I am 72, I understand that I must take the medium mandatory distribution or I could defer to next year. What would be best?

[VolvoGirl]

You can take your first RMD required minimum distribution by April 1 of the next year.  If you wait to take it next year then you will have to take 2 distributions next year.  One for 2022 and for 2023.   And it depends on your other income, etc.  So you may not want to increase 2023 income.  And if you take it all in 2023 it may push you into a higher tax bracket and may make more of your Social Security taxable.

[Mike9241]

there is a potential tax trap.

if you delay taking the required minimum distribution for the year you turn 72 it must be taken by 4/1 of the following year but in that following year, you must also take a second required minimum distribution by 12/31 of that year.

in other words, delay and you have 2 distributions to include in taxable income.

it's all about the taxes. some people stop working or otherwise know that their income in the second year will drop substantially so they pay less in taxes in the 2nd year on both distributions than they would if they took one distribution each year.