Fixed Income

An Antidote to Maximizing Mania

Here’s a story of someone who chose to give up money for greater happiness.
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An Antidote to Maximizing Mania
A big Social Security check is not the key to happiness. pics five/Shutterstock
Tom Margenau
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I’ve written about my now deceased friend, Don Winters, before. But I can tell from my emails that it’s time to share his story again.

Every single day, I get emails from readers who seem to be absolutely obsessed with the idea of “maximizing” their Social Security benefits. And frequently, those emails are almost dripping with anxiety and sometimes almost torment. It’s like these folks are just worrying themselves sick that they might be missing out on a few bucks in potential Social Security benefits.

Tom Margenau
Tom Margenau
Author
Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSA’s public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” If you have a Social Security question, contact him at [email protected]