Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to understand how different income sources will work together. Are you making decisions based on what worked for someone else, or on what truly fits your situation?

In this episode, Adrian and Alison Castellano walk through how Social Security works at every stage of life, from your twenties when it feels distant to your sixties when filing decisions become real. They explain how benefits are calculated, the impact of claiming early versus waiting, and why Social Security should be viewed as one piece of your overall retirement strategy rather than a standalone decision.

Key takeaways:

How Social Security functions as a government insurance program rather than a personal investment account
The importance of your 35 highest earning years and why missing years count as zeros in benefit calculations
Claiming strategies and how filing at 62, full retirement age, or 70 affects your lifetime income significantly
Spousal and survivor benefits that make Social Security a household decision requiring coordinated planning
Why creating your online Social Security account early helps you track earnings and catch errors before retirement
And more!

Resources:

Social Security Administration Website

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