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"Wait until 70 to claim Social Security" is the most repeated retirement advice on the internet. For a married woman who is the higher earner, it's only half right. It's right for one check in your household, wrong for the other, and it says nothing about the check one of you will eventually live on alone.

In this episode, I walk through what I call the survivor lock-in. A married household gets two Social Security checks until the first death, and then it gets one, the larger of the two. That changes how each spouse should think about claiming.

In this episode:

• Why the larger check is the "permanent" one and the smaller check is temporary
• What the higher earner's claiming age does to the survivor's income for life
• Why the lower earner's check often shouldn't wait until 70
• Three situations where even the higher earner shouldn't wait
• The widow's two-check strategy: claim one benefit now and switch to the other later
• Three questions that simplify the whole decision, and three things to do this week

Figures are illustrative, based on current Social Security rules and a full retirement age of 67.

Related episodes:

• When to Claim Social Security: Why the Math Is Different for Women → https://alignyourretirement.buzzsprout.com/2591501/episodes/19196128
• The Widow's Penalty: Why Taxes Rise After a Spouse Dies and How Roth Conversions Can Help → https://alignyourretirement.buzzsprout.com/2591501/episodes/19458008
• The Cheapest Tax Years of Your Life: Roth Conversions Before Social Security Starts → https://alignyourretirement.buzzsprout.com/2591501/episodes/19509570

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Executive Woman's Tax Playbook (free guide) → https://alignfinancialsolutions.com/retirement-tax-playbook/

📝 Free Retirement Readiness Assessment → https://alignfinancialsolutions.com/retirement-readiness-assessment

📞 Book a free Align Call → https://calendly.com/alignfinancialsolutions/align-call?utm_source=podcast

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About Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA®

Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA®, is the founder of Align Financial Solutions, a fee-only fiduciary firm in Hoboken, New Jersey, that helps high-net-worth women bring retirement, equity compensation, tax, and estate planning into one plan.

Disclaimer: All content in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute individual investment, legal, or tax advice. Investing involves risk. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.
The above case study is hypothetical and does not involve an actual Align Financial Solutions client. No portion of the content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience the same or certain level of results or satisfaction if A...