Why I'm Taking Social Security at 62 (And Why the "Wait Until 70 Crowd" Might Want to Pay Attention)

Pre-Order Tyler's First Book, Real Wealth, here (tylergardner.com/book) & be immediately eligible for exclusive bonuses between now and December 1st! As always, a MASSIVE thank you to this week's sponsors: LMNT (drinklmnt.com/tyler) ⁠: regardless of who much money you have, if you're not feeling your best physically and mentally, it means very little. That's why I drink ⁠LMNT⁠ daily (well, multiple times a day) to continue to be as productive as I can be after my workouts. Try ⁠drinklmnt.com/tyler⁠ today and let me know what your favorite flavor is! Copilot Money (try.copilot.money/tyler) ⁠: if you are looking for one of the most well-designed money apps out there, check out ⁠Copilot Money⁠ today. My friends and family continue to rave about it, and they now have all of their money needs in one place. Check out ⁠try.copilot.money/tyler ⁠today and use code TYLER2 for two free months, so you can see if it works for you! Anthropic (claude.ai/tyler) ⁠: I use Claude AI every single day as a thought partner and business strategist. To become more efficient and solve problems more quickly and effectively, check out ⁠claude.ai/tyler⁠ today. There is no single business move I have made in the past year that has been more worthwhile and productive. And on to the show notes! When should you take Social Security? It’s one of the most debated — and most personal — financial decisions you’ll ever make. In this episode, Tyler makes a serious, data-backed case for taking benefits at 62 — not as a blanket recommendation, but as a counterpoint to the conventional advice to always wait. Because this decision isn’t just math. It’s math layered on top of real life. In this episode, Tyler covers: • The break-even math between taking benefits at 62, 67, and 70 • Why waiting only “wins” if you live past your late 70s or early 80s • The idea that a dollar at 62 isn’t equal to a dollar at 82 • How the “go-go, slow-go, no-go” phases of retirement change how money is experienced • The often-overlooked healthcare gap between 62 and 65 — and what it can cost • How the earnings test reduces (but doesn’t eliminate) benefits if you keep working • Why Social Security decisions should factor in your spouse’s survivor benefit Tyler also introduces a practical framework — six key questions — to help you make the decision based on your own life, not a generic rule: Health. Healthcare. Work status. Income needs. Spousal impact. And how you actually want to spend your time. The core idea: This isn’t about maximizing dollars. It’s about maximizing life. For some people, waiting is the right call. For others, taking it early — and using that money when it matters most — may be the better decision. If the show’s been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple or Spotify genuinely helps. Hope this gives you something to think about this week.

We Ran the Numbers: When Singles vs Married Couples Should Take Social Security
▶︎

We Ran the Numbers: When Singles vs Married Couples Should Take Social Security

What I'd Do If $1,000,000 Landed in My Account Tomorrow: 3 Moves, 3 Mistakes, 3 Red Flags
▶︎

What I'd Do If $1,000,000 Landed in My Account Tomorrow: 3 Moves, 3 Mistakes, 3 Red Flags

“90% of Americans plan to skip the No. 1 piece of Social Security advice”
▶︎

“90% of Americans plan to skip the No. 1 piece of Social Security advice”

I Moved to Arizona for the Winter: The 5 Things Nobody Tells You About Snowbirding
▶︎

I Moved to Arizona for the Winter: The 5 Things Nobody Tells You About Snowbirding

How to Make Your Child Absurdly Wealthy for Absurdly Little
▶︎

How to Make Your Child Absurdly Wealthy for Absurdly Little

Social Security at 62 vs 70: The Math Everyone Gets Wrong
▶︎

Social Security at 62 vs 70: The Math Everyone Gets Wrong

The 5 Best (And Worst) Cars You Could Ever Buy (Financially Speaking, Of Course)
▶︎

The 5 Best (And Worst) Cars You Could Ever Buy (Financially Speaking, Of Course)

Ben Felix Critiques FIRE… And Then Makes the Case for 100% Equities for FIRE
▶︎

Ben Felix Critiques FIRE… And Then Makes the Case for 100% Equities for FIRE

Stop Believing These 12 Social Security Myths (They're Costing You)
▶︎

Stop Believing These 12 Social Security Myths (They're Costing You)

5 AI Prompts That Will Change How You Manage Money (And 3 Things It Still Gets Dead Wrong)
▶︎

5 AI Prompts That Will Change How You Manage Money (And 3 Things It Still Gets Dead Wrong)

The $172,000 Retirement Surprise (And Exactly How to Avoid It)
▶︎

The $172,000 Retirement Surprise (And Exactly How to Avoid It)

Billionaire's WARNING: I'm SELLING. The Crash Is Already Here!
▶︎

Billionaire's WARNING: I'm SELLING. The Crash Is Already Here!

7 GREAT REASONS to File for Social Security at Age 62
▶︎

7 GREAT REASONS to File for Social Security at Age 62

Once You Retire, Upgrade These 10 Things Before Telling Anyone
▶︎

Once You Retire, Upgrade These 10 Things Before Telling Anyone

5 Ways to Invest (And Spend) $2 Million
▶︎

5 Ways to Invest (And Spend) $2 Million

The Rebalancing Lie Every Financial Advisor Tells You
▶︎

The Rebalancing Lie Every Financial Advisor Tells You

5 Hard Truths About Investing From 26 Years at Motley Fool | Chris Hill
▶︎

5 Hard Truths About Investing From 26 Years at Motley Fool | Chris Hill

Vitamin D Expert: The Fastest Way To Dementia & The Big Lie About Sunlight!
▶︎

Vitamin D Expert: The Fastest Way To Dementia & The Big Lie About Sunlight!

How to Divorce-Proof Your Finances (Whether You're Married, Divorced, or Somewhere In Between)
▶︎

How to Divorce-Proof Your Finances (Whether You're Married, Divorced, or Somewhere In Between)

5 Simple Ways to Increase Social Security
▶︎

5 Simple Ways to Increase Social Security