6 Financial Planning Tips for Saving for a Comfortable Retirement
Whichever of the prestigious financial advisors you consult, they will all agree that saving for a comfortable retired life is not only wise, it is also necessary.
While the basics of saving for retirement have remained largely the same since the last few years, modern retirees have been facing certain challenges that weren’t a concern in the past.
It’s no secret that people are living longer lives, which means the money will need to last longer as well, maybe well into their 90s. Further, employers are gradually moving away from providing defined retirement benefits to their staff.
Most employees work their entire life to be able to experience the fruits of their hard work post-retirement. This includes undertaking exotic holidays, writing, spending time with friends and family, or even starting a business of their own.
So how can you ensure that you actually save enough to enjoy a comfortable and secure retirement? Here are a few tips in this regard.
Retirement Planning Is Key
Planning for a gratifying retired life involves several steps. The end goal of each is to accumulate enough money to be able to look after yourself even when you’re not working.
You can always consult a local financial advisor in this matter. Residents of Gainesville, for instance, can speak to financial advisors Gainesville. Local financial advisors can organize your finances as well as help you make the most of state-specific tax-saving plans, among other things.
Having said that, let’s find out how you can plan for your retirement.
- Start Early, Save More
One of the biggest questions responsible citizens ask themselves is when they should start planning for their retirement. The short answer is, right now.
You should start as early as possible. Your 20s are a great time to start. The sooner you start planning for your retirement, the more time your money will have to grow.
This, however, does not mean you cannot start planning for retirement at a later stage. Any amount of money you save or have saved can be invested wisely. With consistent effort, you should be able to make up for lost time.
- Figure Out Your Requirements
To determine the amount of money you should have by the time you retire depends on your current income and expenses. You will also need to consider how your lifestyle and expenses will change after retirement. For example, you might not consider seeking senior care services now, but later on, you might decide on approaching a Senior Home Care in Ft. Myers or similar services. It is better to plan and consider the possibilities of expenses that you might have to payout.
Typically, it is always a good idea to set an annual retirement savings goal of 10% to 15% of your pretax income. However, it is recommended to consult an experienced financial advisor for creating a plan that it customized to your income, expenses, and retirement goals.
- Explore Plans and Choose Suitable Ones
A major step towards retirement planning is determining where to save your money and which financial instrument(s) can be most helpful.
Your 401(k) or another employer retirement plan is a good place to start. Match it to the maximum possible extent. If your employer does not offer this, you can open your own retirement account.
Based on your needs, you can choose from several retirement plans. Typically, the best plan offers tax benefits, and in some cases, additional savings incentives, like matching contributions. This is why the 401(k) retirement plan can be great.
However, if that’s not an option or if you’re looking for other good options for bigger retirement savings, you should give IRA (Individual Retirement Account) a serious consideration. You can start an IRA plan yourself.
Mentioned ahead are a few types of retirement plans that you should consider going for:
- 401(k)
- Solo 401(k)
- Traditional IRA
- SIMPLE (Saving Incentive Match Plan for Employees) IRA
- Roth IRA
- SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) IRA
- Self-directed IRA
- Choose Your Investments with Care
Your retirement account will allow you to explore an array of investment instruments, such as mutual funds, stocks, and bonds. You should focus on building a resilient portfolio with the right mix of investments depending on your timeframe and appetite for risk.
It is usually advised to invest aggressively when you’re young, and slow down with a more conservative mix of investments as your retirement nears. When you’re young, you have the advantage of time, and are in a better position to weather market volatility. In fact, you can benefit a great deal from the stock market’s history of long-term growth.
As you change jobs, get promotions, start a family, endure market fluctuations, and near your retirement age, your retirement plan will evolve too. Managing all this may be daunting for many, but you can always seek professional guidance and help for the best results.
- Sign up for Social Security Benefits
Signing up for Social Security should be among your top priorities where your retirement is concerned. Remember, payments are lowered if you sign up just before your retirement age. Suspending your payments or continuing work post-retirement can also affect your retirement disbursement amount.
For married couples, it may be advantageous to coordinate their claiming decisions to maximize their benefits. The best thing about Social Security is that the benefit is adjusted every year to keep up with the rising inflation.
- Get Medicare on Time
Even if you receive health insurance coverage through your employer, you should register for an additional health plan before you retire. This can be done by signing up for Medicare or your state-specific health insurance plan.
Typically, Medicare comes into effect in the month you turn 65. Make sure you enroll for Medicare during the seven-month period before your 65th birthday. You may be penalized if you enroll later. That’s something you definitely want to avoid.
Conclusion
Preparing for a comfortable retirement requires ongoing savings, smart investing, and avoiding penalties and/or fees. It also requires the meticulous use of government programs such as Medicare and Social Security. If you find yourself not being able to achieve your financial or retirement goals, working with a local financial advisor can be helpful. Remember, starting early is vital but if you’re late, all is not lost. We wish you good luck with your retirement planning effort!
