Maximize Social Security with an RSSA® Roadmap

Not Sure When to Claim Social Security? This Lesson Can Save You Thousands.

When you think about Social Security, it may seem simple on the surface: pick an age and start collecting. But when I meet with couples like Sandy and Steven, I hear the same question again and again:

“When should we claim?”

That one decision could mean the difference of tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime — and in some cases, even more. It’s one of the most important income decisions you’ll make in retirement.

In this Retirement Income School™ lesson, I walk you through a real-life case study using the RSSA® Roadmap™ — a software tool that helps you explore Social Security claiming strategies using your actual earnings record, life expectancy, and more. Whether you’re married, divorced, single, or widowed — this tool gives you the clarity and data you need to make confident decisions about your benefits.

Meet Sandy and Steven

Sandy and Steven are a married couple, both turning 62 in 2025.

Sandy spent many years working part-time while raising their kids, and in 2016 she stepped into a leadership role at a nonprofit. She loves her work and plans to keep working until at least age 70.

Steven, on the other hand, had a long career in construction management. He retired in 2022 and is ready to claim Social Security now at age 62.

Their question:
Do we claim now, wait until 67, or coordinate our timing for maximum income?

Social Security Isn’t Just a Check — It’s a Cornerstone of Your Income Floor

This is more than just picking a date. Social Security plays a key role in your income floor — that stable foundation of guaranteed income you can count on for the rest of your life.

In Sandy and Steven’s case, we used the RSSA® Roadmap™ to look at several factors:

• Their individual earnings records (from the SSA XML file)

• Future expected earnings (especially important for Sandy)

• Life expectancy assumptions using LivingTo100.com

• Break-even analysis

• Spousal and survivor strategies

• Lifetime value of each filing scenario

When you use a tool like the RSSA® Roadmap, you’re not guessing — you’re making data-driven decisions that can improve your income, reduce risk, and help you sleep better at night.

What the Roadmap Revealed

For Sandy and Steven, the difference between claiming at age 62 vs. age 70 was significant. In their highest-benefit scenario, their combined Social Security income would total $1,389,225 over their lifetime. In the lowest-benefit option? $1.2 million — a difference of nearly $200,000.

Even more striking:

• Monthly benefit if they both claim at 70: $7,837

• Monthly benefit if they both claim at 62: $5,244

• Annual income difference: $31,116

That’s the power of smart planning.

Survivor Benefits and Longevity

Because Steven is older and already retired, his benefit amount is larger. That makes survivor benefit planning critical. We projected Sandy’s benefit assuming she outlives Steven and calculated how much of his benefit she could inherit.

Without proper coordination, many couples miss out on this crucial income — especially when one spouse lives significantly longer than the other.

The RSSA® Roadmap factors all of this in.

Want Your Own Personalized Roadmap?

You don’t have to figure this out on your own.

Visit www.SocialSecurity.Solutions to complete your RSSA® Roadmap, and I’ll personally help you interpret the results — so you can make smart, informed decisions with confidence.

Ready to Retire Financially Relaxed?

My goal is to help you eliminate the fear of running out of money, avoid costly mistakes, and retire with confidence and security. When you have safe, predictable income in place, you’re free to actually enjoy retirement — not just worry your way through it.

👉 Learn more at the Retirement Income School™
📞 Want to talk? Schedule a Retirement Income Q&A Call — I’d love to support you.

This is your chance to learn what you wish school had taught you so you can learn how to keep your money safe and make it last, so you can enjoy retirement!

DISCLAIMERS

The information in this podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Retirement Income School™ and Dr. Amanda Barrientez do not provide individual investment recommendations. Always consult with a licensed advisor or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed.

As a Registered Social Security Analyst (RSSA®), I am an independent professional and am not affiliated with or employed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency. The Social Security information I provide is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.