Retirement Income Planning

Sure, life happens and we make mistakes. We learn and try not to repeat them. But in retirement income planning, the margin for error is smaller. Just one or a few mistakes could derail your goals or even put your retirement on the rocks.  

If you are someone who plans to retire within the next 10 years or sooner, now is the perfect time to start putting your financial house in order. However, as you devote attention to daily tasks in the workplace and your household, it can be hard to make your post-work future a priority. But retirement can come sooner than you think, and it’s prudent to start preparations before your time has passed.

So, meet with your financial professional to discuss your goals, review the status of your retirement assets, and evaluate your financial picture. And as you near your retirement, it’s important to refrain from critical income planning mistakes. From bad saving and spending habits to easy-to-overlook risks and planning pitfalls, here are six critical retirement income planning mistakes you should avoid. Read More

There are many decision-points leading up to retirement. Much of this process relates to financial planning. Should we wish to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, we must have sufficient income to support it. An effective retirement plan will lay out not only income goals we need to achieve, but also personalized strategies to sustain income security.

In earlier years, many of us focused on investment strategies to build up wealth. You may have worked with a financial advisor to find investments or investment packages with solid return potential over time. Or you may have engaged in investment planning yourself. However, retirement brings change, and this includes a shift in financial planning focus – an emphasis on planning for income.

Here’s a quick look at how income planning is different from investment planning – and why you may want to incorporate an income-focused retirement planning approach. Read More

Is your retirement income plan well-suited to your financial needs and goals? Whether you’re creating a personalized strategy or examining one, it’s an important question to consider. After all, any income gaps or shortfalls could lead to real financial setbacks.

With that said, here are some markers you can use to evaluate your income strategy. Read More

It’s not unusual for retirees to have multiple sources of income. According to the Social Security Administration, people age 65 and older receive a majority of their income from four sources. These source-points cover a wide range of income needs, from monthly living costs to healthcare spending and other retirement expenses.

If you’re in or near the “retirement red zone” (a period of 10 years before retirement and the first 10 years in retirement), now is a critical time. Decisions made now – and decisions which are neglected – will have a significant impact on the rest of a retirement lifetime, no matter how long it lasts. It’s a stage at which to figure out how you will pay for all of your retirement years.

With that said, here’s a look at how people age 65 and older are paying for retirement, and some ways to maximize retirement income. Read More

Do you have a dependable level of income for retirement? According to a new study, many seniors aren’t generating the retirement income they need. BankRate.com reports seniors in 47 states and the District of Columbia aren’t replacing enough of the income they earned in their working years.

The study found that at best, seniors are living off 60% of the income they had in their pre-retirement years. Financial experts believe retirees need at least 70% of their pre-retirement income. BankRate.com reports the national average to be 60.27%.
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In the past, we’ve discussed ways to create a meaningful retirement. After many years of hard work, people want to enjoy their retirement years. It’s important for this period to be enrichening, but taking steps to ensure a secure future is also paramount.

Many baby boomers are couples. Oftentimes household duties and responsibilities are divvied up among partners. One handles the finances, and the other may hold responsibility for other areas of planning. Daily chores such as cooking or cleaning the kitchen are likely to be split duties.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, women live an average four years longer than men do. If one partner deals with household finances and passes away one day, it can lead the other with quite the conundrum. To avoid this situation, people should take action now. Here are a few steps to further enjoy a more secure retirement – and to ensure the future is addressed for your partner. Read More

The holidays are around the corner. It’s getting closer to cherished times with family and friends. But for many Americans, this memorable period comes with its own stresses. Apart from the “typical” hustle-and-bustle, the holiday season itself presents many financial pressures. 

As we’ve covered before, seniors already face a number of challenges in retirement. Say your family is living out-of-state. If finances are already tight, travel could be costly and difficult. Like seniors, working Americans have their own difficulties, too. Many households struggle with just having enough retirement funds as current household expenditures take priority. For instance, in a 2014 study by BankRate.com, over 33.3% of American workers didn’t have any retirement savings.

Or for seniors and their families: say there hasn’t been a family discussion over finances. Given the season’s merriment and cheer, it may seem like not a good time to talk over such matters. But in fact, the holidays can be a great period for reflection and discussion. They are a great springboard for re-examining and readjustment of financial priorities.

Read on for some common holiday financial humbugs to avoid while preparing for the festivities. Read More

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States’ population in 2013 was almost 317 million people. Of that body, 14.1% were individuals aged 65 years and older. Women composed 50.8% of the population and men 49.2%.

There are more people reaching retirement age than ever. And retirement planning is a critical component of having a secure future. But planning for retirement is a different process for women than it is for men. Women have different concerns, needs, and goals, and these differences should be accounted for in their retirement blueprint.

Let’s take a look at some of the factors which can influence women’s retirement, and how these factors can shape their planning for the future. Read More