Picture this: you’re nearing retirement and you’re counting down the days until you can finally experience the golden years. However, a significant part of your retirement plan involves your social security benefits, and you’re not sure when to start claiming them.
Sound familiar?
Well, the good news is that you’re not alone. Choosing when to start taking social security can have a major impact on your retirement finances and it’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. While it might be tempting to tap into that income source when it becomes available at age 62, there are significant benefits to waiting.
Recent research finds all U.S. workers ages 45 to 62 would benefit from waiting until beyond age 65 to start receiving benefits.
Meanwhile, more than 90% would benefit from waiting until age 70.
But only about 10% of workers actually wait until then, according to estimates from Boston University economics professor Larry Kotlikoff, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta executive vice president David Altig and Opendoor Technologies research scientist Victor Yifan Ye.
Claiming before age 70 results in an estimated median household loss of $182,370 in lifetime discretionary spending for claimants ages 45 to 62, the researchers found.
“The return on being patient is huge with Social Security,” Kotlikoff said.
Increased Monthly Payments
One major benefit of waiting to claim your social security benefits is an increase in the monthly payment you receive. In general, the longer you wait to claim social security, the higher the monthly payments will be.
For instance, if you begin claiming social security benefits at age 62 (the earliest age you can claim), your benefit will be permanently reduced. However, if you delay claiming social security until age 70, you could receive up to 132% of the benefit you would’ve received at age 62. This increase can add up to significant savings over time.
Opportunity to Grow Investments
If you’re still working and earning an income, it may make sense to delay claiming social security benefits. By doing so, you have the opportunity to continue contributing to your retirement savings, and the longer you can contribute, the more your investments can grow. This growth can help you have a higher retirement income in the future, and you can use those investments to supplement your social security benefits.
Insurance Against Longevity Risk
According to TheHill.com, “Between 1900 and 2020 the average life expectancy in the United State rose by more than 30 years due, in part, to multiple public health measures.”
This means that retirement planning needs to account for those additional years; no one wants to get to age 95 and realize they’ve run out of money.
Social security benefits are guaranteed income for life, so if you live a long life, you can rest assured that you’ll receive social security payments for as long as you live. By delaying your claim to benefits, you increase the payments you will receive, giving you added financial security as you age.
It Depends on Your Unique Situation
Ultimately, deciding when to take social security depends on your unique situation. Factors such as your health, marital status, retirement goals, and financial situation should all be taken into consideration. That’s why it’s important to work with a financial planner who can evaluate your current circumstances and future needs to help you make informed decisions.
Ready to make a plan? CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment.
All opinions expressed in this blog post reflect the judgment of Approach Retirement Advisors, LLC (“Approach”) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. The information in this blog post is believed to be factual and up to date; however, we do not guarantee its accuracy. This blog post should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. This presentation is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized investment advice. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies presented. This blog post should not be construed as an offer to buy or sell or as a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any securities mentioned herein. Clients and members of Approach may own any securities mentioned herein. Investments are subject to market risks and potential loss of principal invested, and all investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. There can be no assurance that any specific investment will be suitable or profitable for a particular investor’s portfolio. There are no assurances that any portfolio will match or outperform any particular benchmark.