How much is the average Social Security check of a middle-class retiree?

Getting more from Social Security

Getting the most from Social Security comes down to strategy, forethought and planning — along with a decent understanding of how the system works. Here are several strategies middle-class retirees can employ to increase their benefits:

Delay claiming benefits

While starting your Social Security draw early may make sense in some scenarios, the most effective way to increase your monthly check is to delay the benefit.

While retirees can start receiving benefits as early as age 62, doing so results in a reduced monthly benefit. Each year you wait, up until age 70, significantly increases the benefit amount.

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.

Consider the tax consequences

Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on the retiree’s total income. It’s essential to understand how other sources of income, such as pensions or investment withdrawals, impact the taxability of Social Security benefits. Proper tax planning can help minimize Uncle Sam’s share of your money.

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All you have to do is fill out a brief questionnaire about your financial goals, and Vanguard’s advisers will help you set a tailored plan, and stick to it.

Once you’re set, you can sit back as Vanguard’s advisors manage your portfolio. Because they’re fiduciaries, they don’t earn commissions, so you can trust that the advice you’re getting is unbiased.

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Explore other investments and savings vehicles

While maximizing Social Security is important, it should be part of a broader retirement strategy. Middle-class retirees should also consider other sources of income, such as part-time work, rental income and investments to supplement their Social Security benefits.

Investing

Both residential and commercial real estate have long been solid choices for investors looking to diversify and add stability to their portfolios — especially while saving for retirement. Since having a place to live is essential, real estate remains a stable, relevant asset.

New investing platforms are making it easier than ever to tap into the real estate market.

For accredited investors, Homeshares gives access to the $36 trillion U.S. home equity market, which has historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.

With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.

With risk-adjusted internal returns ranging from 12% to 18%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.

First National Realty Partners specializes in grocery-anchored commercial real estate properties with historically strong return potential.

FNRP has developed relationships with the nation’s largest essential-needs brands, including Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods, and provides insights into the best properties both on- and off-market.

If you’re a newer investor, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of getting into investing, especially if your retirement fund is riding on it. That being said, investing doesn’t have to be all that complex with platforms like Acorns which put your investments on autopilot.

Once you’ve downloaded the app and linked your bank account, Acorns will round up every purchase you make to the nearest dollar and invest the spare change into a diverse portfolio of ETFs. That way, you can work towards your savings goals a few cents at a time — without even thinking about it.

Saving

Saving for retirement is no small feat, but using the right savings vehicles can take a bit of the pressure off.

You might also consider checking out the Moneywise list of the Best High Yield Savings Accounts of 2025 to find some great options that can earn you more than the national average of 0.45% APY.