As small business owners, it’s likely that you and some of your clients have been adversely affected by the coronavirus crisis. Fortunately, help is on the way. On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) into law. It includes several key provisions designed to help small businesses retain their employees and pay expenses during this difficult time.

When it comes to social security, the biggest decision clients need to make is whether to claim at age 62, full retirement age (FRA), or age 70, right? It certainly can be that simple, but there are many next-level nuances to consider. To become your clients’ go-to resource for their social security planning needs, start by mastering the foundational rules—then, you’ll be prepared to address the more complex aspects of their situation, too.

As a financial advisor, understanding health insurance options for retirees is critical to providing your clients with the support they need as they transition into retirement. You may know of Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans as common retirement health care solutions, but the level of coverage each offers is different, and it’s important to be able to recognize and explain the distinctions between them.

Did you know that to cover their retirement health care costs, a healthy 55-year-old couple may consume 92 percent of their social security benefits? Or that “total projected lifetime health care premiums . . . for a healthy 65-year-old couple retiring this year are expected to be $321,994 in today’s dollars ($485,246 in future dollars)”? These are staggering figures, and they highlight how important it is for advisors to guide clients through potential health care expenses in retirement.

Nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans can be an effective tool for employers to recruit, reward, and retain select executives. But if they aren’t set up properly, there could be hidden financial risks in your clients’ NQDC plans that could be detrimental to both the firm and the covered employees.