I've run the break-even math probably 20 times. If I claim at 62 vs 67 vs 70, the crossover point is somewhere around 78-80 depending on assumptions. The standard advice is "wait as long as you can." But I keep bumping into variables that make the math less clean than the articles suggest.
Health history matters — if longevity isn't on your side, waiting is a bad bet. Sequence-of-returns risk in the early years of retirement also changes the calculus. And there's a real argument for taking the money at 62 if you're single and spending it on travel while you're still healthy.
How did you actually make this decision? Did you use a tool, work with an advisor, or just go with your gut? What do you wish you'd known?