If you're in your late 30s and 40s, you've got plenty of time to increase your future Social Security checks—and it's not too soon to start. These three strategies can help you get a bigger check when it comes time to collect your Social Security and retire. 

1. Snag a High Salary

Getting a higher salary is one of the most straightforward ways to 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:increase your Social Security che🥂ck. The more money you make, the♏ more you will receive in Social Security benefits when it comes time for your next phase. So be as strategic as possible in your 30s and 40s: increase your salary with each move up the career ladder.

Be your own best advocate by asking for a raise, but be sure to present a well-prepared case with concrete data that demonstrates your contributions to the company as well as market comparisons. If you can secure a raise or a higher-paying job, you’ll have a fatter 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Social Security check as a result. 

2. Earn That Salary for As Long As Possible

The Social Security Administration only counts some of your career in its calculations. Only your 35 highest-earning years will count when calculating your retirement check. If you didn't work for any of those 35 years, it would count as an O in the calculation.

“It’s important to note that Social Security is based on your 35 highest-earning years. So, if you’re checking your statement ๊now, realize the benefit amount may be lower than it will actually be. Most people enter their high-earning years in the latter half of their working life,” says Jarrod Sandra, a certified financial planner and owner of .

♊3. Delay Collecting Social Security Until Age 70

If you want to maximize your Social Security benefits, hold off collecting Social Security until age 70. Waiting will boost your Social Security retirement check to the maximum amount. There's no incentive to wait past age 70.

“The general rule is that you should wait until 70 to claim Social Security because you get an 8% increase for each year you delay. This is basically a guaranteed 8% rate of return since it’s backed by the government,” Sandra says. This 8% applies if you were born in 1943 or later. There are different percentages for those with earlier birth years.

Waiting to collect Social Security means you’ll have to have additional money put aside for your retirement. To do that, you could sign up for your employer’s retirement plan, open an 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:iꦐndividual retirement account (IRA), or invest in other vehicles, such as 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:real estate.

The Bottom Line

To boost your Social Security check, earn the highest salary you can now—and keep earning it for as long as you can. Another way to increase your Social Security check is to delay collecting it until age 70. There's no reason to wait after age 70. The more money you earn, the more your Social Security check will be.