Home | My Account | Handy Tools | Contact Us
Are You Nearing Retirement?
When to Retire

 Normal retirement age | Early retirement | Late retirement

“What’s normal? It depends on who you ask.”

Who’s to say what’s normal? My Mom poured coffee on her corn flakes to save time in the morning. Dad thought it was weird, but let’s face it. He ate the same thing, just in a different order. It’s kinda the same principle when you talk “normal” retirement age. Social Security defines normal retirement age as 65, as long as you were born in 1937 or earlier. (For anyone born after ’37, click to see other normal retirement ages.) As you see, even for Social Security, “normal” becomes a moving target.



Folks with pension plans (those funded solely by their employers) also are subject to a “normal” retirement age. Lots of pensions use the Social Security measure of age 65; but lots specify another age.

Now, consider employer-sponsored plans. While no “normal” retirement date is specified, you are permitted to take benefits without penalty as early as age 59 ½. Or even age 55 if you are separated from service at that age or later.


“Here’s the bottom line on normal.”

Deciding when to retire has less to do with age and more to do with whether you qualify for enough benefits to cover your retirement expenses. Talk to your Benefits department or a financial professional to understand what you can qualify for and when.


© 2008 ING North America Insurance Corporation. All rights reserved.
Advisory services provided through ING Financial Advisers, LLC (member SIPC).
This information is not intended to be tax or legal advice. ING does not offer tax or legal advice. Consult your own legal or tax advisor regarding your specific situation.
ING's Privacy Promise | Terms of Use/Online Privacy

C08.0213.001