For decades, Social Security has been treated like a dependable promise: work hard, pay in, and you’ll receive a steady monthly benefit once you retire. Many Americans, especially those who’ve lived frugally and followed conventional retirement advice, believe that Social Security will cover most, if not all, of their retirement needs.
But this assumption is no longer grounded in financial reality. Even those who consider themselves “well-prepared” for retirement are discovering that Social Security simply doesn’t stretch far enough to support a safe, secure, and dignified lifestyle.
