Brianjone5
Confused about dryer sheets
Hi all,
I retired at 55. Six years later I am approaching the point where 'when to take Social Security' (SS) becomes more than an academic question.
Our NW is $5m. Half our net worth is in stocks and bonds, targeting 5% growth. It has repeatedly exceeded that, but I think the market is a bit weird, recently.
One quarter of NW is in company pensions that grow about 1.5% a year.
One quarter is in property we own free and clear.
I have been modelling different scenarios around taking SS at 62, 65, 67 and 70 years of age. I am making the following assumptions:
*SS continues to increase by 8% for each year you delay starting it.
*SS COLAs matches the recent decade with +1.5% per year
*I will pay 40% tax on my SS
*I will pay 20% tax on gains from investments to cover income delayed by not taking SS.
What I am looking at is the impact on my investments if I pull from there to replace income I am not getting because of not starting SS, and what that money would deliver at 5% compounding, out until I am 80 and 85.
My modelling shows very clearly (if correct) that taking SS at 62 is the best route. This is because although you get a smaller SS payment, the invested funds remain invested and have longer to compound to 80 and 85.
So many financial advisers push the 'leave it until late' mantra for SS. I am not clear at all that works for everyone, even leaving aside the question of longevity.
On our company pensions, the same logic applies, to me at least. As these grow so slowly, conserving the equivalent funds as investments is even more obvious, and I should start those pensions asap. It is hard to know our exact budget in post-Covid life, but I estimate SS plus pensions could leave us with a SWR of zero.
How has any modelling you have done played out?
Cheers,
B
I retired at 55. Six years later I am approaching the point where 'when to take Social Security' (SS) becomes more than an academic question.
Our NW is $5m. Half our net worth is in stocks and bonds, targeting 5% growth. It has repeatedly exceeded that, but I think the market is a bit weird, recently.
One quarter of NW is in company pensions that grow about 1.5% a year.
One quarter is in property we own free and clear.
I have been modelling different scenarios around taking SS at 62, 65, 67 and 70 years of age. I am making the following assumptions:
*SS continues to increase by 8% for each year you delay starting it.
*SS COLAs matches the recent decade with +1.5% per year
*I will pay 40% tax on my SS
*I will pay 20% tax on gains from investments to cover income delayed by not taking SS.
What I am looking at is the impact on my investments if I pull from there to replace income I am not getting because of not starting SS, and what that money would deliver at 5% compounding, out until I am 80 and 85.
My modelling shows very clearly (if correct) that taking SS at 62 is the best route. This is because although you get a smaller SS payment, the invested funds remain invested and have longer to compound to 80 and 85.
So many financial advisers push the 'leave it until late' mantra for SS. I am not clear at all that works for everyone, even leaving aside the question of longevity.
On our company pensions, the same logic applies, to me at least. As these grow so slowly, conserving the equivalent funds as investments is even more obvious, and I should start those pensions asap. It is hard to know our exact budget in post-Covid life, but I estimate SS plus pensions could leave us with a SWR of zero.
How has any modelling you have done played out?
Cheers,
B