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The money moves that matter most now

Your highest-earning years are ticking by

Your highest-earning years are ticking by

For years, the goal was simple: save, save, save. Now you're at the stage where the big questions change.

For years, the goal was simple: save, save, save. Now you're at the stage where the big questions change.

Three moves that matter most now

Three moves that matter most now

When do I start taking money out? When do I claim Social Security? And how do I protect what I've built? That's a real shift, and it deserves a little attention. The good news: the trickiest parts come down to a few clear rules and decisions. Plain English, about five minutes.

When do I start taking money out? When do I claim Social Security? And how do I protect what I've built? That's a real shift, and it deserves a little attention. The good news: the trickiest parts come down to a few clear rules and decisions. Plain English, about five minutes.

When do I start taking money out? When do I claim Social Security? And how do I protect what I've built? That's a real shift, and it deserves a little attention. The good news: the trickiest parts come down to a few clear rules and decisions. Plain English, about five minutes.

1

When to claim Social Security

This might be the single biggest money decision of your 60s, and there's no one "right" answer. It's a tradeoff.

You can start claiming as early as age 62, but your monthly check is permanently smaller. Wait until your full retirement age and you get 100%.


Hold off even longer, up to age 70, and your monthly benefit keeps growing. Earlier means more checks but smaller ones; later means fewer checks but bigger ones.


What's right depends on your health, whether you're still working, your savings, and your spouse's situation. It's worth running the numbers before you decide. The Social Security Administration lays it out here:

2

The withdrawal rule you can't ignore (RMDs)

Here's one that surprises people. For decades, the rules pushed you to put money in. Eventually, the rules require you to take money out.


They're called required minimum distributions, or RMDs. Once you reach a certain age (currently 73 for most people), the IRS requires you to withdraw at least a set minimum each year from traditional retirement accounts like a 401(k) or traditional IRA. The reason is simple: that money grew tax-deferred, and the RMD is how it finally gets taxed. Roth IRAs generally don't have this requirement during the original owner's lifetime.


Missing an RMD can mean a stiff penalty, so it's worth knowing the rules before they apply to you. The IRS explains the basics here:

3

Protect what you've worked so hard to build

This one isn't about growing your money. It's about not losing it to someone who hasn't earned it.

Here's an uncomfortable truth: older adults are among the most targeted groups for investment scams. Fraudsters know that's where the savings are. The good news is that most scams wave the same few flags, and once you know them, they're much easier to spot.


A few classic warning signs: promises of high returns with little or no risk, pressure to "act now," sellers who aren't properly registered, and "free lunch" seminars built to sell you something. If you see them, slow down and check before you hand over a dollar.


The SEC put together a plain-language guide just for this:

The bottom line

This stage is less about the next big saving push and more about smart decisions with what you've got. Three to keep in mind.

Your challenge

This one is quick, and it could save someone a lot of money. Read through the SEC's five red flags of fraud (linked above), then pass them along to one person you care about, a parent, a friend, a neighbor.

Scammers count on people facing these decisions alone.

A two-minute heads-up from you might be exactly what helps someone pause before a costly mistake. Share what you learned, and ask them to do the same for someone else.

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Check Out the Beanstox App

Invest without stress. Easier than a walk in the park. No stock picking, no market timing and no experience needed.

Copyright © 2026 Beanstox. All Rights Reserved

Check Out the Beanstox App

Invest without stress. Easier than a walk in the park. No stock picking, no market timing and no experience needed.

Copyright © 2026 Beanstox. All Rights Reserved