As retirement approaches, one of the most important, and most misunderstood, decisions is when to begin Social Security benefits. There is no universal “right” answer. Some individuals choose to start benefits early out of concern about the program’s long-term stability. Others view Social Security as a temporary income bridge to help pay down debt or ease the transition into retirement. The reality is that every situation is different, and the decision carries meaningful financial consequences. Small missteps can permanently reduce lifetime benefits, making careful planning essential.

In our latest Off the Page episode, we sat down with Tom Barrett. Tom is a managing director of applied insights for Hartford Funds. Tom engages and educates financial professionals and their clients about emerging opportunities in financial services. These opportunities range from tactical strategies in areas such as retirement-income planning and legacy planning to anticipating and preparing for long-term demographic and lifestyle changes.

It was a great conversation, and we encourage you to listen to the episode and reach out to our team with any questions.