You've spent decades building wealth. Social Security and the role it will play during your retirement years probably aren’t at the top of your mind. But turn on the news lately, and the ongoing headlines make it hard to ignore.

Why?

This month, the Social Security Trustees released their 2026 Trustees Report. The report projects that the OASI (Old-Age and Survivors Insurance) Trust Fund, which pays retirement and survivor benefits, will be depleted in the fourth quarter of 2032. If Congress doesn't act, benefits could be reduced by roughly 22%.

This is worth understanding, but it is not worth panicking over. Social Security has faced this before.

While much of this is outside of your control, one important retirement decision remains entirely yours: when to claim your Social Security benefits.

For some, claiming early makes perfect sense. For others, waiting results in substantially higher lifetime income. There is no universal answer.

But for high earners, the stakes are greater than most people realize, and the right strategy looks very different than it does for the average retiree.

Here's what the decision actually involves:

Your broader income picture. When you draw from Social Security relative to your portfolio, business distributions, or other income sources, it has a direct impact on your lifetime tax liability. For complex financial situations, this sequencing decision alone can be worth significant money.

A guaranteed income stream. You've built wealth across markets, real estate, and business interests. Social Security is one of the few income sources that never stops, regardless of what markets do. For families managing concentration risk, that floor matters more than it might appear.

Your spouse's financial security. For married couples, the higher earner's claiming strategy can have lasting implications for the survivor benefit. This isn't just a math problem. It's a commitment to someone else's financial future.

Health, longevity, and lifestyle. The right answer depends on how long you plan to work, what your retirement looks like, and what you want your assets to support.

Many people focus on maximizing the benefit. The better question is how Social Security fits into everything else you've built and your entire financial picture.

If retirement is approaching, or if you've recently retired and would like a second opinion on your claiming strategy, simply contact us. We'd be happy to help evaluate your options and make sure the timing works.