Retirement can feel like a finish line after decades of working — but you may not be able to cross that finish line or really enjoy the retirement you had imagined if you get tripped up along the way.
In fact, the retirement of your dreams could disappear before your eyes with just a few missteps and oversights.
Unfortunately, that happens more than most of us realize. Just under half of the folks who are going to stop working within the next 30 or so years are expected to run out of money in retirement.1
That paints a grim picture, but it’s not all doom and gloom.
If you know what mistakes tend to drain retirement savings, you can take caution, make more informed decisions, and stay on track to fund your dream retirement.
Any of us can get tripped up by these common retirement mistakes if we’re not careful and if we don’t really understand the impacts of our actions (or inaction).
Here’s what you need to know to protect your nest egg and minimize the risks of running out of money when you retire.
It’s never too early to save for retirement. Putting off retirement savings until later in life can mean losing out on the ability to take full advantage of compound interest, meaning the ability to make interest on the interest you’ve earned.
The earlier folks start saving for retirement, the better. That’s true even if you can’t contribute a lot in those early years of your career. Every little bit helps, especially if you can start building retirement savings early.
Adopting an all-or-nothing mindset toward retirement, or delaying your savings until your 40s or 50s, can significantly hinder your financial growth. As a result, you may find yourself with fewer resources when it's time to retire.
Details refer to specific numbers that outline your financial needs in retirement. These should account for factors such as your retirement location, planned activities after you stop working, and your anticipated lifestyle.
With this type of detailed plan, you should also get a clearer understanding of specifics, like:
Without a plan in place, it’s much more difficult to:
What will your future medical care look like and cost? At what point would you need live-in care or long-term care (LTC) facilities?
You may not know the answers or numbers off the top of your head, and that’s OK. There are several online tools available to help you estimate medical costs and LTC expenses. A professional can help too.
In general, however, it’s important to know that:
Considering these issues early on can give you more power and flexibility to plan for your later-in-life needs. That can provide priceless peace of mind both before and during retirement.
How much can you expect from Social Security, and when can you start drawing that? Will those funds be enough to support your life in retirement, or will you need other income streams?
If you’re eligible for Social Security benefits, run the numbers before you rely on them. Many folks can’t live on Social Security benefits alone — and others won’t be able to rely on these benefits at all.
So, take a closer look at what you could actually draw from Social Security and how that would fit into your retirement income. Making assumptions here can be a huge financial mistake that could send retirees back into the workforce.
What tax bracket will you be in when you retire? Many folks assume they’re going to be in a lower tax bracket at retirement, only to find out later that:
Similarly, inflation can bring a lot of unwelcome surprises and put unexpected strains on your retirement income, leaving you with less purchasing power than you’d anticipated, if you haven’t factored it into your plans.
So, don’t overlook taxes and inflation when you’re considering what you need to retire and how that amount could be thinned out later.
If retirement is around the corner, don’t automatically reduce your contributions. Run the numbers again to make sure everything’s on trac. Don’t cut your retirement contributions based on assumptions alone.
Ideally, you’d retire with as little debt as possible. Taking excessive debt with you into retirement can burden you with a lot of financial obligations when you’re no longer working (and you’re on a fixed income). That could drain most or all of your retirement income, leaving little for the fun stuff. Instead, try to pay off as much debt as you can before you retire. That’ll free up more of your income for living expenses and whatever you want to do with your time.
Employer matches and similar contributions are like free money. If you don’t take advantage of them, you’re effectively leaving them on the table. So, don’t do that; instead, leverage these “matching” offers you get from employers, financial institutions, or others. Invest what it takes to get the match and avoid leaving free money on the table whenever possible.
Cashing out part of your retirement savings can come with hefty costs and steep penalties. While there may be a few very good reasons to take on these costs, like in the event of an emergency, it’s generally not a great idea to withdraw retirement funds early if you have other resources.
Life changes, and that can affect our retirement plans and objectives. If we truly want to keep our retirement goals within reach, it’s prudent to re-evaluate them from time to time. That’s usually easier to do with a financial professional.
Retirement can be deeply rewarding — and maybe even a little bit better — when we look out for the landmines and we know how to avoid them. Whether you’re just getting started with retirement planning or it’s time to revisit the numbers, the truth is that it’s complicated and we don’t have to do it alone.
With a little knowledge, some perspective, and the right guidance, we can stay on track with our retirement savings and give ourselves better footing to truly enjoy retired life.
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This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information provided is not written or intended as tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for purposes of avoiding any Federal tax penalties. Individuals are encouraged to seek advice from their own tax or legal counsel. Individuals involved in the estate planning process should work with an estate planning team, including their own personal legal or tax counsel. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a representation by us of a specific investment or the purchase or sale of any securities. Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets. This material was developed and produced by Advisor Websites to provide information on a topic that may be of interest.
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