Like Aggie said, if you draw early, it could take decades for the money to equal out. Personal choices are different for everyone. If you have a job where you can still be productive at an older age and keep feeding that 401K, especially if your work matches certain percentages, your monthly benefits will increase topping out at 70 years old. It all comes down to what you can live on comfortably. Like Aggie, my stuff is paid off, so that can make a huge difference in staying employed. You can also draw and work. Depending on whether you can draw full benefits, you can earn as much as you want but still pay taxes on your income and benefits. If not of age to fully draw, then you are limited on how much you can earn by working. Everything is different for everyone. Whatever works best for you.