If you’ve listened to Clark for any period, you probably know he’s a proponent of delaying Social Security benefits as long as possible.

You’ll max out your benefit if you wait until 70 to tap into Social Security. It can be a good way to steel your finances for potential longevity and inflation as we continue to live longer.

If you think your strategy around when to take Social Security isn’t a huge deal, consider that the average American couple misses out on $182,370 in their lifetime because of poor Social Security decisions.

But when to launch your benefit isn’t the only thing feeding into that eye-popping figure.

Kiplinger recently listed five smart moves you can make before you file for Social Security. The article goes into each factor in depth. But here are the five:

1. Verify your earnings record.

Your benefit amount is based on your top 35 earning years. Log in to SSA.gov and review your earnings record at any point in your career. Make sure it’s accurate before you file.

2. Estimate your benefit with a retirement calculator, not a Social Security statement.

In its projections, Social Security makes the assumption you’ll keep making last year’s reported income until you start your benefit. A good retirement calculator can help you get more accurate numbers — especially if you plan to retire earlier (and won’t continue adding income to the eventual real calculation).

3. Figure out how much Social Security benefit you’ve already earned.

If you still have some years left in your career, assume $0 of additional income. Figure out what your benefit would be based on the years you’ve already worked … as of right now.

4. Understand your longevity.

It’s often impossible to predict how long we’ll live. But you can figure out some general probabilities. Kiplinger recommends longevityillustrator.org.

5. Follow the math.

Figure out your break-even age. Use a spreadsheet or calculator to see how your benefit changes if you initiate before or after your full retirement age (FRA). Make sure you’re looking at how your Social Security decision fits into your overall retirement planning (taxes, investments, etc.).

Stop overpaying to grow your money! Clark breaks down why the "snake in the grass" at your local bank might be costing you a fortune and how you can actually invest for $0 today using tools from Vanguard and Fidelity. Also, is AI the future of medicine or a digital "Dr. Google"? Clark explores the launch of ChatGPT Health and what happens when you feed a decade of smartwatch data into an algorithm. While AI is revolutionizing medical research and helping patients find specialized care for chronic diseases, Clark warns why you shouldn't let an app diagnose you just yet.

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.