Every single day, I get emails from readers who seem to be absolutely obsessed with the idea of “maximizing” their Social Security benefits. And frequently, those emails are dripping with anxiety and sometimes almost torment. It’s like these folks are just worrying themselves sick that they might be missing out on a few bucks in potential Social Security benefits.
I think this maximizing mania stems in large part from all the financial planning come-ons that are out there. If you’re over the age of 55, I'd bet my bottom dollar that you’ve gotten more than a few flyers in the mail telling you that you are missing out on thousands of dollars in potential Social Security benefits because you don’t know all the secrets. Then you are invited to a seminar (that’s usually a sales pitch for other products and services) where you learn that the so-called big secret is simply to wait as long as possible to file for your Social Security benefits—because of a little bonus you get for delayed retirement.
