{"id":2593,"date":"2016-11-01T12:28:17","date_gmt":"2016-11-01T16:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.bradpine.com\/?p=2593"},"modified":"2016-11-09T13:38:53","modified_gmt":"2016-11-09T18:38:53","slug":"social-security-delay-or-hit-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.bradpine.com\/2016\/11\/01\/social-security-delay-or-hit-go\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Security: Delay or Hit Go?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BradfordPre-retirees spend a lot of time planning their investments, budgets, and lifestyles for the transition to retirement. But Social Security is just as important, if not more so, and by making the most of it you could significantly boost your retirement income.<\/h4>\n

But how do you do it? The biggest blanket piece of advice out there is to delay taking benefits, and it does have merit. But it\u2019s not at all the whole story. In this article I\u2019ll walk you through some of the different considerations you should take into account when it comes to Social Security\u2013 so that you can learn to apply the rules in a way that makes sense for you.<\/em><\/h4>\n

The basics of benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Let\u2019s start with a short primer on Social Security benefits and how they\u2019re calculated.[1]<\/a><\/h4>\n

Your \u201cfull\u201d retirement age benefit starts somewhere between 65 and 67, depending on the year you were born, and the amount of money you get is based on an inflation-adjusted average of your 35 highest-earning years.<\/h4>\n

You can start taking Social Security benefits as early as age 62, though it means your monthly benefit amount will be permanently reduced by about 30% from the full benefit amount (the actual amount you receive will depend on your current age, full retirement age, and income). On the other hand, you can delay benefits and see them grow \u2013 if you wait until age 70, your monthly Social Security benefit will grow to about 135% of your full benefit.<\/h4>\n

For many retirees, this begs the question: is it better to delay and get fewer years of higher income, or start early and get more years of lower income?<\/h4>\n

The right answer will depend on your individual situation: your other income sources, your life expectancy, your spouse\u2019s benefits, and your risk profile. But while there\u2019s no one-size-fits-all solution, there are ways of thinking about benefits that can help you find the right answer for you.<\/h4>\n

Capitalizing on spousal benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re married (or were married for more than 10 years and did not remarry), you may be eligible for spousal benefits. Because spousal benefits can help your family earn far more from Social Security, so it\u2019s an important part of planning.<\/h4>\n

The maximum amount you can receive is 50% of your partner\u2019s full retirement age benefit. In other words, if your spouse starts taking Social Security at full retirement age, you can receive half that amount. If he or she waits until age 70, their benefit would increase but yours would stay at 50% of the full retirement age benefit.<\/h4>\n

Because of this setup, it typically makes sense to use a spousal benefit if one person earned significantly more than the other.<\/h4>\n

Just remember to strategize so that your total <\/em>benefits are maximized. For example, you might consider having the lower-earning spouse start taking benefits at age 62 while the higher earner waits until age 70. At that point, the lower-earning spouse can switch to a spousal benefit \u2013 depending on your personal situation, this could result in more Social Security income over time.<\/h4>\n

Plan for low interest rates<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Every year you delay taking benefits \u201cearns\u201d you 8% in additional Social Security income in the future. That basically means you could get a larger rate of return on your Social Security benefits than you would on many investments \u2013 and Social Security is guaranteed. Not only that, but Social Security benefits are indexed to inflation, meaning that once you start receiving your checks, they\u2019ll keep pace with the rising cost of living.<\/h4>\n

So, when choosing between starting Social Security and using your investments to supplement your retirement income, you might want to consider which one could give you the better rate of return. If your portfolio isn\u2019t yielding much, you may be better off using more of it to help finance your retirement while delaying Social Security benefits. Also, be aware that your decision could impact your estate plan: using your investment assets might mean less money in your estate<\/h4>\n

Of course, what works for one person might not work for another. Your personal financial situation is unique, so it\u2019s impossible to give simplified advice about something this complicated. But comparing yields and considering the estate planning implications could offer you some food for thought as you map out your own plans.<\/h4>\n

Consider your health<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

While benefits math typically supports delaying benefits, that\u2019s not always the case in reality.<\/h4>\n

Depending on your health, financial situation, and other factors, it could make sense to start benefits at your full retirement age, or even earlier. Financial need is a major reason people start Social Security early, and in these situations it\u2019s difficult to justify hardship in exchange for higher income later. Similarly, if you\u2019re chronically ill or in poor health and concerned about lifespan, it might not make sense to delay.<\/h4>\n

These are tough questions, and the right answer is unique to each individual: just remember that while the math can point you in the right direction, it can\u2019t address all the qualitative issues that make up your life. Be sure you feel comfortable with your choice in the context of the big picture.<\/h4>\n

Run the numbers<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>If you\u2019re looking for ways to maximize your family\u2019s benefits or if you\u2019d like to find out what your own possible benefits could be, head over to the Social Security Administration\u2019s Benefits Planner<\/a> website. From there, you can learn about the benefits you might be eligible for and use the SSA\u2019s free calculators<\/a> to help optimize your own Social Security plan.<\/h4>\n

For personal help and advice, consider making an appointment<\/a> with your local Social Security office. Be sure to come prepared with questions and any supplemental information that could help you make your decisions.<\/h4>\n

At the end of the day, the important thing is to educate yourself about Social Security and have a plan.<\/h4>\n

Social Security might not be as exciting as managing your investment portfolio, but it could be a significant contributor to your retirement if you strategize in the right way. You may need to answer some tough questions and take a hard look at your finances, but your retirement will be better for making the effort.<\/h4>\n

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Written by Bradford Pine with Anna B. Wroblewska<\/em><\/p>\n

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[1]<\/a> For more on how benefits are calculated, please visit the Social Security Administration. The \u201cYour Retirement Benefit: How it\u2019s Figured\u201d publication can help: https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/pubs\/EN-05-10070.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

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