Your Best Weekend Reads: 3 Changes Coming for Social Security in 2025, How to Give an Inheritance While You're Alive, Is It Cheaper to Buy or Lease a Car?

And, the average monthly Social Security benefit by age. Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( September 27, 2024 FOLLOW US:  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [A Step Ahead]( [SIGN UP](format=multipart) ⋅ [WEBSITE]( [] INTRODUCTION [] [Stepping Into Social Security Benefits By Age]( The government produces a lot of data and most is available online, if you can find it. The Social Security Administration gives monthly updates about the program and average monthly benefits in the Monthly Statistical Snapshot. I took a deeper dive into the SSA’s Annual Statistical Supplement for 2023 to learn about the average Social Security benefits by age and sex. Read my article to learn the maximum 2024 benefit if you retire at 62, full retirement age and at 70. I also show you the average monthly benefit without any adjustments, [the average benefit retirees including the delayed retirement credit]( and a hypothetical average monthly benefit amount without the credit. I want to learn about you and when you began collecting Social Security benefits. Please cast your vote below and read next Friday’s edition of A Step Ahead to find out when most ASA readers started collecting their benefits. Don’t forget to scroll down to see the results of last week’s poll. Till then, enjoy catching up on some of Kiplinger’s most popular articles this weekend. - Donna LeValley, personal finance writer [] Did you file for your Social Security benefits early at your full retirement age and do you have any regrets? [Vote]( [I filed or will file early and before my FRA.]( [Vote]( [I waited or will wait until my FRA to collect benefits.]( [Vote]( [I filed or plan to file after my FRA to collect increased benefits.]( [Vote]( [I wish I had collected benefits at a different age.]( [Strategies to Help Maximize your Income in Retirement]( Spending your hard earned retirement money can be complicated—and it's important to make the right decisions that will help your savings last. Vanguard Personal Advisor is built to provide you an ongoing collaboration with our professional advisors — so you can retire with the support you need. [LEARN MORE]( Paid non-client promotion ADVERTISEMENT [] BUYING VS LEASING AN AUTO [] [How to Know When It s Best to Lease a Car]( (Getty Images) [How to Know When It’s Best to Lease a Car]( Car prices are starting to climb down from the huge increases seen during the pandemic when supply chain interruptions made new cars scarce. Understanding your options between buying and leasing a car can save you money. [Is Leasing Cheaper?]( [] GIVING WHILE LIVING [] [How to Give an Inheritance While You're Alive]( (Getty Images) [How to Give an Inheritance While You're Alive]( If you have amassed a considerable nest egg, you could give your heirs part of their inheritance now and make things a bit easier for the next generation. They could reduce student debt, buy a home or start a business without waiting decades for your will to be read. [How to Give Now]( [How to invest beyond retirement goals]( With automated tools like portfolio rebalancing and dividend reinvestment, Betterment helps make investing easy for you, and a total grind for your money. [Learn More]( ADVERTISEMENT [] SOCIAL SECURITY 2025 [] [Three Changes Coming for Social Security in 2025]( (Getty Images) [Three Changes Coming for Social Security in 2025]( It’s not too early to start making plans for 2025. While the Social Security Administration hasn’t made certain final announcements yet, there are key changes we already know we can expect coming for Social Security next year. These three important Social Security adjustments will matter whether you’re already taking Social Security checks or thinking about when to start. [3 Changes to Know Now]( [Pros and Cons of Paying Off Your Mortgage vs Investing]( The decision to pay off your mortgage early or invest can be complex. Uncover the financial implications and personal considerations that could help you decide which path is right for you. [READ MORE]( ADVERTISEMENT [] OTHER KIPLINGER ARTICLES WE THINK YOU'LL ENJOY [] [Why 529 plans are so popular]( Recently, 529 plans hit a new milestone with over half a trillion dollars being saved in plans across the country. Find out why these plans are so popular. [Longevity illustrator: Find out how long you might live]( Knowing how long you might live in retirement is critical as you plan your retirement income. Longevity illustrators can offer valuable insights. [How AI can guide introverts to success in professional services]( Fear of rejection and awkward conversations can keep accounting and law firms from realizing significant growth. AI can help with that. [From building wealth for a secure retirement or investing wisely in any market to money-saving tax planning and much more — Sign up to explore more free e-newsletters here.]( [] Do you have an IRA? Did tax treatment of current contributions and future distributions make a difference? I have a Roth IRA because I want a tax-free income in retirement. 33.85% I have a Traditional IRA because I want a tax break now. 21.54% I have both. I am taking a smaller deduction now to get a tax break later. 42.15% I have neither. 2.46% ABOUT KIPLINGER When we write about money, we get it right. 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