When should you start taking Social Security benefits? John Mason, CFP®, and Tommy Blackburn, CFP®, CPA, PFS, break down why this isn’t a simple age-62-or-70 decision.
The short answer: for a typical married couple, they often lean toward claiming one spouse’s benefit early (around 62) and delaying the higher earner’s benefit until 70. This isn’t about maximizing the single highest possible benefit. It’s about protecting the surviving spouse with the largest possible benefit later, while easing near-term cash flow by turning one benefit on sooner.
But John and Tommy are quick to point out that the real answer depends on your full financial plan, not a YouTube rule of thumb. Your pension, your risk tolerance, your insurability, survivor benefit elections, and whether your house is paid off all factor into the decision. A very aggressive investor and a very conservative investor may land on completely different strategies, even with identical Social Security benefits.
This clip is from a recent mailbag episode of the Federal Employee Financial Planning Podcast, where John and Tommy answer listener questions in real time.
🎧 Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/Gw8S55aZuEg?si=DUsiqI7EtJOGULAR
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5On2XdW3WxRx7BClAIUfcL
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/federal-employee-financial-planning-podcast/id1605491625
Have questions about your own Social Security claiming strategy? Schedule an Intro Call with our team: masonllc.net/get-started
This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized financial advice. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor regarding your specific situation.
The content of this website is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered specific investment, financial planning, tax planning, legal, or other professional advice. To the extent any specific investment or strategy is discussed, please note that all investments and strategies involve risk that an investor must be prepared to bear, and that the past performance of a particular investment or strategy is not indicative of its future return potential. Investment advisory services offered through Mason & Associates, LLC
