How to get an estimate of your Social Security benefits
Knowing how much retirement income you might receive from Social Security may help you decide when to begin claiming benefits, and how Social Security might fit into your overall retirement income plan.
Our clients enjoy retirement planning as part of their comprehensive financial plan, which considers all sources of retirement income, not just Social Security. Our advisors also know the ins and outs of the Social Security program, which helps our clients maximize their Social Security benefits using a strategy that’s right for their particular needs.
One way to get an estimate of your future Social Security benefits is to use the benefit calculators available on the Social Security Administration website, ssa.gov.
You can estimate your retirement benefit based on your actual earnings record using the Retirement Estimator calculator, then create different scenarios based on current law that will illustrate how different earnings amounts and retirement ages will affect the benefit you receive.
For example, based on the information you input and your actual earnings history as maintained by the Social Security Administration, the Retirement Estimator generates an estimate of the reduced benefit you would receive if you were to claim benefits at age 62 (the earliest age you can receive benefits), the amount if you waited until full retirement age (which currently ranges from 66 to 67, based on year of birth), and the larger benefit you would receive if you waited until age 70 before claiming retirement benefits.
Other benefit calculators are also available that can help you estimate disability and survivor benefits.
You can also sign up for a my Social Security account so that you can view your online Social Security Statement. Your statement contains a detailed record of your earnings, as well as estimates of retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. If you’re not registered for an online account and are not yet receiving benefits, you’ll receive a statement in the mail every year, starting at age 60.
To learn more about our retirement planning process, and how it can help you, contact one of our advisors today.
Important Disclosures
*Past performance is not an indicator of future results. This material is not financial advice or an offer to sell any product. The statements contained herein are solely based upon the opinions of Elevage Partners, LLC (“Elevage”). Elevage is a registered investment adviser. More information about the firm can be found in its Form ADV Part 2, which may be requested by calling (877) 922-8243 or visiting http://www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. The information contained herein is derived from sources we believe to be reliable, but which we have not independently verified. Elevage assumes no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions in this information. Elevage reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs. The information provided in this report should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security. There is no assurance that any securities discussed herein will remain in an account’s portfolio at the time you receive. It should not be assumed that any of the securities transactions, holdings or sectors discussed were, or will prove to be profitable, or that the investment recommendations or decisions Elevage makes in the future will be profitable or will equal the investment performance of the securities discussed herein.ELV-17-02