Fifteen Minutes That’s Worth Doing This Week

Here is a small task that pays off out of proportion to the effort: check your Social Security earnings record.

Most people have never looked. But your future benefit is calculated from your lifetime earnings history, and that history is not always right. An employer can report a year incorrectly. A year can go missing. And every missing or understated year can quietly lower the benefit you have earned.

The fix is free and takes about fifteen minutes. Create a “my Social Security” account at https://www.ssa.gov, then compare the earnings they show against your own records. Old tax returns or W-2s work fine.

While you are there, you will also see your estimated benefit at different ages. That single number is one of the most important inputs to any retirement plan, because Social Security is inflation-protected income you cannot outlive.

If something looks off, the sooner you catch it, the easier it is to correct.

Your trusted advisor can help you fold that benefit estimate into the bigger picture, including the question of when to claim.

Click here to schedule your 15-minute Retirement Fit Call.

 
Let's make sure your retirement journey is as secure and fulfilling as you envision.