Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from August, 2012

When to Apply for Social Security Benefits

With the demise of guaranteed pensions, and in light of the risks you face in managing your own retirement assets, maximizing Social Security becomes a critical part of retirement planning. On e o f th e mo s t importan t decision s a r eti r e e face s i s whe n t o appl y fo r Socia l Securit y bene f it s . Thi s i s n o t a decisio n t o b e mad e lightl y ; th e gua r anteed , li f e t i m e , in f lation-adju s te d incom e p r omise d b y S oc i a l Securit y ma k e s i t on e o f a r eti r ee ’ s mo s t significant asset s . I f y o u w e r e t o calculat e th e p r esen t v alu e o f a p e r so n ’ s Socia l Securit y incom e s t r eam , i t w oul d r i v a l th e lum p su m ma n y peopl e h a v e i n thei r 4 0 1 ( k ) p l a n s a t r eti r ement . Whil e th e Socia l Securit y “ asse t ” m a y no t b e manage d i n th e t r aditiona l w a y , p r e - r e t i r ee s c a n enhanc e it s v alu e