Most people are told to wait until age 70 to claim Social Security. But maximizing your monthly benefit does not always mean maximizing your overall retirement income. Taxes, portfolio withdrawals, Roth conversions, and longevity all play a role in determining when you should actually claim.

In this video, we break down why the traditional Social Security break-even analysis can be misleading and introduce a more complete “mosaic” approach to claiming decisions. You’ll learn how claiming age can affect portfolio sustainability, tax efficiency, Roth conversions, required minimum distributions, and the long-term income you have available throughout retirement.

We also explain why age 65 can emerge as a potential planning sweet spot when coordinating Social Security with taxes, investment withdrawals, and longevity risk. If you’re approaching retirement or deciding when to claim Social Security, click the link in the description to complete a short questionnaire and receive a complimentary review of your situation and claiming strategy options.