3 debt issues to address before you retire and claim Social Security

Retirement planning should focus on more than just maximizing your investments or building a larger nest egg. Malte Mueller/Getty Images After years of navigating rising prices, higher borrowing costs and growing financial uncertainty, many older Americans are entering retirement with more debt than previous generations carried. And unlike past retirees who often entered their later years with paid-off homes and minimal obligations, today's retirees are increasingly juggling compounding credit card balances , their remaining mortgage payments and other personal loan debt alongside their retirement planning. At the same time, Social Security benefits remain one of the most important financial tools available to older Americans. For many people, those monthly benefits will serve as a critical source of their overall income, helping to cover the costs of everything from housing and healthcare and everyday necessities. But the transition from a working paycheck to a fixed retirement income can also expose financial vulnerabilities that were easier to manage during peak earning years. That's why retirement planning needs to be about more than just maximizing your Social Security money or building a larger nest egg. The process should also include identifying potential debt problems before they strain your retirement budget. So, what debt issues should soon-to-be retirees focus on before they claim any Social Security benefits? We'll examine three specific ones. …