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Social Security Planning for couples

Max It.Break Even.Beat Both.

Three questions every couple should answer before either of you claims. How much Social Security can you get, and what would the survivor lose? When does waiting pay off? And is there a plan that does better than both?

Run your numbersSee a sample report
On this pageMax ItBreak EvenBeat BothCase studiesSample reportCalculator
How the plan comes together

Each step answers one question and sets up the next.

Step 1 · What can we get, and what is at risk?

Max It

$996KBoth wait to 70: $10,361 a month together. At the first death one $5,181 check stops, a $996K loss if it happens at 80.
Step 2 · Should one of us claim early?

Break Even

Age 80She claims at 62. Waiting catches up in total benefits at 80, and the loss at the first death drops to $562K.
Step 3 · Can we do better than both?

Beat Both

$1.78MHer early check pays the premium on his policy. The survivor gets a guaranteed $1.78M, and breakeven moves to 91.

Example couple: both 62, each with the 2026 maximum benefit ($4,178 a month at 67). Today’s dollars, 2% COLA from 70, survivor to 95, lump sums valued at 4%.

1
Max It

The bigger the benefit you build, the bigger the loss at the first death.

Waiting to 70 gives a couple the largest Social Security income they can get. But the survivor keeps only one check, so the maximum benefit also creates the maximum loss. Most couples plan the first number and never price the second.

$10,361A month while both are living, both claiming at 70
$5,181A month the survivor keeps. The other check stops for good
$1.15M · $996K · $768KThe loss as a lump sum if the first death is at 75 · 80 · 85

The bogey. We call the value of the lost check the bogey: the lump sum the survivor would need, at the first death, to replace that income to age 95. It is the target every other step is measured against.

Read: The Survivor’s Paycheck →
2
Break Even

Claiming early gives you money now and a smaller loss later. Waiting wins only if you both live past 80.

If she claims at 62, she collects $2,925 a month eight years sooner. He still waits to 70, so her survivor income does not change. The check that stops at the first death is now her smaller one.

$2,925 vs. $5,181Her monthly benefit at 62 vs. at 70
Age 80When waiting to 70 catches up in total benefits, at about $681K each
$996K → $562KThe loss at a first death at 80 falls when she claims early
She claims at 62She claims at 70

The dilemma. Claiming early pays more until about 80 and lowers the bogey, but it still leaves the survivor $562K short. Waiting pays more after 80 but leaves an even larger hole. Neither one protects the survivor.

Worksheet: Breakeven tab →
3
Beat Both

Use the early check to insure the larger one.

She claims at 62 and her benefit pays a $28,000 premium on a policy on him. He still waits to 70. If he dies first, she keeps his $5,181 check and receives a tax-free death benefit that more than covers the bogey.

$1,783,207Guaranteed death benefit to age 90, about three times the $562K loss
80 → 91Breakeven vs. waiting moves out 11 years on guaranteed values (99 illustrated)
$7,095A year of her early benefit left over after the premium
Wait to 70, no policyClaim at 62, no policyClaim at 62 + guaranteed death benefitClaim at 62 + illustrated cash value

Beats waiting if he dies at any age through 90, on guaranteed values. Beats claiming early alone by turning a $562K hole into $1.78M she controls. Chronic illness benefits can pay part of it while he is living.

If both live well past 80, waiting collects more in total. The plan’s edge is that the survivor is covered whenever the first death comes. Values are shown net of premiums paid.

Read: Same Premium. Three Designs. →
Case studies

Before and after

Three couples, three starting points. Each case works through the same three steps. Hypothetical; carrier names removed.

Max It → Beat Both

Both waiting to 70

Couple at 62, both maximum earners, no life insurance planned.

Brochure: Same Premium, Three Designs →
Before$996KUnprotected loss if the first death is at 80. Breakeven for waiting: 80.
After$1.78MShe claims at 62 and funds a $28,000 policy on him. Guaranteed to 90; breakeven moves to 91.
Break Even → Beat Both

The Retirement Picture at 60

Couple at 60 with $1.25M saved. His $1M term ends at 65 and they planned to let it go.

Case study PDF →
Before$696KThe survivor’s loss at a first death at 80, with coverage ending at 65.
After$52,967 a yearDrawn from a $1.78M death benefit if he dies at 80, with $1.96M still left at 95. Premiums from cash to 65, then her Social Security.
Beat Both

Social Security as a Premium Source

Couple at 65. He waits to 70; her benefit pays $25,000 a year on a policy on him.

Case study PDF →
Before$1.45MTotal to her, his death at 80 to her age 95: survivor benefit plus the premiums kept and grown.
After$2.18MTotal to her with the policy (illustrated death benefit), the same death at 80. About $724K more.
Sample report

What you receive

After the calculator, or after a Q&A session, you get a short PDF that follows the same three steps, one page each, with your own numbers.

Prepared for youMax It. Break Even. Beat Both.Your Social Security plan as a couple, in three steps.
Cover
1 · Your max and your bogey$996KLost at a first death at 80, both claiming at 70
Page 2
2 · Your breakevenAge 80When waiting catches up with claiming at 62
Page 3
3 · The plan that beats both$1.78MGuaranteed to the survivor; breakeven moves to 91
Page 4
Calculator

Run your own three steps

Use the full-retirement-age benefit from each spouse’s my Social Security statement. Example values are filled in.

You

Your spouse

Assumptions

Where should we send your results?

Your three steps appear right after you enter your name and email.

Your results show here: your max and your bogey, your breakeven, and the plan that beats both.
Talk it through

Bring your statements. We’ll run all three steps with you.

A free Q&A session takes about 30 minutes. We check both benefits, the claiming ages, and what a guaranteed policy would cost at your ages.

Contact
Advanced Insurance BrokerageMichael Zingale, Consultant55 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60603312-882-8717 · mzingale@advanced-corp.comadvanced-ib.com · advanced-corp.com
Education only. Not an offer to sell, a solicitation or a recommendation of any insurance policy, and not tax or legal advice. Hypothetical figures in today’s dollars with a 2% COLA from age 70, full retirement age 67 (born 1960 or later), and the Social Security rules in effect in 2026, which may change; the 2026 Trustees Report projects benefits payable at about 78% of scheduled amounts from 2032 absent legislation. Policy example: $28,000 a year on a male 62, preferred plus non-tobacco, indexed universal life with a $1,783,207 death benefit guaranteed to age 90 at 0% interest and maximum charges; illustrated values are not guaranteed. Guarantees depend on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer. Death benefits are generally income-tax free.