Social Security
The federal program paying monthly benefits in retirement, disability, or to surviving family — funded by payroll taxes on your wages. For most retirees it is the foundation, not the whole house.
By Findley's Finance · Last reviewed: September 2026
Why it matters
Social Security replaces roughly 40% of average pre-retirement earnings — meaningful, but not enough to retire on alone, which is why personal savings matter. Benefits grow the longer you wait to claim, up to age 70, so claiming early permanently shrinks the check. Treat it as the guaranteed floor of your retirement plan and build everything else on top.