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Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 28, 2026 Sa Sa a A transition year for hockey at Saugus High First season for Coach Natalucci will be a co-op year By Mark E. Vogler N ewly appointed Saugus High School Hockey Coach Jeff Natalucci will be coaching players from Saugus High and three other area schools, at least for the first season of a revived hockey program. “We will be doing a co-op again,” Saugus Middle High School Director of Wellness & Athletics Matt Serino said this week. “We are the host school and Everett, Revere and Malden will be joining us,” he said. Coach Natalucci’s team will be playing an independent schedule this year “with the goal of rejoining the NEC next Winter,” Serino said. “We have a full 20 game schedule and will be playing most of the NEC teams to help continue the traditional schedule. We will play our home games at Kasabus# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Date scrimmage 12/9 12/12 12/16 12/19 12/23 12/30/2026 1/6 1/9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 1/13 1/16 1/20 1/23 1/27 1/30 2/3 2/6 2/11 HE’S BACK: Jeff Natalucci. ki,” he said. Serino announced last week that Natalucci, a standout hockey player from the Saugus High Class of 1995, will be returning. “This will be Jeff’s second tenure at the helm of the Sachems. He previously served as head coach from 2010–2022, leading Saugus to four state tournament appearances, including one North Final and two North Semifinal appearances,” Serino said. “Jeff’s connection to Saugus and to this hockey program runs deep. As a Saugus High School alumni, town employee, lifelong resident, and parent, Jeff has remained deeply invested in our community. All of his children have either gone through (Bella 2024) or are currently going through the Saugus Public Schools (Sophia 2027), with his youngest son, Gio, entering 8th grade and joining the hockey program this season,” he said. “Saugus hockey has a proud tradition that has been carried on by many great alumni who have returned to give back to the program, and Jeff will continue that tradition in his second tenure as head coach,” he said. 2026-2027 Hockey Schedule Opponent Triton Medford NE Voke Danvers Masco 12/26 Lynn Holiday Tournament 12/27 Lynn Holiday Tournament Rockport Marblehead Rockport Winthrop NE Voke Swampscott Bishop Fenwick Somverville Swampscott Cambridge R&L Watertown Lynn Feb Break GBL Tournament Feb Break GBL Tournament Location Grad Rink, Newburyport Kasabuski Allied Veterans Rink, Everett Kasabuski Valley Forum, Haverhill Connery Rink, Lynn Connery Rink, Lynn Kasabuski Kasabuski Talbot Rink, Gloucester Larsen Rink, Winthrop Allied Veterans Rink, Everett Salem State University McVann Rink, Peabody Kasabuski Kasabuski Simoni Rink, Cambridge Kasabuski Allied Veterans Rink, Everett TBD TBD Sa y Senior enior Sen by Jim Miller With Social Security Uncertainty, Should You Claim Benefi ts Early? Dear Savvy Senior, I turn 62 early next year and plan to retire soon after. Most advice says I should wait to claim Social Security because my monthly benefi t will be higher. But with all the recent news about Social Security’s fi nancial problems, I’m wondering if taking benefi ts early might be the safer choice. Is there ever a good reason to claim at 62? --Ready to Retire Dear Ready, You’re definitely not alone in asking this. The latest Social Security Trustees Report projects the retirement trust fund could be depleted around 2032 if Congress doesn’t act. If that happens, Social Security would still collect payroll taxes and pay benefi ts, but retirees could face an across-the-board cut of about 22 percent. Before you rush to file, keep things in perspective. Most experts still expect Congress to step in, as it has before, to strengthen Social Security. And even if lawmakers don’t act, waiting would still produce a higher monthly benefi t because any across-theboard benefit cut would apply to everyone. While claiming at 62 means collecting benefi ts sooner, it also permanently locks in a smaller check. That said, there are several situations where claiming Social Security at 62 can make good fi nancial sense. How claiming age aff ect your benefi ts You can start Social Security at 62, but doing so permanently reduces your monthly benefi t by about 30 percent compared with waiting until full retirement age (67 for those born in 1960 or later). Delaying until 70 increases your benefi t by about 24 percent. For example, a $2,000 monthly benefi t at full retirement age would drop to about $1,400 at 62, or rise to roughly $2,480 if you wait until 70. When claiming early makes sense For some retirees, claiming at 62 is a practical move. If you’ve stopped working and need income for basic expenses, Social Security can provide a steady check right away. It can also serve as a bridge if you retire early or lose a job in your early 60s while delaying withdrawals from retirement accounts or a pension. Some retirees also claim Social Security early to reduce withdrawals from their IRA or 401(k) during market downturns. The tradeoff is a permanently reduced lifetime benefi t. For married couples, timing can be coordinated as part of a broader strategy. One spouse may claim early to bring in income while the other delays to boost their future or survivor benefi t. Health is another big factor. Delaying only pays off if you live long enough to collect those higher monthly checks. The break-even point between claiming at 62 and full retirement age is around age 78 or 79. If you’re still working, be careful here too. Before full retirement age, earnings above Social Security’s annual limit can temporarily reduce your benefi t, and claiming early locks in that lower amount for life. Why delaying helps For many retirees, waiting means a larger guaranteed monthly benefi t for life and often a higher lifetime payout if you live into your late 70s or beyond. It can also provide stronger protection against outliving savings. For couples, delaying the higher earner’s benefi t can increase the survivor benefi t, which may help provide more fi nancial security for a surviving spouse. Before deciding, it’s smart to review your numbers. You can create a free account at SSA.gov/ myaccount to check your earnings record and estimate benefi ts at diff erent ages. Tools like OpenSocialSecurity.com or MaximizeMySocialSecurity.com (a paid tool with a $49 fee) can also help you compare claiming strategies. There’s no one-size-fi ts-all answer. For most people, waiting still makes the most sense. But if you need income, have health concerns or are coordinating benefi ts with a spouse, claiming at 62 may be the better choice. The key is to base your decision on your own circumstances – not fear about Social Security’s future. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior,P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. nr ior

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