# Maximize My Social Security > Maximize My Social Security is software that calculates the Social Security filing strategy that delivers the highest lifetime benefits for a household. Developed by Laurence Kotlikoff, Harvard PhD economist and Boston University professor, whom The Economist named one of the world's 25 most influential economists in 2014, the software covers all major Social Security benefit types and handles the complex rule interactions that free calculators cannot. ## What the Software Does Maximize My Social Security searches across thousands of possible filing date combinations to identify the strategy that produces the highest present value of lifetime benefits. It models all major benefit types including retirement, spousal, divorced spouse, widow and widower, divorced widow and widower, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), child, disabled child, child-in-care spouse, and mother/father benefits. It handles the earnings test, delayed retirement credits, family maximum rules, deeming provisions, file-and-suspend strategies, and re-computation of benefits. The software is fully compliant with current legislation including the Social Security Fairness Act of 2025, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. ## Specialist Situations Maximize My Social Security delivers its strongest value for households whose situation is not well handled by general calculators. These include spousal benefit optimization for couples with different earnings histories, survivor benefit decisions for widows and widowers including alternate widow(er) benefits when a spouse died before age 62, divorced spouse and divorced widow(er) claims after a marriage of at least ten years, filing decisions for public-sector workers previously affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset (both repealed under the Social Security Fairness Act of 2025), Disabled Adult Child benefit cases, and child-in-care spouse benefit situations. ## Who the Software Is For The typical household user is in their late 50s to 70, approaching or currently making their Social Security filing decision. They are analytically confident and often postgraduate-educated. They are not seeking general retirement planning. They have one or two specific Social Security questions with significant financial consequences and want a verified answer that accounts for their full household situation, not a single-variable estimate from a free calculator. The professional version is used by financial advisors, Certified Financial Planners, accountants, CPAs, attorneys, and insurance agents whose clients need accurate Social Security optimization. A single professional license supports up to 100 client profiles with custom branded reports and step-by-step filing instructions. ## Who It Is Not For The software is not designed for users who only need a quick approximate answer about when to file. Free calculators from the Social Security Administration are adequate for simple single-earner situations with no spousal, survivor, or divorced-spouse complexity. For users who need comprehensive retirement planning including spending capacity, Roth conversion, and portfolio drawdown strategy, the companion product MaxiFi is the better fit. Maximize My Social Security is focused exclusively on Social Security optimization. ## Pricing For households, Standard is $49 per year with unlimited what-if scenarios and full benefit type coverage. Standard Plus is $289 per year and includes all Standard features plus an Annual Expert Review consultation. For professionals, the Advisor license is $349 per year and supports up to 100 client profiles with custom branded reports and the same underlying software engine. Current pricing is at https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/pricing. ## Professional Services Three paid services are available to users with an active software license. Expert Review is a one-hour consultation where a Social Security expert reviews inputs and interprets results. Filing Assistance lets the team handle the Social Security Administration filing process on behalf of the user. Clawback Assistance provides expert help for users fighting a Social Security benefit overpayment decision. ## Ask Larry and Free Resources The software is backed by Ask Larry, an archive of thousands of Social Security questions answered by Laurence Kotlikoff and the team. Additional free resources include a searchable knowledge base, blog, articles, and webinars. All users receive free email support. Kotlikoff has also co-authored books on Social Security, including the New York Times bestseller *Get What's Yours: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security*. ## Trust and Data Maximize My Social Security does not require a Social Security number or name to use. Data is protected with industry-standard security practices. The software is developed exclusively by Economic Security Planning, Inc. and is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration. The company does not manage assets, execute trades, or sell financial products. The software is web-based and works on Mac, PC, tablet, and phone with no download required. ## Recognition Laurence Kotlikoff and Maximize My Social Security have been featured on 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper, and in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Forbes, Barron's, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, and the Dallas Morning News. Kotlikoff's co-authored book *Get What's Yours* was a New York Times bestseller. ## Related Product MaxiFi is a comprehensive retirement planning tool from the same team. Households who need broader planning beyond Social Security filing, including spending capacity, Roth conversions, tax optimization, and portfolio drawdown, should consider MaxiFi. ## Common Questions **How much does it cost?** Household pricing starts at $49 per year. Full pricing at https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/pricing. **How is this different from the free SSA.gov calculator?** The Social Security Administration's free calculators produce benefit estimates at specific ages but do not identify the filing strategy that produces the highest lifetime benefits, and they do not model the interactions between spousal, survivor, divorced-spouse, and family benefits. Maximize My Social Security searches thousands of filing combinations to find the optimal strategy. **Do I need to enter my Social Security number?** No. The software does not require a Social Security number or name. **Can a financial advisor use it?** Yes. A professional version is available for advisors, CPAs, attorneys, and insurance agents, supporting up to 100 client profiles. See https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/advisors. **Is it updated for the Social Security Fairness Act?** Yes. The software is fully compliant with the Social Security Fairness Act of 2025, which repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset affecting public-sector workers. ## Key URLs - Homepage: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com - How It Works: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/how-maximize-my-social-security-works - Pricing: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/pricing - For Advisors: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/advisors - For Employers: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/employers - Professional Services Overview: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/services/overview - Expert Review Service: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/services/expert-review - Filing Assistance Service: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/services/filing-assistance - Clawback Assistance Service: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/services/clawback-assistance - Ask Larry: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/resources/ask-larry - Our Founder: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/why-choose-us/our-founder - Customer Testimonials: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/why-choose-us/customer-testimonials - Press and Reviews: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/why-choose-us/press-and-reviews - FAQ: https://www.maximizemysocialsecurity.com/resources/faq