Here’s what to do if it haunts you (and why younger Boomers must take notice) Vishesh Raisinghani June 16, 2026 5 min read GC=F taurusphoto/ Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. For some, waiting until you turn 70 is considered the smartest financial move you can make in retirement. After all, who doesn't like a potential 24% boost (1) to monthly benefits?
A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research (2) (NBER) even suggested that waiting until age 70 was the right move for 90% of American workers currently between the ages of 45 and 62. So the mathematical evidence overwhelmingly supports a delay. Top Picks The ultra-rich use these 5 real estate strategies to build wealth while they sleep — you can start with just $100 The IRS usually taxes gold as a collectible — but this little-known strategy lets you hold physical bullion tax-free.
Get your free guide from Priority Gold Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here's how to fix it ASAP But what if you did the "mathematically" right thing and still regret your decision? If signing up for benefits at 70 haunts you, here's what you should know. Reasons for regret First and foremost, the NBER's research is based on lifetime earnings.
Simply put, these calculations are focused on maximizing the total amount of money you get in benefits during retirement, and that hinges on how much you get every month as well as your life expectancy. In reality, if your health has deteriorated, your life expectancy is probably shorter than average. It also means that the utility of the boosted payouts has diminished.
There's also your healthy life expectancy to consider. This refers to the number of years, on average, Americans can live in "full" health. According to the World Health Organization, this is just 63.9 (3).
After all, what's the point of a 24% extra payout if you can't spend it on the vacations, sports and hobbies that you enjoyed in your 60s? There's also a chance you've fallen into the comparison trap. Watching your friends claim their benefits early and enjoy their retirement without financial stress could be one of the reasons for your regret.
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