Deciding when to collect Social Security — whether early, at full retirement age, or age 70 — is a high-stakes decision. Your choice has a lasting impact on your retirement cash flow, your lifestyle, and your family's financial security.
Sure, you have up to a year to change your mind, but after that, your decision is essentially etched in stone for life. It doesn't help that the rules and combinations surrounding Social Security can get complicated; at last check, there are hundreds of different claiming paths you can employ.
