April 6, 2025 • 28 mins
Expert Tips on Navigating Social Security with Tom Margenau
In this episode of Peaceful Life Radio, hosts David Lowry and Don Drew interview Tom Margenau, a former Social Security Administration employee with 32 years of experience and a nationally syndicated columnist. They discuss critical aspects of Social Security, including optimal signup ages, the myths about illegal immigrants receiving benefits, potential privatization, and survivor benefits. Tom Margenau also shares insights from his updated book 'Social Security: Simple and Smart' and addresses common questions about disability benefits, earnings penalty, and the significance of life expectancy in making informed Social Security decisions.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:26 Current Changes in Social Security
02:58 Privatization of Social Security
04:29 When to Start Taking Social Security Benefits
12:14 Disability vs. Retirement Benefits
17:07 Handling Social Security for Incapacitated Individuals
19:15 Filing Early to Grandfather into the System
20:16 Working While Receiving Social Security
22:03 Filing for Social Security Benefits
23:59 Addressing Social Security Myths
25:47 Tom's Books and Closing Remarks
Visit the Peaceful Life Radio website for more information. Peaceful Life Productions LLP produces this podcast, which helps nonprofits and small businesses share their stories and expertise through accessible and cost-effective podcasts and websites. For more information, please contact us at info@peacefullifeproductions.com.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tom Morgenau (00:00):
Well, people, they're always asking me, when
(00:01):
should I sign up for SocialSecurity?
And I come back with anotherquestion.
I say, when are you gonna die?
Of course, since people don'tknow the answer to that
question, they don't really knowwhen is the best time to sign up
for Social Security.
I'll put it this way, I've heardfrom a lot of widows who told
me, told my husband, insisted onwaiting until age 70 to take his
(00:22):
Social Security and he died atage 71.
And gosh, I wish he would'vetaken benefits sooner.
David Lowry (00:29):
Welcome everybody.
These opening remarks were fromTom Margenau, today's guest on
Peaceful Life Radio.
I'm David Lowry and I'm glad youfound your place on the internet
for navigating the second halfof life with purpose, wisdom,
and grace, and like always agood buddy and co-host Don Drew
is with us here today.
Don Drew (00:46):
Hello, David and hello to all our folks out there
listening to Peaceful LifeRadio.
We're glad to have you with ustoday.
As David said, our guest is TomMargenau, and Tom worked for the
Social Security Administrationfor some 32 years, and since
1997, has been writing anationally syndicated newspaper
column about Social Security, sohe knows a thing or two, doesn't
(01:08):
he?
Tom's got a wealth ofinformation.
He spent almost a half a centuryanswering people's questions
about Social Security and he isthe author of a book called
Social Security Simple andSmart.
It's just been updated for 2025.
So, Tom, welcome to PeacefulLife Radio.
Tom Morgenau (01:24):
Hey, glad to be here with you guys.
David Lowry (01:26):
Tom, if we had done this show about four months ago,
it would've been a prettystandard show.
I guess we should start with thebig elephant in the room.
What do we need to know about2025 given all the changes
happening in Washington dc?
Tom Morgenau (01:41):
Well, the changes that are happening aren't really
affecting 99% of your listeners.
We're talking about all thestuff going on with President
Trump and Elon Musk, but they'redoing things like closing
ancillary, not main, any kind ofreal Social Security offices.
They're closing secondarylittle, the hearings offices
(02:02):
that are rarely used.
There's all kinds of talk abouthow they're finding problems
with Social Security files.
I've written columns recentlyabout that.
For example, the issue withsupposedly dead people getting
Social Security benefits wasn'ttrue.
Benefits are not being paid todeceased people.
There's a Social Security numberfile that has nothing to do with
(02:25):
the Social Security paymentfiles.
And the file that Trump and Muskwere referencing is this Social
Security number file that doeshave some deceased people's
names on it, but that hasnothing to do with Social
Security payment files.
Even though there's a lot ofhullabaloo in Washington today
about Social Security, franklymost of it shouldn't be
(02:46):
affecting your listeners.
They're gonna keep getting theirSocial Security checks.
They're gonna be able to filefor Social Security benefits.
So, I don't think people shouldbe too worried about what's
going on with Social Security.
Don Drew (02:58):
One of their big questions on people's minds
these days and is part of thesame line of thinking, do you
think there's any kind ofpossibility that Social Security
could be privatized?
Tom Morgenau (03:08):
They've been talking for years about
privatizing Social Security andit simply can't happen.
First of all, lemme point outthere's a 165 Social Security
programs around the world.
Every country on this planet hasa Social Security system for its
citizens.
They're all run by thegovernment because that's the
only way to run such a hugesocial insurance program is to
(03:31):
let the government run it.
There's different forms ofprivatization.
If we're talking about turningthe Social Security over to a
Wall Street bankers and let themmake decisions about Social
Security, that is never evergonna happen.
Although there is talk abouttaking some of social securities
trust funds and investing someof those funds in the private.
(03:52):
That's another form of quoteunquote privatizing Social
Security.
But as far as privatizing SocialSecurity, unless they take a
small portion of the SocialSecurity Trust fund and start
investing that in the privatemarkets, that's the only kind of
quote unquote privatization Isee ever happening.
(04:12):
But again, it's never going tobe turned over to private Wall
Street bankers because a programthat takes up one fourth of the
entire budget of the UnitedStates, you don't turn that over
to private interest to take careof.
You need the government to run aprogram like that.
David Lowry (04:29):
I think one of the questions people have as they
get closer to Social Securityand receiving benefits is, when
should I do it?
What factors should I consider?
What are your thoughts on that?
Tom Morgenau (04:40):
Well, they're always asking me, when should I
sign up for Social Security?
And I come back with anotherquestion.
I say, when are you gonna die?
Of course, since people don'tknow the answer to that
question, they don't really knowwhen is the best time to sign up
for Social Security.
You just have to look at all thefactors in your life.
You gotta look at your incomesituation.
(05:02):
You gotta look at your maritalsituation.
You gotta look at your lifeexpectancy.
You just take all these thingsinto account and then make the
best choice you can as far aswhen to start your benefits.
I can tell you that nowadaysmost financial planners will
tell you that you shouldprobably wait until your full
retirement age to start thosebenefits.
(05:25):
Then you get your full 100%benefit rate.
Just a few years ago though,same financial planners were
telling people they should waituntil 70 to start their Social
Security.
But what people have learnedover the years is that if you
wait until 70, most people justaren't living long enough to
come out ahead of the game bydelaying their benefits until
(05:48):
such a late age.
So, that's why the currentwisdom seems to be take those
benefits at your full retirementage.
I will say this, if you aretrying to maximize a potential
benefit for your survivingspouse, and usually we're
talking about a husband tryingto maximize benefits for his
(06:09):
wife once he dies and shebecomes a widow.
If he's trying to maximize thosefuture widow's benefits, then it
probably makes sense to waituntil 70 to start your Social
Security because at age 70 hegonna start getting 130 percent
of his full benefit.
And the wife will also get that130% once he dies.
(06:32):
So again, if you're trying toget your wife a maximum widow's
benefit someday, wait until 70to start those benefits.
David Lowry (06:42):
Thank you very much for that, Tom.
That's one of the big questionspeople have.
Here's a funny thing thathappened to me.
I was working, enjoying my job.
I realized I reached a fullretirement age and it caught me
out of the blue.
I got a notice from the SocialSecurity administration saying,
Hey, you gotta sign up for this.
Tom Morgenau (06:58):
Well, most people, as you're pushing Social
Security age, should be thinkingabout retirement.
Let me make this point.
I started working for SocialSecurity in the seventies and
back then the vast majority ofpeople were signing up for their
benefits at 62.
That was the earliest age youcould get your benefits.
You get a reduced benefit bytaking it at 62.
(07:19):
It's about a 70% benefit asopposed to the full 100% if you
wait until the full retirementage.
50 years ago, everybody, oralmost everybody was waiting
till 62.
Now many, many people arewaiting till their full
retirement age, many waitinguntil 70 to start their Social
Security.
We're living longer, we'reliving healthier.
(07:41):
So there are people like pushingthat age, but you don't even
think of yourself as an oldSocial Security retiree.
You think of yourself as activeworking person.
And I could see where SocialSecurity could sneak up on you
and you suddenly decide, oh, Ibetter do something.
David Lowry (07:59):
I actually knew that Social Security was an
option.
But I just never thought aboutit much because I was still
working and I had heard thingslike if I take Social Security,
I would get a reduced benefit.
I mistakenly thought thatbecause I was working, even
though I was at a age where Icould take full benefits, I
thought, oh, it's gonna decreasewhat I could get from the
(08:19):
benefit, but that's not true, isit?
Tom Morgenau (08:21):
There is no earnings penalty or anything
that prevents somebody overtheir full retirement age from
getting Social Securitybenefits.
So somebody who's over theirfull retirement age, even though
they're working.
If they don't sign up for SocialSecurity, you're starting to
throw benefits away every month.
Matter of fact, if you are overyour full retirement age, and
(08:43):
for most people nowadays, that'ssomewhere between 66 and 67
years old.
If you're over your fullretirement age, even if you're
working, you could be making amillion dollars a week and you
can get a Social Security check.
After age 66, you could havebeen getting a Social Security
check.
It's just something to thinkabout that once you reach that
age, you might wanna startgrabbing those benefits.
(09:04):
Otherwise, the money's justsitting there in the government
coffers instead of in your bankaccount.
I'll put it this way, I've heardfrom a lot of widows who told
me, told my husband, insisted onwaiting until age 70 to take his
Social Security and he died atage 71.
And gosh, I wish he would'vetaken benefits sooner.
But then of course there's otherpeople that lived to a hundred
(09:25):
years old.
You just have to make the bestchoice you can based on the
information you have at the timeyou're pushing Social Security
age.
David Lowry (09:33):
My wife's grandma lived to be 102 years old.
I think she probably got thebest Social Security benefits of
all of us.
Tom Morgenau (09:41):
You do have to think about your family's genes.
I've pointed out many times Itook my Social Security at age
62.
Now, why did I do that?
Because I didn't inherit thebest longevity genes.
My dad died at the age of 47.
I don't have a single uncle onmy dad's side who lived past the
age of 60.
So, back when I was a youngersenior, my early sixties, I
(10:05):
figured, Hey, I got the wronggenes.
I'm gonna grab my SocialSecurity while I can at age 62.
Of course here I'm now 75 yearsold and I beat the the gene pool
system.
Maybe I've come out on the shortend of the Social Security stick
because I took my benefitsearly.
But who cares?
My wife and I have been havingfun.
(10:25):
We've been enjoying our SocialSecurity income.
We've been traveling.
Everything's good.
I'm not worried about the factthat maybe I should have waited
until a later age to start mySocial Security.
So, the message I'm alwaysgiving people is just make a
decision and be happy with it,and live with it and don't worry
about it.
And once you make that decision,go on with your life.
David Lowry (10:48):
It's not uncommon that some people are divorcing
in their senior years.
How do the Social Security ruleswork for divorced individuals,
especially in their senioryears?
Tom Morgenau (10:57):
I'm constantly surprised by that.
I got an email just the otherday from a lady who divorced her
husband after 50 years.
And here's the Social Securityrules about that.
The law says if you've beenmarried to somebody for 10
years, you are gonna get SocialSecurity benefits off of that
person's record.
Let me clarify that a littlebit.
We're almost always talkingabout divorced women here.
(11:20):
95% of the benefits that arepaid to divorcees are paid to
women.
And there's a reason for that.
Men generally get higher SocialSecurity benefits because men
have worked longer, men'ssalaries and income has been
generally higher than a woman'ssalary.
A husband in a maritalrelationship almost always gets
a higher benefit than his wife,which means the wife is the one
(11:44):
who's potentially going to get adependent spousal benefit on the
husband's record.
So, if a woman has been marriedto a man for 10 years or more,
she's gonna get benefits on hisrecord someday, unless she
remarries.
Now, if she remarries, then shecan't get benefits from her
(12:05):
first husband.
If she's married a second timeand is currently married to
husband number two, then shecan't get benefits from husband
number one.
David Lowry (12:14):
As people approach the age for drawing Social
Security, it's not uncommon toface some medical issues.
Should they take Social Securityor apply for disability
benefits?
Are those separate programs orare they tied together?
Tom Morgenau (12:27):
Yeah, they are separate programs.
There are Social Securitydisability benefits, and there
are Social Security retirementbenefits.
Let me point out, they're both.
Social Security benefits.
I frequently hear from peoplewho are getting Social Security
disability benefits, and thenthey say, when can I get real
Social Security?
I always say, you're gettingreal Social Security if you're
(12:48):
getting a Social Securitydisability benefit.
It just happens to be adisability benefit instead of a
retirement benefit.
But if you're pushing retirementage and you've got some medical
issues, it certainly wouldn'thurt to file for disability
benefits.
But what you would do if you'reunder age 62, 62 is the earliest
age you can get retirementbenefits.
(13:10):
If you're under age 62, then youshould just file for disability
benefits because you are not yeteligible for retirement
benefits.
In other words, if a 60-year-oldguy has a heart attack.
He should file for SocialSecurity disability benefits
because he's, again, not quiteold enough yet for retirement
benefits.
But if a guy who is 62 years oldhas a heart attack, then he
(13:34):
should file for both SocialSecurity retirement benefits and
Social Security disabilitybenefits.
And what they'll do is they'llstart paying the retirement
claim right away because it'srelatively simple to process a
retirement claim, but it's gonnatake three months or so to
process that disability claim.
So, they'll start paying himretirement benefits and then if
(13:57):
they approve his disabilityclaim, they'll switch him from a
retirement to disabilitybenefits.
And the reason that would switchis a disability benefit.
A higher rate.
Essentially, a disabilitybenefit pays the same rate as a
full retirement age benefit.
So, the bottom line answer is ifyou're over 62, and have some
(14:21):
kind of medical condition.
You should file for bothretirement benefits and
disability benefits and see whathappens.
David Lowry (14:28):
Tom, when spouses are collecting Social Security
at retirement age and one ofthem passes away, what happens
to the benefit?
Do they get two checks or whathappens there?
Tom Morgenau (14:38):
Let me do what is a normal situation again.
Once again, 95% of benefits paidto a person in a death case are
gonna to women.
95% of survivor benefits arewidow's benefits.
So, let's take a typicalexample.
We got a guy who's getting$2,000a month and his wife is getting
$1,200 a month and she's gettingthat$1,200 in her own Social
(15:03):
Security.
He's getting a$2,000 SocialSecurity check.
If he dies, the widow will keepgetting her$1,200 Social
Security check, and then she'llget an extra$800 in widow's
benefits to take her up to whather husband's level was at the
time he died.
So she'll get$1,200 in her ownbenefits.
(15:24):
She'll get$800 in widow'sbenefits for a total of$2,000.
So, that's the way it usuallyplays out.
Now, let me point something elseout here that people always ask
when somebody dies.
They always say, how come I gota return that last check he got?
So, let's take an example wherea guy dies on April 15th.
(15:45):
And he's gonna get a SocialSecurity benefit for April.
What people need to understandis the Social Security benefits
always come one month behind.
So, the April check is paid inMay.
The May check is paid in Juneand so on.
So, if a guy dies on April 15th,if a Social Security check shows
up in May, which is his AprilSocial Security check, that
(16:07):
check has to go back to thegovernment because the rules say
you have to be alive every dayof the month to get a Social
Security benefit for that month.
Because he died on April 15th,he's not due benefits for April.
In other words, Social Securitybenefits aren't prorated.
That's kind of the easiest wayof putting that.
A lot of people don't like thatlaw, but there's actually a plus
(16:29):
side to it in that if he has awidow, she is gonna get a
widow's benefit for the entiremonth of April, even though she
was a widow for only 15 days ofthat month.
So, the lack of prorationactually helps people getting
survivor benefits, even thoughthey might have to return the
(16:49):
guy's last Social Securitycheck.
But again, she's gonna getwidow's benefits for the whole
month that he died.
He could die on April 29th, andeven though she was a widow for
only one day of the month, she'sgonna get a widow's benefit for
that entire month of April.
Don Drew (17:07):
David has a sister who recently had to go into a
nursing home because ofdementia, and she was at Social
Security age.
Could you walk us through theprocess of handling Social
Security in such cases whereDavid, in this case, had to
advocate for her?
Tom Morgenau (17:22):
A lot of people have power of attorney for a
loved one, for an aunt, amother, a grandma, or something
like that.
Well, power of attorney is kindof a useless designation for
Social Security purposes becausethe Social Security law is based
on privacy rules drilled intoSocial Security employees.
(17:42):
I remember the very first day ofmy training class way back in
1974 or 1973.
We spent that whole day talkingabout the privacy of Social
Security that, you know,somebody's records are private
and you can't share withanybody.
So, if you have a sister who hasproblems.
You can act on her behalf forSocial Security purposes if
(18:05):
she's mentally incompetent, I'llput it that way.
If she is mentally incapable ofhandling her own Social Security
affairs, then you can go toSocial Security and say, I wanna
be what they call arepresentative payee for my
aunt.
I wanna take care of heraffairs.
That means that her SocialSecurity benefits would come in
your name.
You're essentially responsiblefor all her Social Security
(18:28):
affairs.
The way that works with whenyou're trying to help somebody
out is if the person is mentallyincapable of handling their
affairs, you become theirrepresentative payee.
Don Drew (18:39):
David, did you have very many problems becoming her
representative?
David Lowry (18:43):
I had to go through a court system to become her
conservative or guardian, and ajudge appointed me that.
When I showed those papers tothe Social Security office, they
were very helpful and said,okay.
Tom Morgenau (18:54):
If you did not have those papers, David, they
would've asked you to get anotice from some kind of medical
professional, like a doctor orsomebody saying, you know, Susie
Smith is not able to take careof her own financial affairs.
So what's needed in these cases,is some kind of medical
statement that says the personcan't handle their own affairs.
Don Drew (19:15):
One of the questions you've mentioned to being asked
is whether someone should fileearly to grandfather themselves
into the system?
What's your advice on this?
Tom Morgenau (19:23):
Usually they're asking me that for political
reasons.
In other words, they think, Ithink President Trump or Elon
Musk or somebody is gonna messaround with Social Security and
radically change the program.
So, I wanna get on the bandwagonas soon as I can before they
have a chance to do that.
And I've always told people foryears, for 50 years now, I've
(19:46):
been telling people do not makeSocial Security decision based
on politics because it's almostinevitable that there will be
changes to Social Security downthe road and those changes,
whatever happens, they mightraise the retirement age,
there's a number of things thatthey could do, but they'll be
phased in over a long period oftime.
(20:07):
They won't happen overnight.
So, nobody's gonna pull the rugout from under you if you're
pushing Social Security age now.
Don't do it!
David Lowry (20:16):
Many people worry about retiring or starting to
draw Social Security at 62instead at 65 because they think
that if they work, it's gonnareduce their benefits.
Is that true?
What should they do?
Tom Morgenau (20:28):
Now, if you are 62 years old and still working,
then don't sign up for benefitsbecause there are earnings
penalty rules built into the lawfor people who are under their
full retirement age.
And those earnings penalty rulesessentially say if you make over
a certain limit, and that limitchanges every year, it's
(20:49):
currently about$23,000 or so.
So, if you are working andmaking over$23,000, you are not
due any Social Security benefitsor you're due radically reduced
Social Security.
So don't sign up Social Securityif you're under your full
retirement age and stillworking, unless you just have
(21:11):
some parttime job where you'remaking less than this$23,000
annual limit.
Then, you could take yourbenefits at 62 even though
you're working.
But again, most people areworking in a fulltime kind of
capacity and they're making waymore than$23,000.
So those folks should definitelynot file for benefits at 62
(21:34):
because they're not due anybenefits.
The law is gonna prevent themfrom collecting anything.
Now, once they stop working orreach their full retirement age,
then they can sign up for SocialSecurity.
But again, big message to folksis if you're 62 years old or
under your full retirement age,and you're working, don't think
about signing up for SocialSecurity because you're just not
(21:55):
eligible.
Don Drew (21:56):
That's really good to know.
So, a lot of our listeners mightbe 60, 61.
They're approaching a SocialSecurity age here pretty
rapidly.
What are some of the things thatthey really need to know and
think about?
Tom Morgenau (22:09):
Well, you can file online, which most people should
do nowadays.
It's much, much simpler to filefor benefits at www.Social
Security.Gov,www.socialsecurity.Gov.
Signing up for benefits onlineis a piece of cake.
You're gonna have to do onething in most cases, and that is
(22:29):
prove you're old enough forSocial Security.
So you're gonna have to showsomebody a birth certificate.
So, if you're pushing thatSocial Security age, one of the
things you should do is gatherthe documents you need, and
usually the only document youneed is a birth certificate.
And you need a certified copy ofa birth certificate, not just a
copy you might have laying in adesk drawer.
It has to be a birth certificatewith that seal on it from the
(22:54):
agency that issues the birthcertificate.
If we're talking about peoplewho just aren't comfortable
working with computers andthey'd rather do it in person,
then they got call the SocialSecurity Administration, and
their full free number is 800 77 2 1 2 1 3.
7 7 2 1 2 1 3.
So, you call the Social SecurityAdministration and make an
(23:17):
appointment to file that claim.
The appointment can be eitherover the phone or at a Social
Security office.
Oh, and the other thing I shouldpoint out, do that about two or
three months ahead of time.
Social Security computers areset up to start taking claims
three months before a personturns, whatever eligibility age
we're talking about.
(23:37):
In other words, don't do it sixmonths ahead of time.
If you called Social Securitysix months before you turn age
62 and you want benefits tostart at 62, they're just gonna
tell you, well have a nice day,but call us back in three
months.
So, three months before you wantyour benefits to start.
Get a birth certificate andeither go online or call the
Social Security Administrationto file that claim.
David Lowry (23:59):
You addressed some myths in your book, breaking
them into political and programmyths, and I'd like to talk
about a couple of them.
One of them is the idea thatillegal immigrants receive
Social Security benefits andthat Social Security hands out
welfare benefits to people whonever paid into the system.
Is that true?
Tom Morgenau (24:18):
There must be a current rumor going around
because I probably got a half adozen emails just today from
people saying, I heard thatillegal immigrants are getting
Social Security.
This has been a rumor that'sbeen off and on for 30, 40
years.
There are no illegal immigrantsgetting Social Security
(24:38):
benefits.
You have to be living in thiscountry legally to get a Social
Security check.
Matter of fact, another currentrumor says that the Biden
administration was handing outSocial Security numbers to
people crossing the borderillegally down in Texas,
Arizona, and California.
And of course, that's justridiculous.
Of course, they're not handingout Social Security cards to
(25:00):
people crossing the borderillegally.
The bottom line is if you'reliving in this country
illegally, there is no wayyou're gonna get a Social
Security benefit.
Simple as that.
Now, there are many, many peopleliving in this country legally
who are not citizens.
They move to this countrylegally.
They're living in this countrylegally.
They're working in this countrylegally, just like many
(25:22):
Americans working in foreigncountries.
And those Americans working inforeign countries might be
paying into that just as thepeople who have moved here
legally and are living herelegally, they're paying into our
Social Security system.
So those folks certainly can geta Social Security number and pay
Social Security taxes andpotentially collect Social
(25:45):
Security benefits someday.
Don Drew (25:47):
Thomas, as we're drawing to a close, can you tell
us a little more about your bookand the work you've been doing
lately?
Tom Morgenau (25:52):
Yeah, well, I got a couple books.
But the main one is calledSocial Security, Simple and
Smart.
Social Security, Simple andSmart.
You can get it at Amazon orBarnes and Noble online at
either of those two sites.
I don't think you'll find it inbookstores because it's too much
of a specialty book to actuallybe on a shelf in a bookstore,
(26:13):
but you can easily get it onlineat Amazon.com or Barnes and
Noble dot com.
The Simple and Smart book isreally good book that takes you
through all the different facetsof Social Security.
It's not a huge book at all.
It's only like a hundred pageslong.
So, they should get that book ifthey want a good overview of
Social Security.
(26:34):
There's another book I wrotecalled Myths and Facts.
100 Myths and 100 Facts AboutSocial Security.
That book does just what itsays.
It clears up the many myths thatare out there about the Social
Security program.
Or they can read my column.
I write a weekly column aboutSocial Security.
It's called Social Security andYou.
(26:54):
And to find that column, theycan go to www.creators.com.
I write this weekly column aboutSocial Security.
By the way, your listeners sendme a question to my email
address and I don't mind givingit out.
It's my name, Thomas dotMargenau, M-A-R-G-E-N-A-U,
(27:15):
Thomas Margenau at comcast dotnet.
And I just love to answerquestions for people about
Social Security, so I wouldn'tmind at all.
If you listeners have aquestion, send it to my email
address and I'll be happy tohelp them.
Don Drew (27:29):
Thank you for being such an informed guest.
We appreciate your tremendousknowledge on Social Security,
and we wanna remind ourlisteners to get a copy of Tom's
book, Social Security, simpleand Smart.
Thank you for being our guesttoday on Peaceful Life Radio.
Tom Morgenau (27:43):
Yeah, you're welcome.
I enjoyed it.
Well, people, they're always asking me, when
(00:01):
should I sign up for SocialSecurity?
And I come back with anotherquestion.
I say, when are you gonna die?
Of course, since people don'tknow the answer to that
question, they don't really knowwhen is the best time to sign up
for Social Security.
I'll put it this way, I've heardfrom a lot of widows who told
me, told my husband, insisted onwaiting until age 70 to take his
(00:22):
Social Security and he died atage 71.
And gosh, I wish he would'vetaken benefits sooner.
David Lowry (00:29):
Welcome everybody.
These opening remarks were fromTom Margenau, today's guest on
Peaceful Life Radio.
I'm David Lowry and I'm glad youfound your place on the internet
for navigating the second halfof life with purpose, wisdom,
and grace, and like always agood buddy and co-host Don Drew
is with us here today.
Don Drew (00:46):
Hello, David and hello to all our folks out there
listening to Peaceful LifeRadio.
We're glad to have you with ustoday.
As David said, our guest is TomMargenau, and Tom worked for the
Social Security Administrationfor some 32 years, and since
1997, has been writing anationally syndicated newspaper
column about Social Security, sohe knows a thing or two, doesn't
(01:08):
he?
Tom's got a wealth ofinformation.
He spent almost a half a centuryanswering people's questions
about Social Security and he isthe author of a book called
Social Security Simple andSmart.
It's just been updated for 2025.
So, Tom, welcome to PeacefulLife Radio.
Tom Morgenau (01:24):
Hey, glad to be here with you guys.
David Lowry (01:26):
Tom, if we had done this show about four months ago,
it would've been a prettystandard show.
I guess we should start with thebig elephant in the room.
What do we need to know about2025 given all the changes
happening in Washington dc?
Tom Morgenau (01:41):
Well, the changes that are happening aren't really
affecting 99% of your listeners.
We're talking about all thestuff going on with President
Trump and Elon Musk, but they'redoing things like closing
ancillary, not main, any kind ofreal Social Security offices.
They're closing secondarylittle, the hearings offices
(02:02):
that are rarely used.
There's all kinds of talk abouthow they're finding problems
with Social Security files.
I've written columns recentlyabout that.
For example, the issue withsupposedly dead people getting
Social Security benefits wasn'ttrue.
Benefits are not being paid todeceased people.
There's a Social Security numberfile that has nothing to do with
(02:25):
the Social Security paymentfiles.
And the file that Trump and Muskwere referencing is this Social
Security number file that doeshave some deceased people's
names on it, but that hasnothing to do with Social
Security payment files.
Even though there's a lot ofhullabaloo in Washington today
about Social Security, franklymost of it shouldn't be
(02:46):
affecting your listeners.
They're gonna keep getting theirSocial Security checks.
They're gonna be able to filefor Social Security benefits.
So, I don't think people shouldbe too worried about what's
going on with Social Security.
Don Drew (02:58):
One of their big questions on people's minds
these days and is part of thesame line of thinking, do you
think there's any kind ofpossibility that Social Security
could be privatized?
Tom Morgenau (03:08):
They've been talking for years about
privatizing Social Security andit simply can't happen.
First of all, lemme point outthere's a 165 Social Security
programs around the world.
Every country on this planet hasa Social Security system for its
citizens.
They're all run by thegovernment because that's the
only way to run such a hugesocial insurance program is to
(03:31):
let the government run it.
There's different forms ofprivatization.
If we're talking about turningthe Social Security over to a
Wall Street bankers and let themmake decisions about Social
Security, that is never evergonna happen.
Although there is talk abouttaking some of social securities
trust funds and investing someof those funds in the private.
(03:52):
That's another form of quoteunquote privatizing Social
Security.
But as far as privatizing SocialSecurity, unless they take a
small portion of the SocialSecurity Trust fund and start
investing that in the privatemarkets, that's the only kind of
quote unquote privatization Isee ever happening.
(04:12):
But again, it's never going tobe turned over to private Wall
Street bankers because a programthat takes up one fourth of the
entire budget of the UnitedStates, you don't turn that over
to private interest to take careof.
You need the government to run aprogram like that.
David Lowry (04:29):
I think one of the questions people have as they
get closer to Social Securityand receiving benefits is, when
should I do it?
What factors should I consider?
What are your thoughts on that?
Tom Morgenau (04:40):
Well, they're always asking me, when should I
sign up for Social Security?
And I come back with anotherquestion.
I say, when are you gonna die?
Of course, since people don'tknow the answer to that
question, they don't really knowwhen is the best time to sign up
for Social Security.
You just have to look at all thefactors in your life.
You gotta look at your incomesituation.
(05:02):
You gotta look at your maritalsituation.
You gotta look at your lifeexpectancy.
You just take all these thingsinto account and then make the
best choice you can as far aswhen to start your benefits.
I can tell you that nowadaysmost financial planners will
tell you that you shouldprobably wait until your full
retirement age to start thosebenefits.
(05:25):
Then you get your full 100%benefit rate.
Just a few years ago though,same financial planners were
telling people they should waituntil 70 to start their Social
Security.
But what people have learnedover the years is that if you
wait until 70, most people justaren't living long enough to
come out ahead of the game bydelaying their benefits until
(05:48):
such a late age.
So, that's why the currentwisdom seems to be take those
benefits at your full retirementage.
I will say this, if you aretrying to maximize a potential
benefit for your survivingspouse, and usually we're
talking about a husband tryingto maximize benefits for his
(06:09):
wife once he dies and shebecomes a widow.
If he's trying to maximize thosefuture widow's benefits, then it
probably makes sense to waituntil 70 to start your Social
Security because at age 70 hegonna start getting 130 percent
of his full benefit.
And the wife will also get that130% once he dies.
(06:32):
So again, if you're trying toget your wife a maximum widow's
benefit someday, wait until 70to start those benefits.
David Lowry (06:42):
Thank you very much for that, Tom.
That's one of the big questionspeople have.
Here's a funny thing thathappened to me.
I was working, enjoying my job.
I realized I reached a fullretirement age and it caught me
out of the blue.
I got a notice from the SocialSecurity administration saying,
Hey, you gotta sign up for this.
Tom Morgenau (06:58):
Well, most people, as you're pushing Social
Security age, should be thinkingabout retirement.
Let me make this point.
I started working for SocialSecurity in the seventies and
back then the vast majority ofpeople were signing up for their
benefits at 62.
That was the earliest age youcould get your benefits.
You get a reduced benefit bytaking it at 62.
(07:19):
It's about a 70% benefit asopposed to the full 100% if you
wait until the full retirementage.
50 years ago, everybody, oralmost everybody was waiting
till 62.
Now many, many people arewaiting till their full
retirement age, many waitinguntil 70 to start their Social
Security.
We're living longer, we'reliving healthier.
(07:41):
So there are people like pushingthat age, but you don't even
think of yourself as an oldSocial Security retiree.
You think of yourself as activeworking person.
And I could see where SocialSecurity could sneak up on you
and you suddenly decide, oh, Ibetter do something.
David Lowry (07:59):
I actually knew that Social Security was an
option.
But I just never thought aboutit much because I was still
working and I had heard thingslike if I take Social Security,
I would get a reduced benefit.
I mistakenly thought thatbecause I was working, even
though I was at a age where Icould take full benefits, I
thought, oh, it's gonna decreasewhat I could get from the
(08:19):
benefit, but that's not true, isit?
Tom Morgenau (08:21):
There is no earnings penalty or anything
that prevents somebody overtheir full retirement age from
getting Social Securitybenefits.
So somebody who's over theirfull retirement age, even though
they're working.
If they don't sign up for SocialSecurity, you're starting to
throw benefits away every month.
Matter of fact, if you are overyour full retirement age, and
(08:43):
for most people nowadays, that'ssomewhere between 66 and 67
years old.
If you're over your fullretirement age, even if you're
working, you could be making amillion dollars a week and you
can get a Social Security check.
After age 66, you could havebeen getting a Social Security
check.
It's just something to thinkabout that once you reach that
age, you might wanna startgrabbing those benefits.
(09:04):
Otherwise, the money's justsitting there in the government
coffers instead of in your bankaccount.
I'll put it this way, I've heardfrom a lot of widows who told
me, told my husband, insisted onwaiting until age 70 to take his
Social Security and he died atage 71.
And gosh, I wish he would'vetaken benefits sooner.
But then of course there's otherpeople that lived to a hundred
(09:25):
years old.
You just have to make the bestchoice you can based on the
information you have at the timeyou're pushing Social Security
age.
David Lowry (09:33):
My wife's grandma lived to be 102 years old.
I think she probably got thebest Social Security benefits of
all of us.
Tom Morgenau (09:41):
You do have to think about your family's genes.
I've pointed out many times Itook my Social Security at age
62.
Now, why did I do that?
Because I didn't inherit thebest longevity genes.
My dad died at the age of 47.
I don't have a single uncle onmy dad's side who lived past the
age of 60.
So, back when I was a youngersenior, my early sixties, I
(10:05):
figured, Hey, I got the wronggenes.
I'm gonna grab my SocialSecurity while I can at age 62.
Of course here I'm now 75 yearsold and I beat the the gene pool
system.
Maybe I've come out on the shortend of the Social Security stick
because I took my benefitsearly.
But who cares?
My wife and I have been havingfun.
(10:25):
We've been enjoying our SocialSecurity income.
We've been traveling.
Everything's good.
I'm not worried about the factthat maybe I should have waited
until a later age to start mySocial Security.
So, the message I'm alwaysgiving people is just make a
decision and be happy with it,and live with it and don't worry
about it.
And once you make that decision,go on with your life.
David Lowry (10:48):
It's not uncommon that some people are divorcing
in their senior years.
How do the Social Security ruleswork for divorced individuals,
especially in their senioryears?
Tom Morgenau (10:57):
I'm constantly surprised by that.
I got an email just the otherday from a lady who divorced her
husband after 50 years.
And here's the Social Securityrules about that.
The law says if you've beenmarried to somebody for 10
years, you are gonna get SocialSecurity benefits off of that
person's record.
Let me clarify that a littlebit.
We're almost always talkingabout divorced women here.
(11:20):
95% of the benefits that arepaid to divorcees are paid to
women.
And there's a reason for that.
Men generally get higher SocialSecurity benefits because men
have worked longer, men'ssalaries and income has been
generally higher than a woman'ssalary.
A husband in a maritalrelationship almost always gets
a higher benefit than his wife,which means the wife is the one
(11:44):
who's potentially going to get adependent spousal benefit on the
husband's record.
So, if a woman has been marriedto a man for 10 years or more,
she's gonna get benefits on hisrecord someday, unless she
remarries.
Now, if she remarries, then shecan't get benefits from her
(12:05):
first husband.
If she's married a second timeand is currently married to
husband number two, then shecan't get benefits from husband
number one.
David Lowry (12:14):
As people approach the age for drawing Social
Security, it's not uncommon toface some medical issues.
Should they take Social Securityor apply for disability
benefits?
Are those separate programs orare they tied together?
Tom Morgenau (12:27):
Yeah, they are separate programs.
There are Social Securitydisability benefits, and there
are Social Security retirementbenefits.
Let me point out, they're both.
Social Security benefits.
I frequently hear from peoplewho are getting Social Security
disability benefits, and thenthey say, when can I get real
Social Security?
I always say, you're gettingreal Social Security if you're
(12:48):
getting a Social Securitydisability benefit.
It just happens to be adisability benefit instead of a
retirement benefit.
But if you're pushing retirementage and you've got some medical
issues, it certainly wouldn'thurt to file for disability
benefits.
But what you would do if you'reunder age 62, 62 is the earliest
age you can get retirementbenefits.
(13:10):
If you're under age 62, then youshould just file for disability
benefits because you are not yeteligible for retirement
benefits.
In other words, if a 60-year-oldguy has a heart attack.
He should file for SocialSecurity disability benefits
because he's, again, not quiteold enough yet for retirement
benefits.
But if a guy who is 62 years oldhas a heart attack, then he
(13:34):
should file for both SocialSecurity retirement benefits and
Social Security disabilitybenefits.
And what they'll do is they'llstart paying the retirement
claim right away because it'srelatively simple to process a
retirement claim, but it's gonnatake three months or so to
process that disability claim.
So, they'll start paying himretirement benefits and then if
(13:57):
they approve his disabilityclaim, they'll switch him from a
retirement to disabilitybenefits.
And the reason that would switchis a disability benefit.
A higher rate.
Essentially, a disabilitybenefit pays the same rate as a
full retirement age benefit.
So, the bottom line answer is ifyou're over 62, and have some
(14:21):
kind of medical condition.
You should file for bothretirement benefits and
disability benefits and see whathappens.
David Lowry (14:28):
Tom, when spouses are collecting Social Security
at retirement age and one ofthem passes away, what happens
to the benefit?
Do they get two checks or whathappens there?
Tom Morgenau (14:38):
Let me do what is a normal situation again.
Once again, 95% of benefits paidto a person in a death case are
gonna to women.
95% of survivor benefits arewidow's benefits.
So, let's take a typicalexample.
We got a guy who's getting$2,000a month and his wife is getting
$1,200 a month and she's gettingthat$1,200 in her own Social
(15:03):
Security.
He's getting a$2,000 SocialSecurity check.
If he dies, the widow will keepgetting her$1,200 Social
Security check, and then she'llget an extra$800 in widow's
benefits to take her up to whather husband's level was at the
time he died.
So she'll get$1,200 in her ownbenefits.
(15:24):
She'll get$800 in widow'sbenefits for a total of$2,000.
So, that's the way it usuallyplays out.
Now, let me point something elseout here that people always ask
when somebody dies.
They always say, how come I gota return that last check he got?
So, let's take an example wherea guy dies on April 15th.
(15:45):
And he's gonna get a SocialSecurity benefit for April.
What people need to understandis the Social Security benefits
always come one month behind.
So, the April check is paid inMay.
The May check is paid in Juneand so on.
So, if a guy dies on April 15th,if a Social Security check shows
up in May, which is his AprilSocial Security check, that
(16:07):
check has to go back to thegovernment because the rules say
you have to be alive every dayof the month to get a Social
Security benefit for that month.
Because he died on April 15th,he's not due benefits for April.
In other words, Social Securitybenefits aren't prorated.
That's kind of the easiest wayof putting that.
A lot of people don't like thatlaw, but there's actually a plus
(16:29):
side to it in that if he has awidow, she is gonna get a
widow's benefit for the entiremonth of April, even though she
was a widow for only 15 days ofthat month.
So, the lack of prorationactually helps people getting
survivor benefits, even thoughthey might have to return the
(16:49):
guy's last Social Securitycheck.
But again, she's gonna getwidow's benefits for the whole
month that he died.
He could die on April 29th, andeven though she was a widow for
only one day of the month, she'sgonna get a widow's benefit for
that entire month of April.
Don Drew (17:07):
David has a sister who recently had to go into a
nursing home because ofdementia, and she was at Social
Security age.
Could you walk us through theprocess of handling Social
Security in such cases whereDavid, in this case, had to
advocate for her?
Tom Morgenau (17:22):
A lot of people have power of attorney for a
loved one, for an aunt, amother, a grandma, or something
like that.
Well, power of attorney is kindof a useless designation for
Social Security purposes becausethe Social Security law is based
on privacy rules drilled intoSocial Security employees.
(17:42):
I remember the very first day ofmy training class way back in
1974 or 1973.
We spent that whole day talkingabout the privacy of Social
Security that, you know,somebody's records are private
and you can't share withanybody.
So, if you have a sister who hasproblems.
You can act on her behalf forSocial Security purposes if
(18:05):
she's mentally incompetent, I'llput it that way.
If she is mentally incapable ofhandling her own Social Security
affairs, then you can go toSocial Security and say, I wanna
be what they call arepresentative payee for my
aunt.
I wanna take care of heraffairs.
That means that her SocialSecurity benefits would come in
your name.
You're essentially responsiblefor all her Social Security
(18:28):
affairs.
The way that works with whenyou're trying to help somebody
out is if the person is mentallyincapable of handling their
affairs, you become theirrepresentative payee.
Don Drew (18:39):
David, did you have very many problems becoming her
representative?
David Lowry (18:43):
I had to go through a court system to become her
conservative or guardian, and ajudge appointed me that.
When I showed those papers tothe Social Security office, they
were very helpful and said,okay.
Tom Morgenau (18:54):
If you did not have those papers, David, they
would've asked you to get anotice from some kind of medical
professional, like a doctor orsomebody saying, you know, Susie
Smith is not able to take careof her own financial affairs.
So what's needed in these cases,is some kind of medical
statement that says the personcan't handle their own affairs.
Don Drew (19:15):
One of the questions you've mentioned to being asked
is whether someone should fileearly to grandfather themselves
into the system?
What's your advice on this?
Tom Morgenau (19:23):
Usually they're asking me that for political
reasons.
In other words, they think, Ithink President Trump or Elon
Musk or somebody is gonna messaround with Social Security and
radically change the program.
So, I wanna get on the bandwagonas soon as I can before they
have a chance to do that.
And I've always told people foryears, for 50 years now, I've
(19:46):
been telling people do not makeSocial Security decision based
on politics because it's almostinevitable that there will be
changes to Social Security downthe road and those changes,
whatever happens, they mightraise the retirement age,
there's a number of things thatthey could do, but they'll be
phased in over a long period oftime.
(20:07):
They won't happen overnight.
So, nobody's gonna pull the rugout from under you if you're
pushing Social Security age now.
Don't do it!
David Lowry (20:16):
Many people worry about retiring or starting to
draw Social Security at 62instead at 65 because they think
that if they work, it's gonnareduce their benefits.
Is that true?
What should they do?
Tom Morgenau (20:28):
Now, if you are 62 years old and still working,
then don't sign up for benefitsbecause there are earnings
penalty rules built into the lawfor people who are under their
full retirement age.
And those earnings penalty rulesessentially say if you make over
a certain limit, and that limitchanges every year, it's
(20:49):
currently about$23,000 or so.
So, if you are working andmaking over$23,000, you are not
due any Social Security benefitsor you're due radically reduced
Social Security.
So don't sign up Social Securityif you're under your full
retirement age and stillworking, unless you just have
(21:11):
some parttime job where you'remaking less than this$23,000
annual limit.
Then, you could take yourbenefits at 62 even though
you're working.
But again, most people areworking in a fulltime kind of
capacity and they're making waymore than$23,000.
So those folks should definitelynot file for benefits at 62
(21:34):
because they're not due anybenefits.
The law is gonna prevent themfrom collecting anything.
Now, once they stop working orreach their full retirement age,
then they can sign up for SocialSecurity.
But again, big message to folksis if you're 62 years old or
under your full retirement age,and you're working, don't think
about signing up for SocialSecurity because you're just not
(21:55):
eligible.
Don Drew (21:56):
That's really good to know.
So, a lot of our listeners mightbe 60, 61.
They're approaching a SocialSecurity age here pretty
rapidly.
What are some of the things thatthey really need to know and
think about?
Tom Morgenau (22:09):
Well, you can file online, which most people should
do nowadays.
It's much, much simpler to filefor benefits at www.Social
Security.Gov,www.socialsecurity.Gov.
Signing up for benefits onlineis a piece of cake.
You're gonna have to do onething in most cases, and that is
(22:29):
prove you're old enough forSocial Security.
So you're gonna have to showsomebody a birth certificate.
So, if you're pushing thatSocial Security age, one of the
things you should do is gatherthe documents you need, and
usually the only document youneed is a birth certificate.
And you need a certified copy ofa birth certificate, not just a
copy you might have laying in adesk drawer.
It has to be a birth certificatewith that seal on it from the
(22:54):
agency that issues the birthcertificate.
If we're talking about peoplewho just aren't comfortable
working with computers andthey'd rather do it in person,
then they got call the SocialSecurity Administration, and
their full free number is 800 77 2 1 2 1 3.
7 7 2 1 2 1 3.
So, you call the Social SecurityAdministration and make an
(23:17):
appointment to file that claim.
The appointment can be eitherover the phone or at a Social
Security office.
Oh, and the other thing I shouldpoint out, do that about two or
three months ahead of time.
Social Security computers areset up to start taking claims
three months before a personturns, whatever eligibility age
we're talking about.
(23:37):
In other words, don't do it sixmonths ahead of time.
If you called Social Securitysix months before you turn age
62 and you want benefits tostart at 62, they're just gonna
tell you, well have a nice day,but call us back in three
months.
So, three months before you wantyour benefits to start.
Get a birth certificate andeither go online or call the
Social Security Administrationto file that claim.
David Lowry (23:59):
You addressed some myths in your book, breaking
them into political and programmyths, and I'd like to talk
about a couple of them.
One of them is the idea thatillegal immigrants receive
Social Security benefits andthat Social Security hands out
welfare benefits to people whonever paid into the system.
Is that true?
Tom Morgenau (24:18):
There must be a current rumor going around
because I probably got a half adozen emails just today from
people saying, I heard thatillegal immigrants are getting
Social Security.
This has been a rumor that'sbeen off and on for 30, 40
years.
There are no illegal immigrantsgetting Social Security
(24:38):
benefits.
You have to be living in thiscountry legally to get a Social
Security check.
Matter of fact, another currentrumor says that the Biden
administration was handing outSocial Security numbers to
people crossing the borderillegally down in Texas,
Arizona, and California.
And of course, that's justridiculous.
Of course, they're not handingout Social Security cards to
(25:00):
people crossing the borderillegally.
The bottom line is if you'reliving in this country
illegally, there is no wayyou're gonna get a Social
Security benefit.
Simple as that.
Now, there are many, many peopleliving in this country legally
who are not citizens.
They move to this countrylegally.
They're living in this countrylegally.
They're working in this countrylegally, just like many
(25:22):
Americans working in foreigncountries.
And those Americans working inforeign countries might be
paying into that just as thepeople who have moved here
legally and are living herelegally, they're paying into our
Social Security system.
So those folks certainly can geta Social Security number and pay
Social Security taxes andpotentially collect Social
(25:45):
Security benefits someday.
Don Drew (25:47):
Thomas, as we're drawing to a close, can you tell
us a little more about your bookand the work you've been doing
lately?
Tom Morgenau (25:52):
Yeah, well, I got a couple books.
But the main one is calledSocial Security, Simple and
Smart.
Social Security, Simple andSmart.
You can get it at Amazon orBarnes and Noble online at
either of those two sites.
I don't think you'll find it inbookstores because it's too much
of a specialty book to actuallybe on a shelf in a bookstore,
(26:13):
but you can easily get it onlineat Amazon.com or Barnes and
Noble dot com.
The Simple and Smart book isreally good book that takes you
through all the different facetsof Social Security.
It's not a huge book at all.
It's only like a hundred pageslong.
So, they should get that book ifthey want a good overview of
Social Security.
(26:34):
There's another book I wrotecalled Myths and Facts.
100 Myths and 100 Facts AboutSocial Security.
That book does just what itsays.
It clears up the many myths thatare out there about the Social
Security program.
Or they can read my column.
I write a weekly column aboutSocial Security.
It's called Social Security andYou.
(26:54):
And to find that column, theycan go to www.creators.com.
I write this weekly column aboutSocial Security.
By the way, your listeners sendme a question to my email
address and I don't mind givingit out.
It's my name, Thomas dotMargenau, M-A-R-G-E-N-A-U,
(27:15):
Thomas Margenau at comcast dotnet.
And I just love to answerquestions for people about
Social Security, so I wouldn'tmind at all.
If you listeners have aquestion, send it to my email
address and I'll be happy tohelp them.
Don Drew (27:29):
Thank you for being such an informed guest.
We appreciate your tremendousknowledge on Social Security,
and we wanna remind ourlisteners to get a copy of Tom's
book, Social Security, simpleand Smart.
Thank you for being our guesttoday on Peaceful Life Radio.
Tom Morgenau (27:43):
Yeah, you're welcome.
I enjoyed it.
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com