3 Social Security Moves Married Couples Should Make Before 2026 Ends

What: Married couples should consider optimizing their Social Security benefits before the end of the year to maximize their retirement income.
Why: This is crucial because the right moves can result in significantly higher lifetime benefits, especially for couples with a large age gap.
Signal: Couples should pay attention to the age difference between spouses, as this can impact their optimal claiming strategy.
Target: By the end of the year, couples should aim to have a clear plan in place for claiming their Social Security benefits, including considering delayed retirement credits and spousal benefits.
Risk: Failing to make informed decisions about Social Security benefits can result in lost income and a reduced standard of living in retirement.