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Social Security Column
Let Social Security Help Jazz up Your Retirement Plan
By Phil Walton, Social Security Manager in Toledo, OH
Guest Column
April is Jazz Appreciation Month, a perfect time to move
your feet and revel in the smooth beats of one of America’s
most beloved musical genres. Ella Fitzgerald, the “Queen of
Jazz,” known for her scatting style, had a vocal range
spanning three octaves. Other great jazz icons include Dizzy
Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Herbie Hancock,
and Wynton Marsalis.
These jazz greats not only have music in common, but they
either received, receive, or will be eligible to receive
Social Security retirement benefits. Wynton Marsalis, at age
53, is approaching retirement. Herbie Hancock, at age 74, is
already old enough to receive full Social Security
retirement benefits. A lot of planning and preparation made
these artists successful. If you want to be successful in
your retirement years, financial planning is important for
hitting all the high notes.
You don’t have to scat like Ella, or blow your horn like
Wynton, Dizzy, and Louis, to plan for retirement. If you’re
making retirement plans, you’ll want to visit Social
Security’s website to use our retirement planner at
www.socialsecurity.gov/retire.
You’ll find detailed information about your Social Security
retirement and what you may want to consider as you prepare
for your future.
Our Retirement Estimator at
www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator
will give you an instant, personalized estimate of your
future benefits. You can plug in different retirement ages
and scenarios to help you make a decision. If you’re ready
to apply for retirement benefits, just go online at
www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.
Creating a secure my Social Security account at
www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount
is another way to fine tune your retirement. Your account
will allow you to verify your posted earnings and get
retirement estimates for ages 62, 67 and 70. Opening a my
Social Security account is safe, easy, and only takes a
few minutes. Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” may
come to mind as you visit our website at
www.socialsecurity.gov
to jazz up your retirement planning!
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