CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME WITHOUT MAKING ME FEEL DUMB? I make about $85,000 a year. Between what I pay and what my employer pays, around $10,500 goes into Social Security every year. Over a 40 year career, that's $420,000. If that same $10,500 a year had gone into an index fund averaging 7%, it would be worth about $2.1 million at retirement. Take out 4% a year and that's about $84,000 a year, and the money never runs out. Social Security says I'll get $2,650 a month at 67. That's $31,800 a year. $84,000 versus $31,800. THEN WHY IS IT CALLED "WHAT YOU PAID IN"? I'm not trying to start a fight. I genuinely want someone to show me where the rest of it goes.