rayvt analyzes

{{ But, see, it is not simply a mathematics issue.

It is also, and I think much more importantly, an issue of WHEN the money is available. And the utility of the money. When people are in their 80's & 90's they cannot do things they could do in their 60's. }}

You seem to be demonstrating that you haven't read the linked article. (i.e., That the average person who is taking SS at age 62 is leaving $182,000 on the table.) As the author states, that $182,000 could buy you a top of the line Mercedes, or perhaps pay a few medical bills. And there's no need to wait until age 80 or 90 to spend the $182,000. If you know you'll have a larger inflation protected income after age 70, you can spend more of your retirement nest egg today and take that cruise. With a larger SS check at age 70, you'll need a smaller portfolio withdrawal to meet your annual expenses. Again it's just math.

Admittedly you'd probably need to be an engineer or a math major to understand the actuarial science involved (i.e., contingent life probabilities for a portfolio undergoing systematic withdrawals), but that doesn't negate the truth (like gravity) of the calculation.

intercst