What is the most beneficial age to retire?

Asked by: Edwardo Kuhn  |  Last update: February 5, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (44 votes)

Eligible workers can begin Medicare at age 65, making this an attractive retirement age for many people. Delaying retirement until age 70 can result in larger Social Security checks but less time to enjoy activities outside the workforce.

What is the smartest age to retire?

67-70 – During this age range, your Social Security benefit, if you haven't already taken it, will increase by 8% for each year you delay taking it until you turn 70. So, if your benefit will be, say, $2,500/month if you start at your full retirement age, it would be more than $3,300/month if you can wait.

What is the happiest age to retire?

On average, 63 is the ideal age for retirement according to both retirees and pre-retirees. While current retirees are hitting close to that mark with an average actual retirement age of 62, there are signs that future retirees could have more difficulty retiring at their ideal age.

What is the healthiest retirement age?

You're Likely to Live Longer If You Retire After 65.

What is the best age to retire if you can afford it?

First, the earlier you retire the longer your money has to last. If you retire at age 40 and expect to live to age 90, for example, you'll need to save enough money to last a half-century. Waiting until you're 65 to retire, on the other hand, can ease some of the pressure to save.

What Is The Best Age To Retire? | A Complete Guide To Retirement

35 related questions found

Do you live longer if you retire early?

Conclusions. We did not find an association between early retirement, compared with continued work participation, and mortality. On-time retirement, compared with working beyond retirement, was associated with a higher risk of mortality.

What age is most common to retire?

The average retirement age in the United States is 62, according to a 2024 MassMutual survey. In 1991, it was 57; in 2002, it was 59, according to a 2022 Gallup poll.

What percent of the US population dies before age 80?

According to 2015 age-specific mortality rates, almost 60 percent of the 2015 birth cohort will live past 80, while more than 20 percent will die before 70.

What is the best income to retire?

Financial planners often recommend replacing about 80% of your pre-retirement income to sustain the same lifestyle after you retire. This means that if you earn $100,000 per year, you'd aim for at least $80,000 of income (in today's dollars) in retirement.

What is a respectable age to retire?

Some people are able to retire relatively early — even in their 40s sometimes — while others work well into their 70s and even 80s. What is the average age of retirement in the United States? Right now, the average age for men to retire is 65 while the average age for women to retire is 63. 1.

What is the best month to retire?

While those scenarios may lead to a person pushing retirement to later in the year, on the flip side, many choose to retire in January if they will be withdrawing money out of retirement accounts. This is especially true if this retirement revenue stream will be considered taxable income.

Are people happier after they retire?

Retirement greatly improves personal happiness, and its impact is significant and robust. Second, we found that retirement brings more happiness to those who have a college degree or less and have multiple children. The better the health status, the smaller the effect of retirement on happiness.

What is the optimum age to retire?

Most people retire when they're about 65 years old. But there's a big trend towards working later. The number of people working into their 70s has risen by more than 60% in the last decade.

What is the #1 reason to take Social Security at 62?

Those facing financial emergencies, such as a layoff or debt, may benefit from accessing Social Security early. If you retire early and need extra income, Social Security benefits can provide supplemental funds to support your new lifestyle, hobbies or retirement activities.

What is the #1 killer for the elderly?

Heart disease is the top cause of death for senior citizens in 94% of states.

Is longevity inherited from mother or father?

Our findings suggest that male centenarians may inherit their longevity from both maternal and paternal lineages, whereas among the female centenarians only maternal lineage appears to have an effect on the inheritance of longevity.

What is the most common age of death?

In the United States in 2021, the death rate was highest among those aged 85 and over, with about 17,190.5 men and 14,914.5 women per 100,000 of the population passing away. For all ages, the death rate was at 1,118.2 per 100,000 of the population for males, and 970.8 per 100,000 of the population for women.

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.

At what age can I collect 100% of my Social Security?

For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.

How do you know it's time to retire?

Here are 6 signs that you may be ready to retire.
  • You are financially prepared for retirement. ...
  • You have a Social Security distribution strategy for retirement. ...
  • You have eliminated or significantly reduced debt before retiring. ...
  • You know how you'll cover your healthcare expenses in retirement.

What is the hardest part of retiring?

Reorientation: Often considered the hardest stage, this is when you're most likely to start re-evaluating your retirement lifestyle. It involves asking the hard questions and relearning what does and doesn't work for you, so you can get the most out of your retirement.

Is it healthier to keep working or retire?

Post-retirement work, which can provide a social outlet, has been linked to improved health2 and lower rates of depression. With some companies adopting remote work as the norm, the ability to do your job from anywhere — even your vacation home — could provide even more incentive to continue working in retirement.