About the Foundation

Who we are, why we exist, and who leads this work.

Hans Goldstein, Founder

Hans Goldstein

Founder and President

Licensed Insurance Professional

NPN: 20602398

Licensed across most U.S. states

Retirement Literacy Foundation
EIN: 41-5062266
California Nonprofit Corporation
501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization

Board of Directors

Hans Goldstein - President
Michelle Tseng - Secretary
Jai Hilton - Independent Director
Walter Goldstein - CFO

Why This Foundation Exists

Social Security is the single largest source of retirement income for most Americans. For lower-income households, it is often the only source. Despite this, the Social Security Administration provides no individualized guidance on filing strategy, and most financial advisors either lack the training or lack the incentive to cover the full technical picture.

The Retirement Literacy Foundation was founded in 2026 to fill that gap. We provide free, technically rigorous education on Social Security rules, benefit interactions, tax exposure, and inherited account obligations. We serve everyone, with no income threshold, no asset requirement, and no expectation that attendees will ever engage a financial advisor.

Our workshops are held at public libraries and community centers across Orange County, Los Angeles County, and Riverside County. Every session is designed to be accessible to a general audience while technically complete enough to be useful to those who already have professional guidance.

Transparency Notice

The Retirement Literacy Foundation is an independent nonprofit education organization, entirely separate from any commercial financial services activity.

The Foundation reserves the right to refer attendees to qualified professionals when appropriate. This may include independent CPAs, estate planning attorneys, or other licensed financial professionals. Referrals are made at attendee request or where the Foundation believes a referral is genuinely in the attendee's interest. No referral is required, expected, or implied by attending a Foundation workshop. Attendees with lower incomes or simpler situations may be referred to free or low-cost community resources instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need money or assets to attend?
No. There is no income requirement, no asset threshold, and no means test. We serve SSI recipients, SSDI recipients, low-income retirees, and households of every economic background equally.
Is this really free?
Yes. All workshops are free, held at public venues, and open to anyone. No admission charge. No obligation to purchase anything or engage any professional.
I already have a financial advisor. Is this still useful?
Probably yes. Social Security optimization, the SECURE Act 10-year rule, WEP/GPO, and provisional income taxation are specialized topics many advisors have not studied in depth. Attending does not replace your advisor relationship, but it gives you the right questions to ask.
Will someone try to sell me something?
Not at the workshop. The event is purely educational. If you want individualized retirement planning support, you are welcome to schedule a private consultation with the founder's separate advisory practice. That is entirely your choice and is never a condition of attending.
What is the 501(c)(3) status?
The Retirement Literacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Our IRS determination letter was issued April 2, 2026, effective March 18, 2026. EIN: 41-5062266. Contributions are tax-deductible.