
Five Simple Ways to Increase Social Security
From Retirement Made Simple by Kevin Lum, CFP®
March 21, 2026 · 26 min
About this episode
Kevin Lum discusses five strategies to increase Social Security benefits before claiming.
✅Free Strategy Session ✅ https://www.foundryfinancial.org/retirement-assessmentMost people glance at their Social Security statement, assume the number is fixed, and move on. It's not. In this episode, Kevin breaks down exactly how your Social Security benefit is calculated — including the earnings indexing formula, the bend point system, and why having fewer than 35 working years can quietly cost you thousands. More importantly, he walks through five specific strategies you can use to increase your benefit before you claim. What's covered: Why zeros in your earnings record hurt more than you think How married couples can coordinate benefits to maximize both spousal and survivor income The one government error that could be silently reducing your benefit right now Why delaying to 70 can mean $1,400+ more per month — for life Social Security is the only source of retirement income that's guaranteed, inflation-protected, and lasts as long as you live. Getting this decision right matters.
People in this episode
Host: Kevin Lum
Topics covered
- Social Security
- retirement income
- benefit strategies
- financial planning
- married couples benefits
Keywords
- Social Security
- benefit calculation
- earnings indexing
- retirement planning
- financial strategies
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Foundry Financial
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