# Retired Dopers: how did you decide when to retire? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 2, 2021, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-dopers-how-did-you-decide-when-to-retire/939207 "2021-04-02T05:32:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-dopers-how-did-you-decide-when-to-retire/939207/141 "2021-04-25T00:00:47Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > If you’re retired at 62 with little or no income coming in and you only have enough money saved to take you to age 82 or so you should wait and maximize your benefits. You will dearly need the extra money in those later years. Here is another way of looking at this - how much is the money at age 62 worth to you? If it means you have a more or less comfortable life versus one where you have to worry about paying bills, taking SS at 62 might make sense no matter how long you expect to live. If it would go right into investments since you have a good cash flow, it makes sense to wait if you think you’re going to live long enough. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Even if SSA or Congress was to change the rates and rules, there’d be some warning such a change was coming so anyone over 62 at the time could lock in the existing good deal or something close to it. Even the most radical Republican proposals I’ve seen include grandparenting in benefits for those already on the plan for fear of being tromped to death by enraged AARP members. Not a big worry right now though. I hope someone will get around to fixing the underlying issues, though. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-dopers-how-did-you-decide-when-to-retire/939207/142 "2021-04-25T00:18:49Z")
> [@tripthicket](#): > > One step I’m going to take soon is talking to a financial planner. I’m so glad I did this. If I hadn’t, I’d still be working… I would’ve been unconvinced by web sites and calculations, and my natural ability to think of twenty things that could go wrong would’ve made me overly cautious. It took a professional that I respected saying “Shut up and retire. Now.” ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-dopers-how-did-you-decide-when-to-retire/939207/143 "2021-04-25T00:29:15Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I’m so glad I did this. If I hadn’t, I’d still be working… I would’ve been unconvinced by web sites and calculations, and my natural ability to think of twenty things that could go wrong would’ve made me overly cautious. > > It took a professional that I respected saying “Shut up and retire. Now.” Me too. Exactly. Fuck work. (PS: It was my CFP who said for me to take SS at 62). ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-dopers-how-did-you-decide-when-to-retire/939207/144 "2021-04-25T21:47:13Z")
Just what is the job title of a person who tells you if you’re on track financially to retire? When I Google around, I keep seeing the term “wealth management”, which sounds like they’re for rich folk. Should I look for a certified financial planner, a financial advisor, a wealth manager . . .? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-dopers-how-did-you-decide-when-to-retire/939207/145 "2021-04-25T21:48:54Z")
Certified Financial Planner (CFP). ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-dopers-how-did-you-decide-when-to-retire/939207/146 "2021-04-27T05:24:26Z")
And make sure they’re not selling any products. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-dopers-how-did-you-decide-when-to-retire/939207.md?page=7)