Retirement. It's probably on the minds of most Americans who are in their late fifties or early sixties. That's as it should be. Actually, thinking about retirement at an even earlier age -- especially planning for it -- is a good idea too.

But the big decision as you approach retirement is exactly when to make the transition. The level of your Social Security benefits at different ages will probably be an important consideration.

The most popular age to collect Social Security benefits, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), is 62. That's the earliest age at which benefits can be received. The second most popular age is 67 -- the full retirement age (FRA) for anyone born in 1960 or afterward. How do the average Social Security benefits at 62 and 67 compare?

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Source Fool.com