When Will You Retire?

If you can retire by choice, the question of “when” comes to mind. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of retirement at three different ages.

At 62, you can claim Social Security. That alone prompts some baby boomers to consider retiring. Leaving work at 62 has a couple of disadvantages, however. Your Social Security checks will be smaller than if you had retired later. It will be three years until you are eligible for Medicare, so you must arrange insurance coverage or rely on a Health Savings Account.

At 67, you reach Social Security’s Full Retirement Age (FRA). (The FRA is between 66 and 67 for those born from 1954-59.) This is when Social Security wants you to claim benefits; claiming before FRA reduces monthly Social Security income. Retiring at 67 also gives you fewer years of retirement to fund. About a third of Americans aged 65-75 are still working.

At 70, you get 132% of your monthly Social Security benefit. Retiring at 70 equals a “delayed retirement” to Social Security, which rewards you for your decision. Your health is the wild card here; nearing 70, will you have the energy to work full time?