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Good morning, Simply Retirement Community!
Welcome to the weekly newsletter that reminds us that retirement is not the end of the road; it is the start of a new journey.
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Happy New Year—and welcome to 2026.
A new year often brings a mix of optimism and uncertainty, especially when it comes to money. And this year is no exception. There are several changes already in motion that will impact tax and retirement planning in 2026, and it’s completely normal to wonder how—or if—you should be adjusting your plans.
That’s precisely why we are here.
You’ll also notice something new this week—the first official photo of our entire team together: myself, Dawn, Eric, and Kaitlyn. Not our first family photo ever 😀 (trust me, there are plenty of those), but the first time we’ve all been together in this way, starting the year as a team focused on the work ahead.
We’re genuinely excited about this next chapter and the impact we expect to have for the people we serve—helping you navigate taxes, retirement income, and long-term planning with clarity and confidence, even as the rules continue to evolve.
As always, my goal is to break things down in a clear, practical way—so you can spend less time worrying about the “what ifs” and more time enjoying the life you’ve worked so hard to build.
Here’s to a steady, informed start to the new year—and to what’s ahead in 2026.
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💬 From Episode 85:
“If you don’t know the rules, you don’t know what you’re entitled to—and that’s how people leave money on the table.”
ERIC BLAKE
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Social Security: Essential Rules for Women and Divorcees
Understanding Social Security can feel complicated, especially when life events like divorce or widowhood come into play.
In this episode, I join Karen Covy on her podcast, Off The Fence, to walk through the rules that often matter most for women.
We discuss how full retirement age works, how spousal, ex-spousal, and survivor benefits are determined, and what to know about the 10-year marriage rule. Our conversation also covers the Social Security Fairness Act and how it affects certain workers with pensions.
Together, we outline key considerations that can help listeners better understand their options when planning for future income.
Tune in to learn:
- How full retirement age determines your benefit amount and why this number is critical to every Social Security decision
- The difference between spousal, ex-spousal, and survivor benefits, and how remarriage affects your eligibility
- The 10-year marriage rule for divorced individuals, and what documentation you need to claim benefits
- How the Social Security Fairness Act eliminated penalties that primarily affected women with pensions
- Strategic timing considerations when you're still working and approaching retirement age
- And more!
You can catch every episode of The Simply Retirement Podcast on the website - or on your favorite podcast app.
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Related Links & Resources
- 👉 Work with us!
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📄 Read
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🛠️ Episode Tools & Resources
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👩👩👧👦 Connect & Participate
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The Retirement Toolbox
👉 2026 Social Security Quick Reference Guide
Our annually updated Social Security Quick Reference Guide contains lots of handy facts and figures in an easy-to-read format. Information includes cost-of-living adjustments, a breakdown of actuarial reduction, Medicare premiums, and more.
This quick reference guide provides key Social Security numbers to help you in planning. The percentages shown here are applied to the primary insurance amount (PIA) of the worker on whose earnings record benefits are being claimed. The PIA can be found on the worker’s Social Security statement. It is an estimate of the benefit amount if claimed at full retirement age (FRA). You can obtain your latest statement by opening an account at ssa.gov/myaccount.
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Have more questions about retirement planning? Just hit reply to this email. I read and respond to every message. 😃
Keeping Retirement Simple,
Eric Blake, CFP®
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Content here is for illustrative purposes and general information only. It is not legal, tax, or individualized financial advice; nor is it a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any specific security, or engage in any specific trading strategy.
All investing involves risk including loss of principal. Results will vary. Past performance is no indication of future results or success. Market conditions change continuously.
Information here is provided, in part, by third-party sources. These sources are generally deemed to be reliable; however, neither Blake Wealth Management nor RFG Advisory guarantee the accuracy of third-party sources. The views expressed here are those of Blake Wealth Management. They do not necessarily represent those of RFG Advisory, their employees, or their clients.
This commentary should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Blake Wealth Management or RFG Advisory, or performance returns of any client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice.
Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, LLC ("RFG Advisory" or "RFG") a registered investment advisor. Blake Wealth Management and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where RFG Advisory and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advisory services may be rendered by RFG Advisory unless a client agreement is in place.
RFG Advisory is an SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of RFG by the Commission, nor does it indicate that RFG or any associated investment advisory representative has attained a particular level of skill or ability.
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