A lot of retirees know what their Social Security check is...but very few know where that check actually ranks.
In this video, Colin Exelby, CFP® explains Social Security benefit check rankings, including:
what’s considered below average,
what qualifies as a top-tier Social Security benefit,
and the key decisions that can permanently increase or reduce your retirement income.
Aaverage Social Security benefits in 2026,
estimated Social Security ranking ranges,
how much the top 10% of retirees receive,
why some retirees receive significantly larger checks,
how claiming age impacts monthly benefits,
how the 35-year earnings calculation works,
Social Security strategies for married couples,
survivor benefit considerations,
and common Social Security mistakes retirees make when claiming benefits too early.
I also explain how higher-income retirees often approach Social Security differently and why maximizing guaranteed retirement income can matter more than many people realize.
If you are planning for retirement, deciding when to claim Social Security, or wondering whether your benefit is above or below average, this video will help provide context around how Social Security benefits compare across retirees.
SSA page with source data: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/progdata/benefits.html
Topics discussed include:
Average Social Security check
Maximum Social Security benefit
Social Security claiming strategies
Social Security at 62 vs 70
Retirement income planning
Social Security for married couples
#SocialSecurity #RetirementPlanning #Retirement #SocialSecurity2026 #FinancialPlanning
Free Social Security Claiming Guide
One of the most important retirement decisions you'll make is deciding when to claim Social Security.
To help, we've created a free Social Security Claiming Guide that walks through the key factors retirees should consider before filing.
https://celestialwm.com/social-security-guide/
00:00-How Does Your Social Security Check Compare? (2026)
00:34-Where Your Check Actually Ranks
01:35-Why The Gap is so Large?
02:10-The Decision That Changes Everything
03:19-What Higher-Income Retirees Often Do Differently
04:32-The 35-Year Rule Most People Forget
05:37-The Couple Strategy Most Retirees Miss
06:26-The Surprising Part Most People Miss
07:07-The Hidden Mistake That Catches People Off Guard
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[About] Colin Exelby is a Certified Financial Planner Professional™ or CFP®. He owns the virtual financial advisory practice Celestial Wealth Management.
I provide financial planning for business owners and their families that makes sense.
Transformational change is made when you focus on the big picture. My goal is to help you think outside the box about your life, your money, and your health to be the best you can possibly be.
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Top Financial Advisor Baltimore. Top Financial Planner Maryland.
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Celestial Wealth Management LLC receives compensation from YouTube for the presence of advertising before, after, and during this video content. Celestial Wealth Management LLC does not control the content or presence of any advertisements. The presence of any advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of the ad, company, entity, or product by Celestial Wealth Management LLC.
Celestial Wealth Management, LLC is registered as an investment adviser in the State of Maryland and Texas.
Neither the information nor any opinion constitutes an offer or an invitation to make an offer, to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments.
This video is not intended to provide personal investment advice and it does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and the particular needs of any specific person.
Investors should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in financial instruments and implementing investment and planning strategies discussed in this video and should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized.
Nothing provided here constitutes tax advice. Individuals should seek the advice of their own tax advisor for specific information regarding tax consequences of investments.
Investments in securities entail risk and are not suitable for all investors. This is not a recommendation nor an offer to sell (or solicitation of an offer to buy) securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss.
