How to Maximize Social Security Spousal Benefits as a CRNA

What if you’re making a Social Security benefits mistake that could cost you 5 figures?

It almost happened to a CRNA.

Brett Fellows recently reviewed a retirement plan with a couple where the wife had worked full-time as a CRNA for 25 years while her husband worked part-time to raise their children. 

They assumed that because he had his own earnings history, he could not claim spousal benefits. That single assumption was a mistake that could have cost them tens of thousands of dollars over their lifetime.

In this episode, Brett Fellows, CFP®, breaks down exactly how Social Security spousal benefits work and why they are critical for CRNA couples to understand.

Brett explores:

• The fundamental rules of claiming 50% of a spouse's benefit
• Why CRNAs with "gap years" or early retirement dates are specifically affected
• Three real-world scenarios: The Traditional Family, The Dual High-Earner Couple, and The Career Gap Situation
• The "Social Security Tax Tsunami" and how spousal benefits impact provisional income
• The four biggest mistakes couples make, including claiming too early and failing to coordinate with tax planning

Key Timestamps:

(0:45) The costly mistake Sarah and Mark almost made 

(2:05) Fundamentals: How spousal benefits actually work 

(2:53) The 50% cap and full retirement age rules 

(4:05) Why the primary earner must claim first 

(5:35) Why this matters specifically for CRNAs 

(8:00) Scenario 1: The Traditional CRNA Family 

(9:45) Scenario 2: The Dual High-Earner Couple 

(10:35) Scenario 3: The Career Gap Situation 

(11:40) The Social Security Tax Tsunami 

(14:15) 4 common mistakes CRNA couples make

For more information and resources related to this episode, please visit the show notes.