How Social Security Fits Into Retirement Income

This lesson explains where Social Security belongs in a retirement income plan. Students learn to treat it as an inflation-adjusted income floor, not as a standalone retirement plan or a simple breakeven puzzle.

The lesson introduces the main planning variables: timing, work income, taxes, Medicare premiums, portfolio withdrawals, longevity risk, and household coordination. Later lessons will go deeper into exact claiming ages, spouse and survivor rules, earnings limits, and case studies.