One Easy Decision on Make Up Your Mind Day
Expert Social Security Advice
Brandon P. Smith - December 2014

You might say to yourself, "Someday… I'll dust behind the television. But getting back there is a pain and have you seen the spaghetti of power cords?" You might say to yourself, "Someday… I'll stop eating that one cookie a day. Someday… someday…" But that one cookie a day could save you more than a thousand calories a week-depending on the cookie. That could potentially allow you to lose a pound of body weight a month. But hey, cookies are good. And it's the holidays, so everyone you visit is offering up fresh-baked cookies!

We all have our own personal somedays. Just out of reach. Just over the horizon. But you don't have to wait for someday to plan for your retirement or make up your mind to sign up for your own personal my Social Security account. Planning for your retirement is one of the most important things you will do in your life and we've made that decision as easy as pie. (That's something else you may want to give up someday!) Put the cookie-or piece of pie-aside and go to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount to create your personal account. It only takes a few minutes. Once you've made that decision, life gets a little easier. It really does.

When signing up for my Social Security, you can see whether you've earned enough credits to apply for Social Security benefits and verify that your earnings history is correct. It's very important that you verify your earnings, because we base your future Social Security retirement benefits on your lifetime earnings. You can also estimate how much money you will receive when you start collecting cash benefits. If you're already receiving Social Security, you can instantly get a benefit verification letter when you need it. Most importantly, you can relax because you will have the ability to securely control, plan, and manage your receipt of Social Security benefits throughout your life.

If you have friends or family who have a hard time making up their minds, giving them the gift of security is a great present. Let them know how easy it is to sign up for my Social Security. Over the holidays, in between watching A Christmas Story and passing the dessert tray, grab your electronic device and huddle around the hearth.

Now that you've created a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount, why don't you treat yourself to that cookie…or piece of pie? We won't tell anyone.