Michael Tomren, CFP

When Should You Claim Social Security? The Right Answer May Surprise You.

Should you begin collecting Social Security at 62, wait until your full retirement age, or delay until 70? It’s one of the most important retirement decisions you’ll make, yet the best answer isn’t necessarily the same for everyone.

Your health, life expectancy, marital situation, and other retirement income sources can all influence the decision. For married couples, the timing of benefits can also have significant implications for the income available to a surviving spouse.

I help individuals and couples throughout San Ramon, Danville, and the greater Bay Area understand these choices and make confident, informed decisions about their retirement.

Rather than relying on general rules of thumb, I believe in looking at the numbers and understanding the tradeoffs.

Using specialized planning tools, including RSSA Roadmap® software, we can compare different claiming ages, evaluate potential lifetime benefits under varying longevity assumptions, and explore how different strategies might affect you and your spouse. The goal is to turn a complicated decision into a clear, personalized analysis you can understand and use.

But Social Security doesn’t exist in a vacuum. When you claim benefits can also influence your retirement income strategy, IRA withdrawals, Roth conversions, income taxes, and other important financial decisions.

As a Registered Social Security Analyst® (RSSA®) and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional (CFP®), I bring both specialized Social Security knowledge and a broader financial planning perspective. My background also includes the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation, a Master of Science in Advanced Financial Planning, and membership in Ed Slott’s Master Elite IRA Advisor Group.

At Tomren & Sullivan Wealth Management, we’re a boutique firm by design. We believe important financial decisions deserve thoughtful analysis, personal attention, and advice that reflects what matters most to you and your family.

All Financial Planners of Tomren & Sullivan Wealth Management are Registered Representatives with, and securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC.

If you’re approaching retirement, already eligible for benefits, or simply wondering whether your Social Security strategy makes sense, I’d welcome a conversation.

You worked a lifetime to earn your benefits. Let’s make sure you understand your options before deciding when to collect them.