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How does Social Security for Australians work in 2026 - Possible changes before the Trust Fund Runs Out
We will discuss U.S. Social Security for Australians and Americans, focusing on the trust fund's sustainability, potential benefit reductions, income limits, claiming strategies, and the impact of recent legislative changes.
Ashley Murphy, CFP® GFP Fellow, is a tri-citizen of the USA, Australia and the UK. He is the founder and Principal of Arete Wealth Strategists Australia, a fee-only, SEC Registered Investment Advisor providing financial planning and investment management firm for Australian/American expatriates in the United States and Australia. Ashley is also the Co-founder and Executive Director of the Global Financial Planning (GFP) Institute. The GFP Institute provides community, tools, and education for fiduciary financial advisors working with clients whose financial lives cross borders.
From 2014 - 2017, Ashley taught in the CFP programs at UC Berkeley Extension and Golden Gate University. He served as a Knowledge Circle host for the Financial Planning Association's International and Cross-Border Knowledge Circle (2017 - 2019), and is a regular conference speaker. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning in Australia making him one of the few financial advisors qualified in multiple countries. Ashley has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and profiled in Financial Advisor Magazine.
Ashley lives with his wife Eliza, and daughters Elise & Jasmine in Minneapolis, MN. He enjoys cycling, reading and world travel. He is a futurist with interests in architecture, renewable energy and demographics.
In this webinar, Arete Wealth Strategists Australia Founder/Principal Ashley Murphy, GFP (USA/AUS) CFP® will provide a comprehensive update on U.S. Social Security for Australians living in America and Americans residing in Australia, with a particular focus on the program's financial sustainability and what changes may be on the horizon.
Some of the relevant issues that will be addressed include:
- Current projections for the Social Security trust fund - When is it expected to be depleted and what does that mean for your future benefits?
- Potential benefit reductions and policy changes - What percentage of benefits can realistically be paid once the trust fund runs out, and what legislative solutions are being proposed?
- Social Security income limits and COLA adjustments for 2026 - How do current earnings limits affect your benefits if you claim before Full Retirement Age?
- Claiming strategies for cross-border clients - When is the optimal time to begin taking your Social Security benefit, especially if you have Australian Superannuation or other foreign pensions?
- Totalization Agreements and how they work - Understanding how your work in Australia (or other countries) may impact your U.S. Social Security eligibility and benefit calculation
- The impact of the Social Security Fairness Act - How recent changes to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) affect Americans with foreign pensions
We hope you can join us!
Absolutely! These sessions are for you. Bring your questions and participate during the Q&A.
Not at all. These webinars are designed for all American Australian expats, not just clients of Arete.
It’s all good. We will record the webinar and send the recording link.
Certainly. Just give them this website address and ask them to register.