Subject: Re: New York Times -- Social Security at age 70?
If you (and a spouse) are in the lucky minority of retirees who are healthy with more than adequate savings — especially if you have enough that you’re worried about tax consequences — then delay claiming Social Security until 70 and spend down your I.R.A. or other tax-deferred retirement accounts first to reduce your tax bite.


Did whoever wrote this study to be this stupid?

(Trick question -- it's a newspaper writer, so he was born that way.)

SS payments end at your death. If you spent your own money then it is gone and there is nothing to pass on to your heirs or charity. And hope that the SSA will not curtail the monthly benefit it pays to you. Just ignore the financial risks of SSA.

Instead, take the SS money as soon as you can, and continue to let your own money grow. When you die the SS payments stop, and your heirs will inherit your money.

Of course, if you have no family or heirs, you may not care about that.

Most people at retirement age know the adage about a bird in hand.