Your Money

When it comes to Social Security, it pays—literally—to understand your options. Even if you won’t depend on it to cover expenses, you’ll still want to get the best return on decades of payroll taxes. We can help you navigate the rules and choose the strategy that fits your overall retirement plan.

One key strategy is spousal benefits. These allow lower-earning spouses—often stay-at-home parents—to collect benefits based on their partner’s earnings record. Here’s how they work:

• Start as early as 62, but waiting until your full retirement age boosts your payout.
• The higher-earning spouse must claim their own benefit first.
• If your own retirement benefit is higher, you’ll receive that instead—you can’t double-dip.
• Claimed early? You can still switch to spousal benefits later when your spouse files.
• Spousal benefits cap at 50% of your spouse’s full-retirement-age benefit, so there’s no reason to delay past your own full retirement age for those (though your own benefit can grow until 70).

To see your numbers, create a mySocialSecurity account at SSA.gov. At PRESERVE Wealth Management, we can help you coordinate the timing and strategy—so you and your spouse can unlock the full value of your benefits.

For married couples in need of a strategy, spousal benefits could play an important role.
source: Hartford Funds

Your Life

High-protein diets are popular for weight loss and muscle health, but many people overlook a key nutrient: fiber. Advice from a registered dietitian highlights why balancing protein with fiber-rich foods—like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—is essential for digestion and overall health. Increasing fiber intake supports gut health and helps you feel fuller longer.

On a High-Protein Diet? The 1 Nutrient You're Probably Not Getting Enough of
by Meghan Holohan

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