Claim Social Security at the wrong age and the average household gives up about $111,000 in lifetime benefits. That number, from a 2019 United Income study, is why this page exists.
Three decisions swing your retirement by six figures: when you claim, whether you convert to Roth before RMDs hit, and what your advisor actually costs you. You make all three in the ten years around your last paycheck, and most people make them on autopilot.
I built a free calculator for each one, and I run the same math on my own family’s plan, so they had to be good enough for my own money. Everything runs right in your browser, and nothing here requires an advisor’s permission.
Decision 1: When to claim Social Security
Your monthly check at 70 is about 77% larger than at 62. Waiting isn’t automatically the right call though. It depends on your health, your spouse’s benefit, and what you’d have to pull from savings while you wait. The break-even math sounds intimidating, and it’s honestly about four inputs.
→ Run the Social Security break-even calculator to see which claiming age fits your situation.
Decision 2: Roth conversions before RMDs hit
Required minimum distributions now start at 73, or 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. The years between your last paycheck and that first RMD are often the lowest tax brackets you will ever see again. That’s the window for converting traditional IRA dollars to Roth at a discount. Miss it and the IRS eventually sets your withdrawal schedule for you.
→ Model a conversion with the Roth conversion calculator before you sit down with your tax preparer.
Decision 3: What your advisor actually costs
A 1% advisory fee sounds tiny. Compounded over a 25 year retirement it can eat roughly a fifth of your ending balance, and almost nobody has ever seen that as a dollar figure. Five minutes here usually settles the “is my advisor worth it” conversation.
→ See the dollar cost with the investment fee impact calculator.
Put the whole picture together
Each decision matters on its own, and they interact. The retirement calculator puts your savings, spending, and timeline into one projection so you can see how long the money actually lasts.
Where the money sits
Once the big three are settled, most retirees need only two or three funds. I keep a current review of the best Vanguard funds, updated with live performance data, plus a deep dive on the Vanguard Wellington Fund, the balanced fund that has been running since 1929.
Retiring in the next ten years? Start with the 55+ Money Checklist.
Join the list and the checklist is yours immediately: Social Security timing, RMD deadlines, and the 3 fees to check, on two printable pages. After that, a plain-English letter on exactly these decisions, with real numbers from my own portfolio.
Everything on this page is education, not personalized financial advice. Your numbers, tax situation, and health picture are yours alone. Confirm Social Security specifics at ssa.gov and tax moves with your tax preparer before acting.