Were your parents able to retire comfortably? If they are, do you know what they did to prepare for their future? Are you doing the same? If you have not, the advice presented here can get you started.
Know exactly what you’re going to need and what it will cost when you retire. You need about 75% of your current income to live during retirement. People who already receive a low income may need around 90%.
Get to contributing to your 401k regularly and make sure your employer match is maximized if you have that option. A 401k permits savings of pre-tax funds, thus allowing you to accumulate more money. If your employer matches your contributions, it is essentially like them giving free money to you.
Use your retirement free time to get yourself in great shape. Your entire body gains from your efforts to stay fit. Get to working out on a regular basis so you can enjoy it a lot.
If you are able to wait a few years to begin retirement, it can greatly increase the payments you get. If you wait, you can get more in the monthly allowance they give you, which makes being financially comfortable possible. This is better accomplished if you have multiple sources of income.
Rebalance your retirement portfolio on a quarterly basis. Don’t give in to the temptation to do it more often; you don’t want to get too emotionally involved in smaller fluctuations of the market. If you rebalance less frequently, you may miss an opportunity to invest in something with good growth. Talk with a financial adviser to determine the best plan for you.
Don’t forget about your health care needs in the long-term. Health generally declines as people get older. For some people, poor health means they need more healthcare. Obviously, the costs can add up. If you have factored this into your plan, you’ll be well taken care of should the need arise.
Both short and long term goals are important. Goals are as important for retirement as they are at any other time of life. Once you know the dollar amount you will require, you know the amount of money that you must save. Work out the numbers to determine what is right for you.
If you are 50 years old or greater, you can play catch up with your IRA account. IRA’s normally have a limit of $5,500 per year of contributions. When you’re over age 50, the limit goes up to $17,500. This is ideal for those starting later than they wanted to, but still need to put away a lot of money.
When calculating the amount of money you need to retire, consider how you currently live. Your expenses will be a little lower some you can avoid some work expenses like commuting, wardrobe, etc. However, you must keep an eye on your expenditures. Since you will have more free time, you may be tempted to spend more as well.
Downsizing is an excellent way of making your money go a lot further. Even if you do not have a mortgage, you still have the expenses that come with maintaining a big house such as electricity, landscaping, etc. Downsizing to a smaller house makes economic sense for retirement. Such a move can save you a ton.
Retirement is a great time to get to spend time with grandkids. You could your grandchildren and be of help. Make this time special by planning activities that both you and the grandchildren will enjoy. However don’t overextend yourself by caring for children full time.
It doesn’t matter what your situation is, don’t use your retirement savings before you are retired. You lose interest as well as principal when you do this. You are also likely to pay penalties and miss out on tax benefits by making early withdrawals. Don’t use the retirement money until you retired.
Always make sure you are enjoying yourself. It can be hard to get through life the older you get, so stopping to do something that you truly want to do is essential. Participate in activities that have brought you pleasure in the past.
You have probably heard of Medicare, but you need to learn as much as possible about it so that you can see what it will and won’t help with during your retirement years. You might have another insurance plan also. If that’s the case, you need to learn how to use the two in tandem. Making sure you are educated on the matter will ensure that you are always fully covered.
If there is a particular hobby you have enjoyed for years, consider whether or not you can make a little extra money with it. Do you enjoy creative endeavors like woodworking or painting? During the winter, complete a few interesting products that you can sell at flea markets or otherwise in the spring and summer.
Have you invested in college tuition for your children? You should also be working on your retirement. There are school loans, grants and scholarships for your children’s schooling, and millions of young people have no problem going to school with that help alone. You more than likely won’t have the ability to bring in unlimited funds during retirement, if any at all, so keep this mind.
Make sure you plans for your golden years by establishing a reliable Power of Attorney. These people are designated to represent your best interest in legal, financial and medical issues when you are no longer able to. Naming them means someone will take care of bills and your home, so your property remains safe.
Your parents probably had an easier time retiring than you will. This mean you’re going to have to learn what it takes to retire in this kind of environment. This article has offered many techniques to help you plan for the future. Start securing your great golden years today!
