Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
You should take SS at 62
Old 05-12-2015, 03:40 AM   #1
Full time employment: Posting here.
shotgunner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 534
You should take SS at 62

Whether you need it or not, but especially if you don't need it. So says the author of "Smart Couples Finish Rich - 9 Steps to Creating a Rich Future for You and Your Partner."

He says what I have thought all along guided by my late parents experience. That is we will never be in better position to really enjoy money than we are at ages 62-66 going forward.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-it...185927965.html
__________________
Never surrender what you really want for what you want right now.
shotgunner is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 05-12-2015, 04:01 AM   #2
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,115
but you can always draw more out early on from your portfolio with the knowledge you can refill later on with a check almost 2x the size.

in fact you can spend more early on delaying because you do not need to keep as much powder dry later on as dependency on market and interest rate isk is diminished.

while there are many reasons for taking it at 62 that would be last on my list or in fact not even on my list .
mathjak107 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 04:25 AM   #3
Full time employment: Posting here.
shotgunner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 534
Quote:
Originally Posted by mathjak107 View Post
but you can always draw more out early on from your portfolio with the knowledge you can refill later on with a check almost 2x the size.

in fact you can spend more early on delaying because you do not need to keep as much powder dry later on as dependency on market and interest rate isk is diminished.

while there are many reasons for taking it at 62 that would be last on my list or in fact not even on my list .
Provided you live long enough, neither of my parents did.

Another factor is what you want for your heirs. My portfolio is 100% transferable to my daughter, my SS is 100% not transferable to her.

My mother passed at 63 from cancer. My father at 79 from complications related to dementia. He took SS at 62. At ages 62-65 he traveled a lot, all over the country for weeks at a time each year and trips to Europe. At 75 he was showing signs of dementia, by 77 additional money would not have increased his enjoyment of life. The future is a crap shoot.
__________________
Never surrender what you really want for what you want right now.
shotgunner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 04:43 AM   #4
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
gauss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,594
Average life expectancy for adults in the US is around 83 years if memory serves correctly. That means many folks live to longer than this age. If you are in good health, and have enough financial resources to be interested in this forum, I would suspect that you may be in the latter case.

Delaying SS is the cheapest inflation-adjusted annuity that you could ever buy and an excellent hedge against longevity risk.

If were interesting in giving gifts to children, I would do it while I was alive and then optimize everything else for my own case.

-gauss
gauss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 05:06 AM   #5
Full time employment: Posting here.
shotgunner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 534
Quote:
Originally Posted by gauss View Post
Average life expectancy for adults in the US is around 83 years if memory serves correctly. That means many folks live to longer than this age. If you are in good health, and have enough financial resources to be interested in this forum, I would suspect that you may be in the latter case.

Delaying SS is the cheapest inflation-adjusted annuity that you could ever buy and an excellent hedge against longevity risk.

If were interesting in giving gifts to children, I would do it while I was alive and then optimize everything else for my own case.

-gauss
They latest life expectancy for males that I could find is 76.4 years in the US, for women it 81.2 years. FWIW I am a single male. In the previous two generations of my family only 3 males out of 6 lived beyond this age. None in good health, two with severe dementia and one losing a leg to circulation problems. I believe in my case the author's point is valid, odds are I can do more with money and enjoy life more between the ages of 62 - 66 than I will in future past age 66.

Dementia and Parkinson's in the previous two generations of my family seems to be prevalent.
__________________
Never surrender what you really want for what you want right now.
shotgunner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 05:16 AM   #6
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
target2019's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: On a hill in the Pine Barrens
Posts: 9,686
Quote:
Originally Posted by shotgunner View Post
They latest life expectancy for males that I could find is 76.4 years in the US, for women it 81.2 years. FWIW I am a single male. In the previous two generations of my family only 3 males out of 6 lived beyond this age. None in good health, two with severe dementia and one losing a leg to circulation problems. I believe in my case the author's point is valid, odds are I can do more with money and enjoy life more between the ages of 62 - 66 than I will in future past age 66.

Dementia and Parkinson's in the previous two generations of my family seems to be prevalent.
I've read commentary which supports your views as a single person. Since I am married, I need to take into account the greater future payments which spouse will receive. On longevity, she has me beat by a mile.
target2019 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 05:46 AM   #7
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,375
Quote:
Originally Posted by shotgunner View Post
Provided you live long enough, ...... The future is a crap shoot.
That's always the rub, isn't it?

It's really each's individual case with being single & "short-gevity" family history favoring 62, but marriage, particularly with younger spouse, & long longevity favoring 70.
gerntz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 06:13 AM   #8
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,203
Here is my take on what he said.... and it is not what you probably think...

He said 'if you do not NEED it, then take it early'.... but, from his context of spending it all as EXTRA money, you still would be taking out the same amount of money as you would if you did not take it early...


IOW, say you were going to live on $80K.... and could get $20K in SS.... his 'plan' is to spend $100K when you are young... not your original $80K... he said... take extra vacation, go first class, take a bigger suite on cruise (IIRC).... so, you are not taking it to take less money out of your portfolio, but to enhance your lifestyle in your early 60s....


To me, that is not what most people want to do... as it does not maximize family value....
Texas Proud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 06:18 AM   #9
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
donheff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 11,317
DW turned 62 this year and she would have taken SS except that she continues to get ~$30K in earned income from her firm. She is not working but on a sort of retainer to remain associated. Under SS rules most of her monthly payment would be withheld until she reaches 66 and then she would get it back in the form of higher payments. We figured she may as well just wait and get the higher amounts. One thing we didn't calculate is what would happen if she filed now and died early (e.g. at 66). We assumed she would just lose the withheld amounts but does anyone know if we are mistaken about that? I.e., would the withheld amounts be paid to her heirs since she filed early?
__________________
Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre -- Albert Camus
donheff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 06:56 AM   #10
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,495
The SS issue is just like any of the other financial modeling decisions: it all depends on what happens in the future. None of us can know that, but you can judge your likely life expectancy. If your lifestyle and genes tend towards longevity and you can wait, doing so is likely the best option. OTOH, if they don't favor you it's likely a better bet to go early with the SS. Beyond that, unless you have peculiar needs and desires I don't see how one can make logical arguments one way or the other.
H2ODude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 06:58 AM   #11
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 81
Look into filing and declaring a special wage payment. SS *should* only suspend her benefit due to actual work. If she is performing absolutely no work or services for the firm, and they are simply paying her to be available, they can declare that a special wage payment and your DW would be eligible for her payments.


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum
nate2953 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 07:00 AM   #12
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 528
We are planning on taking SS at 62.

a) large Trad IRAs that will require min distro at 70.5 with added in SS a lot will be taken in taxes

b) SS is not the amount of money that would change our lifestyle so we would just plan on giving it to our kids (siblings) as charitable gifts (14.5K limit) or to charities that have affected our lives.
eroscott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 07:11 AM   #13
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
pb4uski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,264
Quote:
“If you don’t need the money, take it early,” advises Bach. His reasoning is “at 62, 63, 64 – you’re in the best shape of your life…there’s so many things people in their 60’s can do to enjoy that money so if you don’t need it, I suggest taking it early.”
What a quack. Perhaps he meant to say, if you don't need the money and don't care about family wealth or your heirs, then take it early. No matter what it still just comes down to a bet on mortality.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.

Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
pb4uski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 07:12 AM   #14
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
RetireBy90's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Cville
Posts: 1,600
So there are couple ways I look at when to take SS. One way, which will provide the largest $$ over the years; or which will meet my plan needs best.


I will have enough to meet my needs if DW goes before I do. If I go before she does, then my pension will stop and she will have enough to pay all the bills but if I wait till 70 for SS then she can take my higher SS and have a bit more cushion above basic needs. I guess what I'm saying is that if I will end up with less total draw from SS by waiting till 70, then the $$ that I forgo is like an insurance policy for the wife's peace of mind.


Many different situations and many answers to the question of when to take SS.
RetireBy90 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 07:48 AM   #15
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Midpack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by shotgunner View Post
Whether you need it or not, but especially if you don't need it. So says the author of "Smart Couples Finish Rich - 9 Steps to Creating a Rich Future for You and Your Partner."

He says what I have thought all along guided by my late parents experience. That is we will never be in better position to really enjoy money than we are at ages 62-66 going forward.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-it...185927965.html
Where does he say "whether you need it or not?"

What he says in your linked article is If you don’t need the money, take it early,” advises Bach. His reasoning is “at 62, 63, 64 – you’re in the best shape of your life…there’s so many things people in their 60’s can do to enjoy that money so if you don’t need it, I suggest taking it early.”

And if your projected longevity is below average (based on your family history), it may well be to your advantage to take it early. But for those of us who expect to live beyond the SS breakeven age, waiting until age 70 is still preferred.

Seems the OP has taken a little license with the article based on his/her own circumstances. There have been countless articles showing why, if possible, it's better to wait as long as possible to take Soc Sec for most retirees.
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57

Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
Midpack is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 07:49 AM   #16
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Big_Hitter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 5,761
anyone else bothered by the lack of numbers in that short article?


also, remember that life expectancy depends on current age, so saying that "males live to x" doesn't really mean anything


"a male aged y is expected to live an additional x years" is the correct way to think about it
__________________
You can't be a retirement plan actuary without a retirement plan, otherwise you lose all credibility...
Big_Hitter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 07:52 AM   #17
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
bclover's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: philly
Posts: 1,219
Quote:
Originally Posted by pb4uski View Post
What a quack. Perhaps he meant to say, if you don't need the money and don't care about family wealth or your heirs, then take it early. No matter what it still just comes down to a bet on mortality.
why is he a quack?

I agree with him.

First of all I hate this American concept of Inheritance. let's see, I work hard all my life, give my kids every advantage and then I save and scrimp..what to leave it to my children when I'm dead?? Oh yeah that's a wonderful way to live life...

lol, my kids will graduate debt free from college, they are 21 and 23 and so far they have been to Paris, disneyworld (almost annually), lisbon, Jersey shore (annually), countless plays in NYC, Washington dc and numerous other local cities. My youngest will go to law school debt free (if he makes the grades) and most likely they will both inherit property. Sorry if they can't make it after those advantages, I am not going to feel guilty.

So no, I have absolutely no plans on leaving them a couple of million dollars. I plan on spending it and enjoying my senior years.

Now I am a widow, my husband died at 55 from cancer without ever enjoying a day of retirement. Yes, we took family vacations but basically the dreams we had of our senior lives died

And once again, this is a good way to live life?? IMO, that is not living basically what we do here in this country is we survive until we get old then we drop dead. so sad.
bclover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 07:54 AM   #18
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,019
Quote:
Originally Posted by RetireBy90 View Post
So there are couple ways I look at when to take SS. One way, which will provide the largest $$ over the years; or which will meet my plan needs best.
A third is which will minimize one's chances of dying broke.
Which Roger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 07:54 AM   #19
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Big_Hitter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 5,761
SS benefits are reduced from SSNRA using an old definition of actuarial equivalence - the old 1/15th, 1/30th rule (if your SSNRA is 65 anyway)


that used to be actuarially equivalent to some interest rate and mortality table - I suspect that interest rates are much lower now than they were when the 1/15, 1/30 rule was derived - mortality has improved significantly however, but the biggest driver in the reduction factor is the interest rate
__________________
You can't be a retirement plan actuary without a retirement plan, otherwise you lose all credibility...
Big_Hitter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 07:58 AM   #20
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,054
This runs against what I was thinking. Exhaust personal funds to 70 then get the higher SS, which is a form of longevity insurance with a COLA. Personal health problems would be the reason to take it early.
jim584672 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
When Should You Take Social Security? wanaberetiree FIRE and Money 20 09-02-2014 01:56 PM
when should you take social security article veremchuka FIRE and Money 117 02-21-2011 05:04 PM
why you should ALWAYS take SS as soon as you can endthefed FIRE and Money 69 06-05-2010 08:38 AM
Iraq and the Kansas Tornado. You should be angry. We all should. dumpster56 Other topics 16 05-08-2007 07:20 AM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:09 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.