Retirement Income – The BamCam

Understanding Social Security: Making Informed Decisions at Every Age (Ep. 49)

By The-BamCam | January 27, 2026

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to understand how different income sources will work together. Are you making decisions based on what worked for someone else, or on what truly fits your situation?

In this episode, Adrian and Alison Castellano walk through how Social Security works at every stage of life, from your twenties when it feels distant to your sixties when filing decisions become real. They explain how benefits are calculated, the impact of claiming early versus waiting, and why Social Security should be viewed as one piece of your overall retirement strategy rather than a standalone decision.

Key takeaways:

How Social Security functions as a government insurance program rather than a personal investment account
The importance of your 35 highest earning years and why missing years count as zeros in benefit calculations
Claiming strategies and how filing at 62, full retirement age, or 70 affects your lifetime income significantly
Spousal and survivor benefits that make Social Security a household decision requiring coordinated planning
Why creating your online Social Security account early helps you track earnings and catch errors before retirement
And more!

Resources:

Social Security Administration Website

Connect with Alison Castellano:

Connect with Adrian Castellano:

Connect with Jack Burnette:

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What Teachers in Alabama Need to Know About Their Pension Program (Ep. 3)

By The-BamCam | September 7, 2023

As a teacher in Alabama, relying on their pension plan can seem like the safest option. In reality, having multiple streams of income and savings is essential to build their retirement dream.

In this episode, Jack Burnette and Alison Castellano explore retirement planning for Alabama teachers and the limitations of teacher pension plans. They explain that the plan is a defined benefit plan with two tiers, and discuss the benefits, contributions, and payout options depending on different factors.

Jack and Alison focus on:

How the teacher pension plan is funded and its structure
The difference between tier one and tier two employees in terms of payroll deductions and benefits
How do the different tiers impact their retirement age and funds
Personal experiences and mistakes shared by Alison regarding relying solely on a pension and not starting retirement savings early enough
And more