WHEN YOU RETIRE AT 62 VS 70

🚨 The Social Security advice everyone repeats… but few people actually calculate. You’ve probably heard this: “Wait until 70. It’s a no-brainer.” The reason? Your monthly benefit could be much higher. For example: • Claim at 62 → about $1,400/month • Claim at 70 → about $2,480/month Sounds obvious, right? Not so fast. What most people ignore is the 8-year head start. If you claim at 62, you collect 96 monthly checks before someone waiting until 70 gets their first payment. That adds up to roughly $134,400 in benefits. Now ask yourself: How long does it take for the larger check to make up that difference? The answer is about 124 months. That puts the breakeven point around 80 years and 5 months old. ✅ Live well into your 80s or 90s? Delaying can pay off significantly. ✅ Pass away before that breakeven age? Claiming earlier may have produced more lifetime income. The best claiming age depends on three factors: 1️⃣ Your health and life expectancy 2️⃣ Your current income needs 3️⃣ What you would do with the money if you claimed earlier Social Security isn’t about choosing the biggest monthly check. It’s about choosing the strategy that creates the most value for YOUR situation.