GUEST POST from Don – Out Of Touch+

OUT OF TOUCH +

It is absolutely OK to be out of touch with everything but people.

You don’t need to know anything about “GEN Who?”
You don’t need to know the latest slang.
You don’t need to know who won some game, or what TV show is “hot.”
You don’t even need to know technology, how to use an app, or even how to order at that personless burger joint.

Their loss, not yours. You just need to be a decent person who doesn’t go wacky strange when politics is brought up.

You have personal ethics (That is a great thing).
You use your good manners (Those grease the wheels of society).
And you pick up your own trash (Your part in making the world more beautiful).

Those who think you are “out of touch” are probably worrying about the wrong things. You don’t care about the wrong things that others think are “so important.”

You never question which bathroom you should use? That’s more than OK.

You have never had weird pronouns or used “they” when “he” is appropriate. I celebrate you. I bet you make a great apple pie! I suspect you respect the flag. That’s really wonderful.

If you attend a local church and know some of the old hymns, I think that is a positive. Young men are just beginning to “get that” and are returning from the wasteland to get what you already have.

It isn’t “out of touch” to drive carefully. If you haven’t had a speeding ticket or been in a fender bender in over twenty-five years … I want to thank you for driving down the cost of auto insurance!

If you are careful to buy exactly the vegetables and fruits that you plan to eat … thank you for not creating supply-chain problems! You are marvelous!

Amazingly, if you are married and you believe your marriage is “very happy” you are in the MAJORITY. Over 60% of those married believe it to be so.

The ones whose stories show up in the newspapers and internet are people with major problems. One would think those people are normal, but they aren’t. There are too many in this world who are pushing for you to change, but I want to tell you that you should NOT change. You are just right!

You are not “out of touch” when it comes to what really matters. You are NORMAL. The truth is that those in our society who aren’t like you are the wacky ones.

NEVER WAIT BEYOND YOUR FRA

THREE REASONS you would be making a foolish mistake to wait until 70 to sign up for Social Security Benefits:

[Understand, what I am sharing is NOT for all retirees. The following informative essay is meant only for those who are considering waiting until age 70 and can afford to do so.]

FIRST, when you gamble you can lose. Can you win? Sure. Will you? Not likely. Here is the little secret: The tables are stacked against you. The average 65 year old man will live to 85. Half will, half won’t. If you die early (half do) and you waited until age 70 to apply you will lose (as well as your spouse and heirs). More on this later.

SECOND, your spouse will not “inherit” your age 70 benefits. So many are unaware of this tiny little spousal fact. This is the second little secret. Assuming your benefits are higher at age 67 than your spouse’s, the maximum your spouse will receive is the amount you would have received at your Full Retirement Age (FRA). In other words, if you die before your spouse, he or she loses all the “extra” you are hoping to gain by waiting. In fact, if your spouse survives you, he or she will NOT get any more than your FRA benefit amount. If your SS Benefit is lower your spouse will lose all of it anyway.

The THIRD little secret is that the math works against you. Let’s say you will work until 70 or don’t need the benefit (because why else would you wait?) … You could have been receiving $20k – $30k (or more) per year in benefits AND still working if you waited until your FRA to apply. Since you don’t need your benefits for survival, what if you invested those benefits in a ROTH IRA??? Ummm! So, there you have $60k to $90k in your IRA. What happens to that money in the next 14 years (the crossover point if you had waited for the larger check) at a modest return of 5%. Quite simply it DOUBLES. This savings amount will never be lost if you die first or last (that lowers the risk). It is totally inheritable. (And when you consider the investment growth the crossover date is actually nearer to 24 years, than 14. You’d have to live until 94 to see a higher total payout from waiting to age 70.)

Three quite understandable reasons you should not wait beyond your Full Retirement Age. Take advantage of the best Social Security option for your spouse, your inheritors and YOURSELF at the same time. Never wait beyond your FRA.

Again, this essay is for a specific group of retirees: Those who are thinking of waiting until 70 to apply for benefits and can afford to do so for those three (+) years.

Copyright 2026 Donald Whelpley

[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere.
ALSO, Don is always open to offer his thoughts on various topics. If you have a specific request, you can let him know in a comment; he reads – and replies to – them all. ~ Sherry]

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