Jim-W, you are putting too much thought into retirement. Your wife can claim some of your SS if and when you die. Do more thinking about living and prepare for it. Put no thoughts on dieing. You are making life more miserable thinking about what happens if I die first. Also, retiring on Jan. 1 of any year can be better for a person if they are selling alot of annual leave back. Retirement is way better than I thought and you will feel the same. Just do it when you are ready. All else will take care of itself. And the carriers getting little $$ will not do anything to your retirement benefits since what they get now won't factor into your high 3.