Planning for your retirement is always important. Everyone wants a comfortable, enjoyable, and secure retirement, but you can only do that by building the right financial structure to support and fund these plans. It may sound rather dreary and unnecessarily hectic, but you can only have the needed cushion of your retirement dreams by taking those steps very early.
It should ideally start before 50, yet some start planning as early as age 40. There are no definite rules to it, the key is figuring out what is best for you. There was a time 65 was the golden retirement age, but times are changing.
The best way to start is by looking at what your goals are when you retire and the time frame to financially support those goals. The longer it will take, the better it is to start now. You also have to consider the types of retirement accounts, the taxes they will involve, and how to minimize the tax burden. Of course, this is a very boring process, but necessary if you want to live the dream life you desire.
Map out your time frame and invest accordingly
This will start with your current age and expected age of retirement. This will help you map out a structure for a sound retirement plan. The general rule is that the longer the current age and expected time of requirement are, the better your portfolio can grow. Assets such as stocks are a good bet, as they have historically outperformed most securities like bonds and treasury bills over a long period.
However, this may be useful for short or medium-term durations. If the time is long enough, safe investments like mutual funds, bonds, treasury bills, and fixed deposits are less riskier assets than compound over time. What is “long enough”? Ideally 12 or 25 years and above.
Also, you need to watch out for inflation and make sure your portfolio is beating inflation. Inflation may seem small in the short term, but in the long term may have serious effects on the returns on your portfolio. If inflation is merely at 3% annually, it has the potential to wipe out nearly 50% of the value off your savings in just 20 years. This is why compounding is very important.
The golden rule is once you get to your 50s, you should focus more on a fixed income and safe investments to protect your capital. Investments like bonds and t-bills won’t give you very high returns, but they are stable and will compound in the long term.
This is also where having a salaried fixed income can be a very important and good thing. It means you are guaranteed a steady stream of income, along with other benefits like healthcare and an investment plan by your employer. It is a very easy and secure way to save steadily, anticipate how to invest, and keep risks minimal while ensuring liquidity and compounding interest.
\Another point to note is to decide when to take your social security. Social security should be included in your financial projections when planning to retire. It is also important to know whether you will take full or reduced benefits.
How do you determine that? Well, you were born before 1938, then you are entitled to full benefits at the retirement age of 65. If you were born after 1938, it may be determined by how far from 1938 you were born. Visit the SSA website for more information.
Calculate the Tax Rate on your return on investment
Once you have mapped out your time frame and invested accordingly, it is now essential to calculate the tax rate of return on your portfolio, to know whether the income from it will provide sustainable financial support for your retirement goals.
At best, a return of 5-10% gross may be regarded although it will take meticulous planning and smart investment. When your age of retirement becomes nearer, the return rates will naturally go down because low-risk assets like bonds and T-bills have lower yields.
This may not usually be a bad thing, but the advantage of starting early means that you have the foresight to invest in better yielding assets that can generate more than 10% returns for you long term.
Anyway, whichever way it goes, it is wise to calculate the tax rates on each class of assets, deductible, and so on as it is a very important part of the retirement planning process.
Decide on a Retirement Budget and spending needs
Even when you have done everything right and saved up, it is necessary to have a retirement budget. It is always adjustable, but it is necessary to plug any spending tendencies and lingering debt.
Your retirement money is meant to be spent wisely so that it will make you enjoy comfort through your golden years. To avoid falling into any problems after retirement, create a budget. This helps map out how realistic some of your plans are. This is even more important since there is no longer any fixed income, and you are now living on savings and other benefits of retirement.
Another thing is to also factor in spending needs. Prioritize them and decide which is a necessity and which is not. This will help to curb any indulgence or extravagance. You should always keep some money out for unforeseen expenditures and health expenses. You never know when you might need it.
Basically, have a realistic expectation of your portfolio and the “freedom” it gives you. Traveling expenses should be well budgeted and if you have anything on your bucket list, make sure it will not take a considerable lot from your budget.
If you are looking for comfort and luxury in retirement, then a senior living space can be a very good option. Though a bit pricey, the right budget will allow you to stay in comfort and luxury through your golden years. You can check out Vivante living for more information and payment plans to live out your retirement days in the most comfortable environment for retirees.
It is very important to factor in your longevity, as you do not want to outlive your expenses. Also, make sure you have certain days and times to take out funds from your retirement savings, it helps to structure how you do it so you don’t overspend.
The bottom line
Everything in life is a matter of planning, and your retirement is no exception. Whether it is traveling, adventures, a luxury retirement home, or spending the remainder of your days on a Caribbean island basking in the sun, it still requires planning. Seniors and retirees should always have structure for retirement, and it is never too early to start.
There are different ways to do this, and it largely depends on your budget, lifestyle, preferences, and future plans.
