Kristen Arnold, Income Security Policy Analyst, National Academy of Social Insurance
The National Academy of Social Insurance is participating in National Retirement Planning Week— April 13 to 17 — as a member of the National Retirement Planning Coalition, a group of prominent education, consumer advocacy and financial services organizations.
The coalition, led by the Insured Retirement Institute, is committed to making public education on retirement planning a national priority. A goal of National Retirement Planning Week is to show that it can be possible to “Retire On Your Terms” if comprehensive retirement plans are properly developed and managed.
As a member of the coalition, the Academy emphasizes the importance of building a Social Security retirement strategy into a holistic retirement financial plan.
“Two of the most important financial decisions people make are when to stop working and when to start receiving Social Security retirement benefits,” said Pamela Larson, Executive Vice President of the Academy. “These actions do not have to occur at the same time, and they have lasting consequences for the financial security of retirees and their spouses.”
Waiting to take Social Security benefits until after reaching your full retirement age can increase your monthly benefits as much as 76 percent, explains an Academy toolkit, When to Take Social Security: It Pays to Wait. The toolkit includes a 3-minute video, a 16-page brief, and a 1-page fact sheet to educate workers nearing retirement about the advantages of delaying their Social Security benefits beyond age 62, when feasible.
NASI’s Resources:
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A 3-minute video: Social Security: It Pays to Wait. Also available in Spanish. Seguro Social: Vale la pena esperar |
A 1-page fact sheet: When Should I Take Social Security?
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A 16-page brief: When Should I Take Social Security? Questions to Consider |
So when you think of Social Security as a key retirement asset, you may want to increase it by delaying when you start benefits, if you can. Because your decision on when to claim benefits will have a lifelong impact, it should be an integral part of financial preparedness for retirement and achieving financial freedom.
Funding for the Academy’s toolkit was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and The Retirement Research Foundation.
Throughout National Retirement Planning Week, the coalition will release educational materials on a range of useful topics. The coalition will also encourage retirement planning through nationally distributed radio, television and print ads, a coordinated media outreach program, and numerous events. To support these education efforts, the Academy and other members of the coalition have contributed up-to-date resources to help consumers and financial professionals focus on long-term financial goals. These tools are available year-round at www.retireonyourterms.org.
The National Academy of Social Insurance is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization made up of the nation’s leading experts on social insurance. Its mission is to advance solutions to challenges facing the nation by increasing public understanding of how social insurance contributes to economic security.
