3. Boost Your Income During Your Highest-Earning Years

Because the SSA uses your highest 35 earning years, any year you earn more than your lowest indexed year will naturally push that lower number out of the calculation. Pushing for a promotion, taking on a lucrative side business, or maximizing your salary during your peak career years directly translates to bigger retirement checks down the road.

However, this strategy only works up to the annual taxable maximum wage base limit. The SSA caps the amount of earnings subject to Social Security taxes each year. Earnings above this cap do not factor into your benefit calculation. If your income currently hovers near the taxable maximum, taking on extra projects to push your income higher will bolster your personal savings but will not further increase your Social Security AIME.