Some birthdays are more important than others on your path to financial independence. Make the most of these benefits of aging:

Age 50: The year you hit the big 5-0 is the year you can start making catch-up contributions to your retirement savings plans. In 2018, you can add an extra $6,000 to your annual 457 contributions for a maximum annual contribution of $24,500.

Age 59½: The age when you can withdraw money from your 401(a) Retirement Plan without incurring a 10 percent federal tax penalty. (You can withdraw money from your 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan without incurring a 10 percent early-withdrawal penalty at any age after you stop working.)

Age 62: The earliest you can claim Social Security benefits. However, claiming at 62 means accepting a 25 percent reduction in benefits compared with what you would receive if you waited until full retirement age.

Age 65: The age you qualify for Medicare. If you have already claimed Social Security, you will automatically be enrolled. Otherwise, go to  www.ssa.gov to sign up between three months before and three months after your 65th birthday.

Age 66: The full retirement age for Social Security for people born between 1943 and 1954. If you wait until this age to enroll, you will receive your full benefits and you do not have to worry about the earnings test scaling back your benefits. However, your benefits will increase by 8 percent for every year you wait after full retirement age up to age 70 before claiming benefits. Go to  www.ssa.gov to compare payouts at different ages.

Age 70½: This is the age when you need to start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your 401(a) Retirement Plan, 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan, 401(k) and 403(b) Plans and traditional IRAs. (However, if you are still working, you do not need to start taking withdrawals from the plan(s) that your current employer offers.) For more information, see Calculate Your RMD at  www.icmarc.org/rmd.