David Haertzen Authority Hub

Decades of experience in insurance, technology, and analytics, all focused on helping you retire better.

By David Haertzen

Welcome, friend. I’m David, and if you’re reading this, you’ve probably stumbled upon our site and are asking yourself the most important question: “Who is this guy, and can I trust him?”

That’s a fair question, and it’s one I’ve been asking about the internet for over 50 years. I’m a 70+ year-old IT professional and a retiree myself. My wife and I navigated the same confusing maze you’re in right now to sign up for Social Security and Medicare. I created this site to be the straightforward, no-nonsense resource I wish I’d had. We’re not here to sell you anything you don’t need. We’re here to help you solve your own puzzles with clear, fact-based information.

My unique perspective comes from a blend of first-hand experience and decades of professional expertise. I’ve worked in the technology and insurance industries for a long time, and I’ve seen how complicated things can get. My mission is to simplify that complexity for you. Below, you’ll find the professional background that informs our work here. I hope it gives you the confidence to know you’re in good hands.

The SSM Trust Triangle™

At SocialSecurityMedicare.com, our foundation is built on three core pillars that we call our "Trust Triangle." It's what sets us apart from the endless stream of confusing information out there.

• Real Experience: I'm not just a writer—I'm a fellow traveler on this retirement journey. My wife and I are both on Social Security and traditional Medicare, so we've been exactly where you are. We've wrestled with the forms, made the big decisions, and felt the same anxiety. I'm sharing my personal journey to make your path smoother.
• Verified Expertise: I’ve spent 50+ years in the IT world and 20 years working as an Enterprise Architect and Information Architect for a major North American life insurance carrier. I hold an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and am a Fellow of the Life Management Institute (FLMI). My job was to understand complex systems and data—skills I’m now using to demystify your retirement.
• Unbiased Clarity: Our mission is to provide information, not to act as a salesperson. We don't push one type of insurance or a specific investment product. Our focus is on clear, simple language and a logical structure that helps you make your own informed decisions.

The Professional Journey That Prepared Me

I believe that building trust starts with transparency. Here is a look at my professional background that has given me the tools to build this website for you.

Protecting Seniors - Countering Financial Crime

My experience has given me opportunities to protect seniors. I’ve contributed to efforts such as:

• Financial Product Suitability: I design data solutions to make sure insurance products are suitable for seniors. Insurance policies submitted by insurance agents must protect seniors from products with long payback periods
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML): I architected solutions to counter funding of criminals and terrorists.
• Customer Data Protection: I championed data protection efforts such as data encryption and firewalls.

A Career of Solving Puzzles

My work has always been about understanding and simplifying complex systems. I’ve held positions such as:

• Enterprise Architect: I was responsible for designing and managing the information systems for an entire company. Think of it as creating the blueprints for a skyscraper. This requires a deep understanding of how all the pieces fit together—just like a retirement plan.
• Information Architect: I specialized in making sure that critical data was accurate, secure, and easy to use. I focused on areas like AML/antifraud, investment analytics, and customer data models, which are directly relevant to protecting your financial and personal information.

Authored and Published

I am a published author and have written multiple books and articles in the fields of technology and data architecture. These works demonstrate my ability to take complex subjects and make them accessible to a broad audience. My publications include:

• The Analytical Puzzle (Technics Publications)
• Data Warehousing with the Toolkit (Data Warehouse Toolkit)
• Articles for DZone (DZone author page)
• Other works on my Amazon Author Page and Google Books.

Community and Speaking Engagements

I’ve also enjoyed sharing my knowledge with the broader professional community through speaking engagements and awards. This includes presenting at conferences and being recognized with awards like the BestPrep Award (BestPrep Award list).

A Lifetime of Learning

My commitment to continuous learning is a core part of who I am. I believe that new technologies and new knowledge can always be applied to solve old problems. I’ve continued to stay up to date on new innovations like LLMs, AI agents, and data science, and I will be using them to keep our site a cutting-edge resource for you. I also maintain several personal websites, including my personal site at davidhaertzen.com and my business site for Infogoal, LLC at infogoal.com.

My Personal Experience with Social Security and Medicare

On a more personal note, my wife and I both delayed claiming our Social Security benefits until age 70 to maximize our monthly payments. We are also on traditional Medicare, supplemented by a Medigap plan and a separate Part D prescription plan. We’ve had to make decisions about which plan is right for us, how to manage our healthcare costs, and how to stay healthy as we age. This firsthand experience is the true heart of this website.

I am not a doctor, a registered financial advisor, or a licensed insurance agent. The information on this site is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any financial, legal, or health decisions.

Let’s Get Started

I’m here to be a trusted guide on your retirement journey. I want to help you take control of your future with the same confidence that comes from a well-thought-out plan. Thank you for visiting SocialSecurityMedicare.com. Let's make this journey together.

Sincerely,

David Haertzen