Just How Much Will Social Security Pay You?
Millions of people rely on Social Security for the bulk of their retirement income, but few understand exactly how their benefits are calculated. Given how important Social Security is, you owe it to yourself to take a few minutes to get the details on the amount of your monthly check and what you can do to make it bigger.
In the following video, Motley Fool investment planning editor Lauren Kuczala talks with longtime Fool contributor and retirement expert Dan Caplinger about the intricacies of the process for determining Social Security benefits. Dan runs through the complicated formulas, starting by determining average monthly earnings and then applying the graduated rate schedules to help you come up with your base benefit. However, while that base amount applies if you retire at your normal full retirement age, taking benefits earlier or delaying them until later also has an impact. Given that, the amount you earn in your peak career years can make a huge difference to your eventual benefit.
The best investing approach is to choose great companies and stick with them for the long term. The Motley Fool's free report "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich" names stocks that could help you build long-term wealth and retire well, along with some winning wealth-building strategies that every investor should be aware of. Click here now to keep reading.
Editor's note: The volume in the video is low at times. The Fool regrets any inconvenience.
The article Just How Much Will Social Security Pay You? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Neither Fool investment planning editor Lauren Kuczala nor Fool contributor Dan Caplinger has any position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DanCaplinger. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
