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Social Security Basics: When to Claim and How It Fits Your Plan

Social Security planning for retirees 

For most people, Social Security is one of the largest and most dependable sources of retirement income they'll ever have. When you claim can affect how much you receive for the rest of your life, and for married couples, how much a surviving spouse receives. At Homestead Wealth Management, Jarret Rodriguez-Conklin, ChFC®, CIMA®, helps you make that decision as part of your whole retirement plan, not in isolation.

The basics

  • You can start benefits as early as age 62, but claiming before your full retirement age permanently reduces your monthly check.
  • For anyone born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67.
  • If you wait past full retirement age, your benefit grows for each year you delay, up to age 70.
  • A spouse may be eligible for a benefit based on the other spouse's work record, and a surviving spouse may be able to step up to the larger of the two benefits.
  • If you were divorced after at least 10 years of marriage, you may be eligible for benefits based on your former spouse's record.

The questions that really matter

  • How long might you need your income to last, given your health and family history?
  • Are you still working, and how would earnings affect benefits before full retirement age?
  • How do your pension, IRA, 401(k), and savings fit around your Social Security start date?
  • How might taxes on your benefits and your retirement account withdrawals interact?
  • If you're married, which claiming strategy best protects the spouse who may live longer?

How we help

We start with your Social Security statement (available at ssa.gov) and build a clear picture of your retirement income. Then we compare claiming options side by side so you can see the trade-offs and choose with confidence.

A fiduciary looking out for you

When we provide investment advisory services, we act as a fiduciary, which means we're required to put your interests first and be upfront about any conflicts of interest.

Let's plan your next chapter

Homestead Wealth Management is located at 413 E. Foothill Blvd., Suite 100, San Dimas, CA, and works with retirees and pre-retirees throughout San Dimas, Glendora, La Verne, Claremont, and the surrounding communities. Call 909-667-0587 to schedule a no-obligation conversation.