It’s getting close . . . very close! For most of your adult
life you’ve planned for retirement, and now that you’re in your 60s, it’s very
close indeed. Are you getting ready? Will your transition be as smooth as
possible? Will you start this new chapter in your life with a sense of
optimism?
Like most people, you may not be so sure. A 2019 economic
well-being study published by the Federal Reserve indicated that just 45
percent of nonretired adults over the age of 60 believe that their retirement
planning is on track. What’s more, 60 percent of nonretirees who hold a 401(k),
IRA or other self-directed retirement savings accounts aren’t comfortable
managing their own investments.
If you haven’t already done so, financial advisers recommend
taking an inventory to think things through. Consider making two checklists —
one for your lifestyle, and another for financial matters — to assess your
situation and determine the steps you need to take as the countdown continues.
Be sure to enlist the help of an adviser whenever needed, and use the following
as a guide.
Your financial checklist
When it comes to finances, you’ll have another long list of
items to tackle. Breaking it down and working on certain tasks one at a time
will make it more manageable. Depending on your situation, you’ll want to tweak
your checklist as you go along.
1. Adjust your portfolio. “Know before you go,”
advises Marianela Collado, a certified financial planner (CFP) at Tobias
Financial Advisors in Plantation, Florida. “Work with a financial planner to
test your portfolio's ability to meet your needs, not only through your
[predicted] life expectancy, but to age 100 since we are all living longer.”
That includes evaluating the risk, she explains. “Does it
need to be toned down or ramped up before you actually pull the trigger on
retirement?” One of the biggest misconceptions folks have is the idea that the
portion of your portfolio devoted to bonds should mirror your age — for
example, if you’re 60 years old, you should have 60 percent of your holdings in
bonds. “That could be a sure way to shoot yourself in the foot given today's
[low]-interest-rate environment,” she says.
In addition, you’ll want to have enough safe, easily
accessible money to cover three to five years of spending, says Catherine
Valega, a CFP at Green Bee Advisory in Winchester, Massachusetts.
2. Project your income. Next, make a realistic assessment of
your current spending, making sure that it covers everything, says John Power,
a CFP and the principal at Power Plans in Walpole, Massachusetts. “Then, project
how much income will be available at your retirement date from your pension,
Social Security and investments." AARP has several tools to help you
figure out the best time to take Social Security, as well as how long your
savings will last in retirement.
When should I take Social Security?
The short answer: When it’s right for your personal
situation. You can start taking benefits at age 62, but you’ll get a bigger
benefit if you wait to full retirement age, which is 66 but gradually moving to
67 for people born in 1960 or later. You’ll get the largest payment if you wait
until you reach age 70.
Your benefits also depend on how long you worked and what
your salary was. Social Security bases your benefit on your 35 highest-earning
years. You can get your earnings history from the Social Security
Administration (SSA).
Your marital status, as well as your employment status, also
helps determine how much you’ll get. Part of your benefit may be taxable, and
part of your benefit may go to pay for Medicare Part B. To see how much you’re
likely to get from Social Security, try the AARP Social Security Calculator.
3. Investigate insurance. Because health insurance is often
expensive, you’ll want to research the cost, especially if you plan to retire
before your Medicare eligibility at age 65. “If you can, find a part-time job
help to offset it,” advises Patti Black, a certified financial planner at
Bridgeworth Wealth Management in Birmingham, Alabama. For 2021 and 2022, the
law says you never have to pay more than 8.5 percent of your income for an
Affordable Care Act premium. You can find out if you’re eligible for a federal
subsidy to pay for your health care plan, and how much it would cost, at
healthcare.gov.
4. Diminish your debt. Another way to enhance your cash flow
on a long-term basis, Collado points out, is to pay off all of your
high-interest debt, or as much as you can. Otherwise, it may drain your
resources. All other things being equal, paying off a credit card that charges
15 percent is the same as earning 15 percent on an investment.
5. Test your budget. In the 12 months prior to retirement,
do a dry run to see if you can realistically live on your fixed cash flow. If
it doesn’t meet your needs, then you’ll have to make adjustments. “Review and
confirm your actual cost of living,” Collado adds. “Be realistic with what you
expect life to cost. Will it include more travel and dining out?”
Your lifestyle checklist
Starting to plan for retirement now will allow time for
careful thought, discussion and some trial and error. “Retirement is a major
life transition, and you have to be patient with yourself and your spouse,”
says Black. “Most retired couples do not look like those pictured in ads and
commercials! Spouses need to talk to each other about their expectations in
retirement.”
6. Test your vision. To find out what her retired clients
knew (and didn’t know) before they took The Big Leap, Black conducted
interviews. “Based on that feedback, I encourage people to ‘practice’ being
retired,” she advises. For example, one couple, who dreamed of buying an RV to
travel the U.S., rented one and learned how much travel — and togetherness —
made sense. “They didn’t just wake up on Day One of retirement and fall into an
ideal routine. They tried many things, talked about what was working and what
was not, and made adjustments to get to what was right for them.”
7. Plan your days. Likewise, Valega urges people to envision
what a typical day might look like. “Will you work part time, volunteer,
travel? Too many people retire without a plan for those many hours, and find
themselves feeling lost and depressed. Coordinate with your spouse/families so
you're on the same page.” Black adds, "You may need to find new friends if
your primary social interaction was with coworkers.” Check out volunteer
groups, clubs, classes that interest you that may be a source of new friends.
It takes time and effort to find a new “tribe.”
8. Consider where you’ll live. In the same vein, Austin
Frye, a CFP and the founder and CEO of Frye Financial in Aventura, Florida,
says that his advisers ask their clients about what they plan to do with their
time, about friends and family and whether they will age in place or move. Power
agrees that it’s important to put careful thought into your living
arrangements, and then take action. “Will you downsize? Start preparing to sell
your old home and purchase the new one.”
9. Explore those new places. If moving is for you, then
visit the areas that you’re considering, both in their peak and off-seasons,
suggests Jeremy Finger, a CFP and the founder of Riverbend Wealth Management in
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. “Get an idea of the different neighborhoods in an
area, and which are your favorites,” he suggests. “Subscribe to a local paper
to see what activities are going on throughout the year.”
10. Reset the details. Before you move, see if your doctor
can refer you to someone in that new area, Finger continues. “Pick up
change-of-address cards to send to your CPA, attorney, banks, doctors,
financial adviser, the Social Security office, your insurance company and the
DMV. Once you are retired, update wills and legal documents in your new place
of residence. Establish a reliable local network of professionals. Update your
contact information and enjoy life!”
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