Social Security Simplified…

You Only Get One Shot at Getting This Right…

Now Updated for 2026

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96% Take Social Security at the Wrong Time*

Social Security makes up about 40% of the average retiree’s household income, according to the Social Security Administration. Yet most people spend more time planning their next vacation than optimizing their Social Security.

The end result? The typical household misses out on $110,000 in income and $68,000 in savings over their lifetime (*University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study). That’s money that could provide peace of mind, support loved ones, and make retirement more enjoyable.

So why don’t more people get this right? Because they’re confused, overwhelmed, and misinformed. They’ve heard myths like:

“The government is stealing from the Social Security Trust Fund.”

“Social Security is a Ponzi scheme.”

“Undocumented immigrants are draining the system.”

“The system is being ‘privatized’ and the government is going to be taking big market risks to try and save the system.”

Or the most common myth: “Social Security will be bankrupt by 2034.”

None of that is true…

Meet Your Guide

Hi, my name is Geoff Schmidt. I’m a CPA, award winning author, Registered Social Security Analyst (RSSA) and have an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University. I also have 25 years experience in the financial services industry in New York City.

I’m the host of a popular YouTube Channel focused on retirement and Social Security – Holy Schmidt! with over 400,000 subscribers, 400 videos, over 60 million views and 5 million hours of watch time.

I created Social Security Simplified because there was no clear, easy way to learn what everyone needs to know. This course makes complex decisions simple—and helps people through one of the most important financial choices of their lives. And unlike a book, it’s always current.

Cut Through the Confusion. Make the Right Decision

Social Security Simplified is a clear, focused course that teaches you how the system really works—using plain language and third-grade math. In just 3–5 hours, you’ll gain the clarity and confidence to make one of the most important financial decisions of your life.

No fluff. No overwhelm. No scare tactics.

You’ll learn exactly how Social Security works from start to finish—so you can optimize your benefit based on your goals, your health, and your family’s needs.

Why This Course Is Different

Most resources bury you in rules without giving you a clear path forward. This course, and accompanying workbook, will guide you through all the key decisions, timing and rules.

This course walks you through a step-by-step system to:

– Maximize your lifetime benefit
– Protect your spouse and loved ones
– Optimize your Social Security for all four possible retirement scenarios, and
– Confidently navigate your Social Security decision

Get crystal clear on your Social Security decisions today

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Some of What You’ll Learn

How AIME works – The “engine” that determines the size of your benefit, and how to increase it—even late in your career.
 
Our exclusive 25-question tool – A simple framework to match your Social Security strategy with your top priorities: income, protection, flexibility, or security.
 
How to protect your survivors – Ensure your spouse and/or dependent(s) receives the highest possible benefit if something happens to you.
 
What COLA really does – Understand how the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) helps you keep up—and where it may fall short.
 
Spousal timing strategies – Coordinate your and your spouse’s benefits for the biggest long-term payoff.
 
How working in retirement affects your payment – Know the income limits and benefit implications if you file early and keep working.
 
The biggest myths about Social Security – Learn the truth behind common fears—and how misinformation leads to bad judgement and costly mistakes.
 
How to apply it all – Use your workbook, worksheets, and real examples to walk through your decisions, step by step.

Course Graduate Testimonials

What people are saying

  • “I’m a Pastor who also specializes in the area of stewardship, and so personal finance and financial management to me is an important part of how we live out our faith, and so to see someone who is presenting material like Geoff is in a clear and thoughtful and helpful way is so important.”
    Pastor Jerry O’Neal
    Course Graduate
  • “I found the course very helpful. It was very thorough. I got everything I wanted out of it. I needed to learn more about how I want to proceed with my strategy for my own social security, and I definitely got that and I got great value out of it, and I look forward to other classes coming from Geoff.”
    Trish Savelle
    Course Graduate
  • “I thought it was well-rounded and easy to navigate. It had a lot of great detail and great examples, and it simplified the process and helped me make a decision on how I want to proceed with collecting Social Security in the future.”
    Paul Keeler
    Course Graduate
  • “In taking this course, I was very comfortable from the beginning that this was going to be good for me because the definitions were there, the foundations were there, and it was a very deliberate approach into giving me an education as to what Social Security was and how it would fit my situation.”
    Beth Skinner
    Course Graduate

All in one solution

Everything you need
in one course

Social Security Simplified…

$297.00

  • 24 videos across 17 modules cover all of Social Security’s “big questions” (and most small ones as well).
  • a 103 page simple and effective workbook to help you get the most from the curriculum
  • a 25 question “calibration quiz” to help you discover what’s most important to you (it’s probably different than you think).
  • Lifetime access to all lessons, files, PDF and videos and future updates.
  • 30-day money back “no-Bull Schmidt” guarantee–no questions asked.
Buy Now

Don’t put off this vital learning

This course turns years of hit or miss information, in to a crystal clear, highly effective decisioning system that takes about 4 or 5 hours to completely master.

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Common Questions

Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Apple Pay and Google Pay

Yes and no. In theory, you can find all this information online—and people do. The only problem I have with this is that the “source of truth,” the Social Security Administration, has over 100,000 pages on its website, and the language is quite technical. The other—and bigger—issue is that controversy gets clicks, and even the most reputable news sources need to attract your attention. Recently, I released a video on YouTube about this point.

A stalwart of the news industry, whose reputation was once beyond reproach, put out an article titled “Social Security’s Full Retirement Age is Increasing in 2025. Here’s What to Know.” What the title should have said is: “Social Security’s Annual Full Retirement Age Increase, Agreed to in 1983, is On Track for Its 11th Scheduled Annual Increase.” (Try dropping the original title into a search engine. The actual story is anticlimactic.) Now imagine what’s said by news organizations—and individuals—who actively want to stir the pot. They tell flat-out lies.

This course turns years of research—some of which might not even be correct—into a source of truth that can be completed in about 3 to 4 hours if someone is motivated. We recommend completing it over the course of a week.

It may have a funny name, but it is a serious guarantee. If, within 30 days, you’re not completely satisfied, we’ll promptly refund 100% of your payment. Once the refund is issued, you’ll be unenrolled from the course and removed from the Retirement Ready Academy community.

Within our courses is a hidden gem—one that only gets better with time. It’s called the Retirement Ready Community. Everyone who signs up for Social Security Simplified automatically gains access to the community. Inside, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded individuals who support each other. There are also community-only events, live seminars, free mini-courses (updated regularly), and even meet-ups hosted in cities across the United States. Participation is optional—but incredibly powerful.

This is a self directed course, learn at your own pace. All content is delivered electronically—including the course, downloads, spreadsheets, and access to the Retirement Ready Academy community.

Yes we do. This is all too common, unfortunately, and there are several considerations that involve when to claim, from maximizing the personal benefit to protecting those that are left behind.

Absolutely. There is no one size fits all answer and we use a 25 question calibration questionnaire at the beginning of the course to focus on the big issues in the student’s life and then a different set of questions near the end once the student has completed the learning to help them come to the best answer for their specific situation.

Yes. We have an entire module dedicated to taxes on Social Security. We give both single and married couple examples and even help the student walk through their own personal scenario using simple math.

Yes. We believe this course is one of the most clear in the market on this topic. We even cover both divorced ex spouse “Spousal Benefits” and divorced ex spouse “Survivor Benefits.”

Absolutely, and while we feel all modules are important, we spend a great deal of time on this subject to make sure that it is both comprehensive and understandable given the complicated nature of the benefit

You probably won’t get to it later…

If you’re like most people, you have good intentions but then life gets in the way and you forget. All you need to do is click the button below and you can lock it in right now.

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