COLLECT SOCIAL SECURITY

The longer you put off collectingyour Social Security benefit, thehigher it will be. Although that benefitmay not be the biggest part ofyour retirement income, it pays todo the math. You may want to maximizeyour Social Security check bypostponing the starting date of yourbenefits as long as possible, or youmay opt to collect a reduced benefitat an earlier age. By starting early,you can pocket thousands of dollarsin benefits, which could offset thehigher benefit you'd get if you waited.Note: If you're between ages 62and 65 and you keep on working,your Social Security benefit may bereduced if you earn too much. Afterage 65, you can earn any amountwithout penalty. For more information,visit www.ssa.gov.