Should I use my 401K as a bridge to delay Social Security until age 70?

This is actually a very sound financial strategy that many financial planners recommend. By delaying your Social Security until 70, you're essentially buying the best annuity on the market - guaranteed 8% annual increases from FRA to 70, plus cost of living adjustments. The math generally works in your favor if you live past your early 80s. Using your 401K as a bridge is smart for exactly the reasons you mentioned - it reduces future RMDs and can help manage your tax brackets in retirement. Just make sure you're being strategic about which accounts you withdraw from (traditional vs Roth if you have both). One thing to consider: make sure you're accounting for healthcare coverage during this period if you're retiring before Medicare eligibility at 65.

I did exactly what you're planning. Retired at 66 (my FRA), used my 401k to bridge until 70, and now my SS check is $3,880/month instead of the $2,900 it would've been. Best financial decision I ever made. My RMDs are more manageable too, which helps with Medicare IRMAA surcharges. One suggestion - set up automatic monthly distributions from your 401k that roughly match what your SS would have been, helps with budgeting and makes the transition at 70 seamless.

Sounds like a decent plan to me. Just make sure you're not leaving your spouse high and dry if something happens to you during those delay years. My buddy Jim did this and then passed away at 69, really messed up his wife's financial situation.

Why complicate things? Just take SS when you hit FRA and leave your 401k alone to keep growing. Thats what I did and Im doing FINE. All this fancy planning just gives you a headache lol

THE SSA DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS!!! The whole "delay until 70" thing is actually just a way for them to avoid paying benefits to people who die between FRA and 70!!!! They KNOW a certain percentage of people will DIE before collecting A SINGLE DOLLAR if they delay!!! Think about it - why else would they offer such a "good deal"?? It's because they're BETTING ON YOUR DEATH!!!!!

have u talked to a financhal advisor? my sister did something like this but her advisor told her to do roth conversions during the bridge years cuz her tax bracket was lower. might be worth paying someone for advice before u make big decishun

I tried calling SSA to talk through my options like this and was on hold for TWO HOURS before I got disconnected. Then called back and waited another hour! Has anyone found a better way to actually reach a real person at Social Security? I need to discuss some specifics about my delayed retirement credits.

One aspect of this strategy I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact on your tax situation during the bridge years. When you're taking 401k distributions as your primary income source, you'll have more control over your taxable income than you would with SS benefits (which are partially taxable based on provisional income tests). This creates a unique opportunity to do Roth conversions during these years, potentially converting significant portions of your traditional 401k to Roth while staying in lower tax brackets. This could substantially reduce your RMDs later AND provide tax-free withdrawal options in the future. The combination of delayed SS + strategic Roth conversions during bridge years + reduced RMDs later can create a very tax-efficient retirement income strategy.

My neighbor tried this exact strategy then the market crashed in his first bridge year and he panicked and took SS early anyway. Just something to consider - can you stomach a major market downturn while you're actively withdrawing from your 401k?

One more important point: run calculations on the tax implications of higher RMDs vs. higher SS benefits. While reducing RMDs is generally helpful, remember that 85% of SS benefits may become taxable if your other income (including RMDs) is high enough. In some cases, the tax advantage of reducing RMDs can be partially offset by increased taxation of your larger SS benefit. This doesn't usually negate the advantage of delaying, but it's something to model in your specific situation. A good tax-focused financial planner can run these projections for you and might identify some additional strategies to minimize lifetime tax burden.

As someone who just went through this decision process myself, I can't stress enough how important it is to factor in your health and family longevity history. The break-even point for delaying SS until 70 is typically around age 82-83, but if you have health concerns or a family history of shorter lifespans, the math changes significantly. I ended up doing a hybrid approach - I delayed SS but also purchased a small immediate annuity to supplement my 401k withdrawals during the bridge years. This gave me some guaranteed income floor while still allowing me to capture most of the delayed retirement credits. Might be worth considering if you're worried about sequence of returns risk during your early retirement years. Also, definitely look into the Roth conversion opportunity during your bridge years - it's one of the best parts of this strategy that often gets overlooked!

As a newcomer to this community, I find this discussion incredibly valuable! I'm in a similar situation - approaching my FRA next year with about $650K in my 401K. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has really opened my eyes to considerations I hadn't thought of. A few questions for the group: For those who've implemented this strategy, how did you handle the psychological aspect of not having that "guaranteed" SS income right away? I keep going back and forth between the logical math (which clearly favors delaying) and the emotional security of having SS payments start immediately. Also, I'm curious about the timing - is it better to retire exactly at FRA and start the bridge strategy immediately, or work a bit longer to build up the 401K cushion even more before making the leap? Thanks to everyone sharing their real-world experiences - it's so much more helpful than just reading generic financial advice online!

As someone new to this community, I'm finding this discussion incredibly helpful! I'm 64 and facing a similar decision in about 18 months. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen discussed much - how do you all handle the annual Social Security statements and benefit estimates during the bridge years? I know SSA sends updated estimates, but I'm wondering if there are any surprises people have encountered when they actually file at 70 versus what the estimates showed. Are the delayed retirement credit calculations typically accurate in the official statements? Also, for those who've gone through this, did you find it helpful to do a "trial run" of living off just 401K withdrawals for a few months before actually retiring? I'm thinking of testing out the budget during my last year of work to see how it feels psychologically and practically. Thanks for sharing all these real-world insights - it's exactly the kind of practical advice I was hoping to find here!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by the depth of discussion here! I'm 62 and still have a few years before my FRA, but I'm already trying to wrap my head around this strategy. One thing I'm wondering about that hasn't been mentioned - what happens if Congress changes Social Security rules during your bridge years? I keep hearing politicians talk about "fixing" Social Security, and I'm nervous that if I delay until 70, the rules might change in a way that affects my delayed retirement credits. Also, for those who have successfully implemented this strategy, how often do you review and potentially adjust your 401K withdrawal amounts during the bridge years? Do you stick to a fixed monthly amount, or do you adjust based on market performance, expenses, or other factors? I'm trying to build as complete a picture as possible before I get closer to decision time. Thanks for all the valuable insights everyone has shared!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for such an informative discussion! I'm 63 and wrestling with this exact same decision. Reading through all these real-world experiences has been incredibly valuable. One aspect I'm curious about that I haven't seen addressed - how do you handle Required Beginning Date (RBD) considerations if you're still working past 70? I know RMDs typically start at 73, but I'm wondering if there are any special rules or strategies for people who implement this bridge approach and then maybe decide to do some part-time work after starting SS at 70. Also, I'm seeing a lot of mentions about working with financial advisors for this strategy. For those who hired professionals, did you find that most advisors were familiar with this approach, or did you need to shop around to find someone experienced with delayed SS/401k bridge strategies? The psychological aspects that others have mentioned really resonate with me too. It feels counterintuitive to delay guaranteed income, but the math seems pretty compelling. Thanks again for sharing all your insights - this community is exactly what I was hoping to find!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this discussion absolutely fascinating! I'm 65 and just hit my FRA last month, so this decision is very real and immediate for me. What struck me most about this thread is how many different angles there are to consider beyond just the basic math. The healthcare coverage piece, the spousal implications, the tax optimization opportunities - it's much more complex than I initially thought. I'm particularly intrigued by the Roth conversion strategy that several people mentioned during the bridge years. My 401k is about $650k, mostly traditional, and I hadn't considered that those lower-income bridge years might be the perfect time to convert chunks of it to Roth. One question for the group: for those who've done this, did you convert a set amount each year to stay within a specific tax bracket, or did you take a more aggressive approach and convert larger amounts while your overall income was low? Also, I'm curious about the logistics - when you delay SS, do you need to actively inform SSA, or do you simply not file at FRA? I want to make sure I don't accidentally miss any deadlines or requirements. Thanks for sharing all your experiences. This community is exactly what I needed to help think through this major decision!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for all the detailed insights shared here! I'm 66 and approaching this decision myself with about $580k in my 401k. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned - how do you handle the emotional/psychological transition of going from earning a paycheck to living off retirement accounts? I know the math works, but I'm finding it harder than expected to mentally shift from "accumulation mode" to "distribution mode." Also, for those who've implemented this strategy, did you find it helpful to automate the 401k withdrawals, or do you prefer to manage them manually each month? I'm trying to figure out the most stress-free way to handle the logistics. The discussion about Roth conversions during bridge years has really caught my attention too. It seems like such a unique opportunity that you can't replicate once SS kicks in and pushes you into higher tax brackets. Thanks for creating such a welcoming and informative community!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by the depth of knowledge and real-world experience being shared here! I'm 64 and facing this exact decision in about a year when I hit my FRA. One thing that's really struck me from reading through all these responses is how this strategy seems to work best when you have multiple moving parts working together - the 401k bridge, the delayed SS credits, the Roth conversion opportunities, and careful tax planning. It's not just about delaying Social Security; it's about creating a comprehensive retirement income optimization plan. I'm particularly interested in what several people mentioned about having a cash cushion during the bridge years. For those who've implemented this, how much did you keep in cash versus keeping it invested? I'm torn between wanting to maximize growth and wanting the security of knowing I won't have to sell investments during a market downturn. Also, I noticed some discussion about spousal considerations. My spouse is 3 years younger than me and has a much smaller SS benefit projected. Should we be coordinating our claiming strategies, or can I make this decision independently? Thanks for such a welcoming and informative discussion - this community is exactly what I was hoping to find as I navigate these complex retirement decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly impressed by the quality and depth of discussion here! I'm 63 and have been researching this exact strategy for months, but reading through everyone's real-world experiences has been more valuable than all the generic financial articles I've consumed. One aspect I haven't seen discussed much is how this strategy might interact with state taxes. I'm currently in a high-tax state but considering relocating to a no-tax state during my bridge years. Has anyone factored state tax implications into their decision? It seems like the combination of lower federal taxes during bridge years (from controlled 401k withdrawals) plus eliminating state taxes entirely could create even more optimization opportunities. Also, I'm curious about the practical mechanics of managing healthcare during these years. I know several people mentioned being on Medicare already, but for those who retired before 65, how did you handle the gap coverage? ACA marketplace plans can be expensive, and I'm wondering if that cost needs to be factored into the bridge year budget calculations. The psychological aspects many of you have discussed really resonate with me too. It's challenging to shift from "don't touch retirement accounts" to actively drawing them down, even when the math clearly supports it. Thanks for creating such a supportive environment for working through these complex decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this discussion absolutely invaluable! I'm 64 and will hit my FRA in about 8 months, so this decision is becoming very real for me. I have around $720k in my 401k and have been going back and forth on this exact strategy. What really strikes me from reading through all these responses is how much the "human element" matters alongside the math. Yes, the 8% guaranteed growth from delaying SS is compelling, but the peace of mind factors - having that cash cushion, being prepared for market volatility, understanding the tax implications - seem just as important for actually sleeping well during those bridge years. I'm particularly curious about something I haven't seen mentioned: how do you handle the annual Social Security statements during the delay period? Do they continue to show updated projections with the delayed retirement credits, or do you need to calculate those increases yourself? I want to make sure I can track that my strategy is working as planned. Also, for those who've successfully navigated this, what was the biggest surprise or unexpected challenge you encountered during your bridge years? I'm trying to anticipate potential issues before I commit to this path. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed, real-world insights. This community is exactly what I needed to help finalize this major decision!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for discovering this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm 65 and just reached my FRA two months ago, so I'm right in the thick of making this decision. Reading through everyone's real-world experiences has been more helpful than months of researching generic advice online. What's really resonating with me is how this isn't just a simple "delay Social Security" decision - it's a comprehensive retirement income optimization strategy that touches on tax planning, investment management, healthcare considerations, and even psychological preparedness. The interconnected nature of all these pieces is both exciting and a bit overwhelming. I'm particularly intrigued by the Roth conversion opportunity that so many have mentioned during the bridge years. With about $800k in traditional 401k assets, it seems like I might have a unique window to convert substantial amounts while controlling my tax bracket through strategic withdrawals. One question I haven't seen addressed: for those who've done significant Roth conversions during bridge years, did you find it better to spread them evenly across all four years, or concentrate them in the early years when you might have more flexibility? I'm trying to balance the tax optimization with maintaining enough traditional assets for ongoing withdrawals. Also, I'm curious about estate planning implications. Does this strategy affect how you think about leaving assets to heirs, given that you're drawing down 401k assets earlier but creating a larger SS survivor benefit? Thanks for such a welcoming and knowledgeable community - exactly what I needed as I navigate this major life transition!