Subject: Re: What's worse than lottery tickets?
<< Hmmm. As I mentioned up thread, somewhere around age 79-80 is breakeven for everyone. If you die before 80 you would have received more of your SS by starting early. If you plan on living past 80, then waiting will get you more, but the difference is pretty small until you get to, say, age 95. For instance, even at age 85 you will have gotten essentially ~$1250 more per year by waiting until 70 vs starting at 65.>>

If delaying SS to age 70 reduces my portfolio withdrawals by $100,000 through age 95. I can elect to spend the discounted value of the extra $100,000 today, I don't need to wait until age 95. But I'm only willing to make that bet If I have a larger inflation-adjusted guaranteed income stream (versus an investment portfolio with variable returns.)

That's the math that people miss. You don't have to wait until age 95 to spend the extra money. As long as you have a larger inflation-adjusted income stream in the future, you can safely elect to spend more money today.

intercst