Dec 10, 2025

NGPF Podcast: Lucretia Ryan, Top 10 Social Security Questions Answered

Did you know only 4 percent of Americans claim Social Security at the most financially optimal age? In this NGPF Podcast episode, NGPF Co-Founder Tim Ranzetta chats with financial educator Lucretia Ryan, founder of FinancialFreedomforWomen.org, as she explains the most confusing parts of Social Security and provides clear, actionable guidance.

Lucretia breaks down why timing matters so much and pushes back on common fears, especially the idea that Social Security is running out.

“I think it would be political suicide for any politician to let Social Security go broke,” she says, "What I do think is that they're going to have to make some changes."

Lucretia also discusses the now-repealed Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset: laws that unfairly slashed Social Security benefits for teachers in 13 states. She explains how the newly passed Social Security Fairness Act ends the unfair benefit reductions caused by the WEP. 

Additionally, she untangles how spousal and divorced spouse benefits work and who qualifies.

Listen to the full episode and view the transcript here.

 

 

Join Us Live this Week with Hanna Horvath, CFP and Managing Editor at Bankrate

The weekly Thursday NGPF Speaker Series virtual PD becomes the next NGPF Podcast episode. When you join live, you can ask questions in real time and connect with the speaker and other teachers.  

Hanna will address the true cost of “influencer economics,” the value of building practical money skills in the digital age, and why we're all so anxious about money right now.

Register now to join us TONIGHT (Dec. 11) at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

About the Author

Hannah Rael

As NGPF's Marketing Communications Manager, Hannah (she/her) helps spread the word about NGPF's mission to improve the financial lives of the next generation of Americans.

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