Regina breaks down one of the biggest retirement decisions people make too quickly: when to claim Social Security.
In this episode, she walks through how benefits are calculated, why filing early can permanently reduce your income, and how waiting can add meaningful dollars to your retirement plan.
It's a practical, no-nonsense episode for anyone who wants to make a smarter Social Security decision instead of just grabbing benefits at 62.
Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Intro
0:32 - Why Social Security timing matters more than people think
2:07 - How Social Security benefits are calculated
3:34 - Cost-of-living adjustments and inflation
4:39 - The age you can claim vs. the age you should claim
6:07 - What claiming at 62 really costs you
7:20 - Real dollar examples: 62 vs. 67
10:15 - Why waiting until 70 can increase your benefit
11:28 - Smart claiming strategies for spouses
13:16 - How survivor benefits work
14:41 - 2026 Social Security numbers and max benefits
18:04 - Working while collecting Social Security
20:23 - Regina's takeaway: build a strategy, don't guess
ABOUT REGINA MCCANN HESS
Regina is the author of Super Woman Wealth: How to Become Your Own Financial Hero. As an advocate for women's financial freedom, she wrote this book to help empower women to take a bigger role in handling their money.
Regina has appeared on Schwab TV, Yahoo Finance, Forbes.com, NTD Television, CBS 3 Philadelphia, Fox 29 Philadelphia, King 5 Seattle, KTLA 5 Los Angeles and Scripps News. She has also been quoted in numerous articles in publications such as Forbes, Business Insider, U.S. News & World Report, Yahoo Finance, USA Today, USA Wire, Word in Black, WTOP News, Mind Body Green, Money Digest, New York Post, Defender, Authority Magazine, GoBankingRates.com, Scripps and The Muse.
As Founder of Forge Wealth Management, Regina utilizes her 25+ years of financial services experience to help individuals plan, preserve and diversify their wealth. She focuses on educating her clients while building long-term relationships with them and their families. Her experience throughout major shifts in the markets, enables Regina to structure balanced portfolios to address specific financial goals.
CONNECT WITH REGINA
Website: https://www.forgewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginamccannhess/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForgeWealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgewealthmanagement/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForgeWealth
Email: reginahess@forgewealth.com
Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC www.finra.org, www.sipc.org
Third-party posts found on this profile do not reflect the view of LPL Financial and have not been reviewed by LPL Financial as to accuracy or completeness.
This material was prepared by MFS Fund Distributors, Inc.
For a list of states in which I am registered to do business, please visit www.forgewealth.com. MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by LPL Financial, Private Advisor Group, or Forge Wealth Management
