Solutions
Retire at 62 vs. 67: What Is the Difference?
Choosing between retiring at 62 and retiring at 67 involves tradeoffs that go well beyond simply having five more years of savings.
Retiring at 62 gives you more years of freedom but creates a longer retirement to fund, no Medicare coverage for three years, and a permanently reduced Social Security benefit if you claim early. Retiring at 67 aligns with your Full Retirement Age for Social Security, meaning you receive your full earned benefit, Medicare is already in place, and you have had five additional years to build savings and reduce the length of time your portfolio must last. The financial impact is substantial: someone with a $1 million portfolio at 62 who delays retirement to 67 and continues contributing could accumulate significantly more, while also locking in a higher Social Security benefit for life. That said, health, career satisfaction, caregiving responsibilities, and personal priorities all factor into this decision. At Moore Invested, we help clients model both scenarios in detail so the decision is based on real numbers rather than assumptions, giving you confidence in whichever path you choose.
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