Early claiming is applying for Social Security benefits under your full retirement age (FRA). This varies by person, depending on your birth year. For most workers today, the FRA is 67, though some older workers may have an FRA as low as 66.

There are a number of factors that affect your Social Security benefits, and your salary is just one of them. It's important to note that your benefit amount is not based on your last year or two

Nine states still tax social security benefits in 2024, which is thankfully down from eleven states in 2023. Depending on where you live, that could significantly impact your retirement dollars and financial planning.

One of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make in retirement is when to start claiming Social Security. Most people automatically think of 65 or maybe their official “Full Retirement Age” as the target date.