Many people have unanswered questions about setting themselves up for a successful retirement. Below are the primary risks to consider and some general ideas for overcoming them. We help our clients with these strategies, which starts with identifying the amounts needed to fund goals. This conversation is different for everyone, so we invite you to connect.
Underfunding:
Try to maximize your employer’s retirement plan. Many Americans contribute only the amount that triggers an employer match, failing to adequately fund this primary channel for retirement savings. Since salary-deferral contributions are not taxed, the reduction to your take-home pay is less than any contribution increase.
Overspending:
You want to stay retired, so be modest in projecting the growth of your investments during retirement. If you overspend early in retirement, you put too much pressure on your portfolio to sustain lifetime income.
Longevity:
With increasing life expectancies, retirees should plan to spend 35 years in retirement. Life expectancies are a mid-point, not an end-point. What you don’t want to do is plan to live to age 88 and turn 87 without enough money for the next 15 years.
Investments too Conservative:
The refrain of maintaining your principal and living off the earnings is not a good strategy. Inflation compounds every year, so retirees need growth investments to maintain their lifestyle. Every retiree needs some growth investments, which do better over long periods and can offset the challenges of increased longevity and rising costs.
Inflation and Medical Costs:
Inflation occasionally spikes (like after COVID), but even a 4% rate doubles expenses in 18 years. It’s estimated that 80% of your lifetime medical expenses are in your last five years, and the medical cost inflation rate averages 8%. Be sure to factor rising healthcare and living costs into your retirement planning.
It is widely recommended that you work with a financial advisor. We employ cash flow analysis and forecasting to model spending and investment strategies. The “4% Rule” is outdated and can compromise a peaceful retirement if markets decline early in your retirement. We created time-layered strategies to grow investments with appropriate risk throughout your retirement.
