Understanding Social Security and Retirement Planning with Imran Razvi and Higher Ground Financial Group

Social Security is often treated as a simple, rules-based decision. Many people believe there is a single “right” answer—wait as long as possible, collect the largest monthly benefit, and move on. That assumption may hold for the average retiree, but for high earners, Social Security is one of the most strategic and misunderstood elements of retirement planning.

For individuals with significant income, sizable retirement accounts, and long-term legacy goals, Social Security decisions rarely fit neatly into conventional guidance. Instead, they require a more thoughtful, integrated approach—one that accounts for taxes, opportunity cost, longevity, and how different income sources interact over time.

That is where Imran “Raz” Razvi and Higher Ground Financial Group come in. The firm specializes in helping high-income families navigate complex retirement decisions with clarity, discipline, and purpose. Rather than treating Social Security as an isolated election, their work places it inside a broader retirement planning framework designed to support long-term financial peace and intentional stewardship.

Why Social Security Planning Is Different for High-Earning Retirees

Much of the Social Security advice circulating online and in popular media is designed for “average” retirees. That guidance assumes modest retirement savings, limited tax exposure, and little concern for estate or charitable planning.

Clients of Higher Ground Financial Group tend to look very different. Many have:

• Higher lifetime earnings

• Larger IRAs and taxable investment accounts

• Greater exposure to income and capital gains taxes

• Strong desire to leave assets to children or support charitable causes

When these factors are present, optimal Social Security strategies change. Taxes begin to matter more than benefit size alone. Opportunity cost becomes real. Estate planning considerations shape withdrawal decisions. In this environment, default rules—such as always delaying benefits—can lead to inefficient outcomes.

Higher Ground Financial Group positions itself as a firm that rejects one-size-fits-all solutions. Their retirement planning process is intentionally nuanced, recognizing that what works for the average household may not serve high earners well.

The Foundation of Social Security in a Purposeful Retirement Plan

Social Security plays an important role in nearly every retirement plan, but for wealthier households, it is rarely the primary driver of lifestyle funding. Instead, it functions as a foundational income stream—one that can stabilize cash flow and reduce pressure on other assets when coordinated properly.

Higher Ground Financial Group uses a Social Security Exploration process that evaluates claiming decisions through multiple lenses, including age, marital status, earnings history, income needs, and long-term objectives. This ensures Social Security decisions are aligned with the broader retirement plan rather than made in isolation.

Taxation is a critical component of this analysis. As Imran Razvi explains in his educational video on Social Security taxation, up to 85% of benefits can become taxable depending on provisional income—a calculation that includes IRA withdrawals, dividends, capital gains, and even tax-exempt interest.

By coordinating IRA withdrawals with Social Security benefits, Higher Ground Financial Group helps clients:

• Reduce total lifetime taxes

• Improve annual cash-flow efficiency

• Preserve tax-advantaged assets that can ultimately pass to heirs

For high earners, this coordination often matters more than the headline monthly benefit amount.

Rethinking “Delay as Long as Possible” Conventional Wisdom

The most common Social Security advice is simple: delay benefits as long as possible to earn an 8% annual increase. While mathematically appealing, this advice overlooks several realities that are especially relevant for wealthy households.

A higher benefit at age 70 also means fewer years of collection. Social Security is designed to be actuarially neutral—meaning the system expects to pay roughly the same lifetime benefit to the average person, regardless of when they claim. The difference lies in timing, taxation, and opportunity cost.

For clients who do not need Social Security to fund basic living expenses, delaying may simply shift income later without improving overall outcomes. Early benefits can be used to preserve retirement accounts, reduce taxable withdrawals, or be invested elsewhere.

Higher Ground Financial Group frames this not as blanket advice, but as strategic rethinking. The right answer depends on how Social Security fits into the entire retirement picture, not on a single rule of thumb.

When Taking Social Security Earlier Can Make Sense for Wealthier Clients

For certain high-net-worth households, claiming Social Security earlier can be a powerful planning tool. Situations where this may make sense include:

• Retiring before full retirement age

• Wanting to minimize early IRA withdrawals

• Reducing taxable income over time

• Preserving retirement assets for heirs

In one of Higher Ground Financial Group’s educational discussions, Imran Razvi explains how spending Social Security first—rather than drawing heavily from IRAs—can extend portfolio longevity and improve tax outcomes. Because retirement accounts are inheritable and Social Security is not, preserving those accounts can support legacy goals more effectively.

Additionally, earlier claiming can reduce provisional income in certain years, lowering the portion of benefits subject to taxation. These strategies are never assumed; they are modeled, stress-tested, and evaluated against multiple future scenarios.

Integrating Social Security with Retirement Income and Continued Work

Social Security decisions do not occur in a vacuum. Higher Ground Financial Group integrates them into a broader retirement income planning process that coordinates:

• Social Security benefits

• IRAs and other retirement accounts

• Investment income

• Pensions, when applicable

One common source of confusion is the Social Security earnings test. Retirees who continue working before full retirement age may see benefits temporarily reduced if income exceeds certain thresholds. Understanding how—and when—those reductions are recalculated is essential.

Imran Razvi emphasizes intentional work decisions: earning income should support retirement goals, not unintentionally undermine them. Clear planning allows clients to work by choice, not by necessity.

Taxes, Longevity, and the Break-Even Myth

Much of the Social Security conversation centers on break-even age, often calculated in the early 80s. While useful, break-even analysis alone is incomplete. It ignores three critical factors:

• Taxes

• Opportunity cost

• Inflation

As retirement research has shown, the decision of when to claim Social Security cannot be reduced to a single age threshold. It must be evaluated within the context of income sources, investment returns, and long-term planning objectives.

Higher Ground Financial Group’s philosophy reflects this complexity: Social Security decisions must be evaluated within the full financial picture, not through isolated calculations.

The Higher Ground Difference: Education, Stewardship, and Purpose

At the core of Higher Ground Financial Group is a commitment to education, stewardship, and purpose. Under Imran Razvi’s leadership, the firm emphasizes values-based retirement planning—helping clients align financial decisions with faith, family, and long-term intent.

Social Security, when planned thoughtfully, becomes a tool for peace and clarity rather than stress and uncertainty. This philosophy is reinforced by Imran Razvi’s credentials and dedication to guiding families through complex decisions with wisdom and care.

Aligning Social Security Decisions with a Purposeful Retirement

For high earners, Social Security and retirement planning must be coordinated thoughtfully. There is no default claiming age, no universal rule, and no shortcut to clarity. Higher Ground Financial Group encourages individuals to explore their Social Security Exploration process to understand how benefits fit into their broader retirement vision.

Schedule a conversation with Imran Razvi and the team at Higher Ground Financial Group to build a Social Security strategy that reflects your values, goals, and lifelong purpose.