• 4-Minute Article
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  • Jul 27, 2018

Are You Financially Ready to Retire?

Help make sure your finances are prepared for the transition to retirement with these three questions.

red in an article about transitioning to retirement
Questions this article can help you answer:
  • How much are typical expenses in retirement?
  • What is a retirement income strategy?
  • How can I protect my retirement income against common risks?

As your retirement date approaches, use these three questions to gauge whether your financial foundation is ready to support your plans for retirement.

Question: Have you saved enough?

Answer:

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, retirees should plan on needing about 80% of their pre-retirement income to cover standard living expenses in retirement, such as the cost of food, housing, and transportation.1 However, this is a broad gauge, and actual expenses can vary depending on personal circumstances. For example, housing expenses alone account for about 34.7% of spending – or $16,668 per year – for people over age 65.2 There are also important considerations such as the rising cost of medical care – one study suggests that a retired couple needs $285,000 to cover healthcare costs in retirement, including premiums and deductibles for Medicare Part B, prescription drug coverage, and other out-of-pocket costs.3

What Will You Spend in Retirement?

Examine these and other expenses to create a personalized savings target based on your current annual fixed expenses – such as housing, food, and utilities – and estimated discretionary expenses like travel and entertainment. Also, remember to factor in potential unanticipated costs, such as medical expenses in retirement.

Next, calculate anticipated retirement income, such as potential Social Security benefits and income from savings and investments, and see if that projected income covers estimated expenses. If there’s a gap between expenses and savings, consider other ways to contribute to retirement accounts or build savings in other potential income sources.

Quick Tip

 Use our Annuity Income Calculator

Question: Do you have a retirement income strategy?

Answer:

A retirement income strategy is a formal plan for combining savings and other sources of income into regular funds you can live off during retirement. The right strategy can help ensure you have income for life while providing other benefits such as reducing taxes.

Retirement income plans typically draw from multiple sources, such as Social Security, retirement accounts like 401(k)s, and annuities. These income sources have different tax treatments, meaning someone’s tax bill might be higher or lower depending on the types of accounts they’re drawing income from.

To manage taxes efficiently, you can diversify withdrawals across different types of accounts and assets, potentially creating a lower overall tax burden. For example, an income plan might balance withdrawals from tax-deferred retirement accounts such as a 401(k) – which is taxed at the individual’s income tax rate – with income from tax-free sources, such as a Roth IRA.

Each individual’s tax strategy will vary depending on his or her asset mix and financial situation. Work with a financial professional to develop a strategy.

Question: Are you protected against the unexpected?

Answer:

A strong retirement plan is one that’s prepared for potential risks – such as market fluctuations or an unplanned home repair bill. Fortunately, there are a number of options to help cover unexpected situations.

Annuities can add a measure of protection against market downturns. Depending on the type of annuity, this may be done by providing a level of protection from market declines or by guaranteeing income, regardless of market performance.

Guaranteed income payments can help cover regular retirement expenses, no matter how market volatility affects the value of other savings. Receiving regular income from an annuity can also allow people to leave other savings in place to pay for unexpected expenses, or to remain invested for potential growth to cover costs later in retirement.

In addition to benefits, annuities come with important considerations. For instance, money in an annuity may be tied up for a set period of time, providing limited access to funds. As a result, annuities may be a good complement to savings plans that already contain sources of liquid assets.

To help manage potential medical expenses, consider opening a health savings account (HSA), which allows users to save money on a tax-free basis to cover future medical expenses. Also, some long-term care needs or chronic illnesses, such as home healthcare, assisted living, or similar services.

Permanent life insurance policies can also help cover other unexpected retirement expenses by building cash value that the policy owner can access through loans or withdrawals.

Adding safeguards like these to a financial plan can help people achieve their retirement goals and secure their future. Talk with a financial professional about strategies to help fill any gaps in a retirement savings plan and protect against unexpected events.