACA Planning, IRA to HSA Transfer, Annuities: Q&A #2552 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Transcript

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0:00.0	The retirement and IRA show represents the words and views of the show hosts exclusively and should not be construed as investment legal or tax advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources. However, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance information is historical in nature and is not indicative of any future results. Any indices mentioned on the show are unmanaged and cannot be invested indirectly. Diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure profit or protect against loss.
0:23.7	Never make any investment or financial decisions based on information offered on this show
0:26.8	without first consulting your financial legal or tax advisor.
0:29.6	Financial planning services offered through Jim Solnior and Associates LLC, a registered investment
0:33.3	advisor.
0:38.2	This is the retirement and IRA show coming to you from beautiful Northern Colorado.
0:43.7	Join us as certified financial planner Jim Sondier, as well as Colorado State University
0:48.6	Finance instructor and certified financial planner Chris Stein, teach you about IRAs, 401ks, annuities, social security,
0:57.0	pension plans, and estate planning in a fun and enjoyable show. Whether you are listening live in
1:02.7	Colorado or streaming from their website or iTunes podcast, Jim and Chris want you to know that they're
1:08.5	available to help you plan for your retirement.
1:14.0	Just visit their website at Jimhelps.com.
1:17.6	That's Jim H-E-L-P-S.com.
1:20.0	And click the Meet the Team button on the homepage.
1:22.9	Now here's Jim and Chris with today's show.
1:30.9	Hello, everybody, and welcome to the Retirement IRA show, Q&A edition.
1:37.6	This will be the final Q&A show, actually the final show of any kind for 2025.
1:48.2	This show, while we're recording it on December 19th, it will air or be released to the public on December 27th, so two days after Christmas on the first Saturday, post Christmas. We're recording it early since we'll
1:55.3	be enjoying the holidays with family for much of the Christmas week.
2:08.2	So we're just getting these in the in the can, if you will, ready to go.
2:10.2	So it is a new show.
2:15.7	At times during the holidays, we've kind of rerun shows or skipped a show occasionally.
	...

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