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In a recent column, a reader writes to MarketWatch’s “The Moneyist” about a dilemma regarding her husband’s Social Security claiming strategy. She explains that her husband “stayed home with the kids while I worked,” and that his benefit at age 62 would be $1,600 per month. The couple is now considering whether he should begin collecting early and invest the money, rather than waiting until full retirement age (typically 66 or 67) or age 70, when the monthly amount would be significantly higher.
The reader notes that she is still working and that the family does not necessarily need the income immediately. “He is retired,” she writes, and the spouse is contemplating a strategy that has gained attention among some retirement planners: taking benefits early and placing the proceeds into a diversified investment portfolio. The idea is that market returns might outpace the reduction in benefits over the long term. However, the approach carries risks, including market volatility, longevity uncertainty, and potential reductions in spousal or survivor benefits.
The column does not specify the exact age of the couple or their full financial picture, but the underlying question resonates with many near-retirees facing similar choices. Social Security benefits are reduced by as much as 30% if claimed at 62 versus full retirement age, and waiting until 70 can increase the monthly amount by roughly 8% per year beyond full retirement age.
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Key Highlights
- Monthly benefit figure: The husband’s projected early Social Security benefit is $1,600 per month at age 62, reflecting a lower lifetime earnings history due to time spent as a stay-at-home parent.
- Claiming strategy: Taking benefits early and investing is a debated approach. While it could yield higher portfolio growth if markets perform well, it also forgoes guaranteed inflation-adjusted income from Social Security.
- Investment risk: Any investment strategy involves market risk. There is no assurance that returns will exceed the 6–8% annual increase offered by delaying Social Security, especially in a low-yield or volatile market environment.
- Longevity considerations: If the husband lives longer than average, delaying benefits could provide a larger lifetime payout. Early claiming locks in a lower base that only gets cost-of-living adjustments.
- Spousal and survivor impacts: Claiming early can reduce survivor benefits for the wife if she outlives him, as her survivor benefit would be based on his reduced amount.
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Expert Insights
Financial professionals often caution against claiming Social Security early purely to invest the proceeds, as it transforms a safe, inflation-adjusted income stream into a variable investment that may underperform. “The decision to claim early should be based on cash-flow needs, health status, and overall portfolio resilience, not on an assumption that markets will beat the guaranteed increase from delaying,” wrote a retirement planning expert in a recent analysis.
For couples in a similar situation—where one spouse has a lower earning history—the optimal strategy may involve the higher-earning spouse delaying benefits while the lower-earning spouse claims early. However, in this case, the husband is already “retired” and his own benefit is the only one under discussion. The wife may still be working, so her own claiming strategy remains separate.
A cautious approach would be to model multiple scenarios: claiming at 62 and investing in a balanced portfolio (e.g., 60% stocks, 40% bonds) versus waiting to full retirement age or 70. The analysis would need to account for taxes, portfolio withdrawals, and potential healthcare costs. Given current market conditions and interest rates in mid-2026, many planners suggest that delaying Social Security offers a reliable “return” that is difficult to replicate in the market without taking significant risk.
Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The couple should consult a fee-only financial planner who can run personalized projections and consider their full retirement income picture, including other assets, pensions, and health considerations.
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