Retirement Planning
Your Quick Guide to Retirement Planning
Retirement planning isn’t optional for anyone. Even if you love your job and don’t ever see yourself quitting, it’s nice to have a choice about work. Without a retirement plan in place, you probably won’t have the option of retiring early, traveling the world, or buying a second home for your family. Planning for the future is all about using your money in a way that provides you with choices.
Our experienced retirement planners can set you on the path to a prosperous retirement. It’s important to work with expert financial advisors, because you don’t want to leave the growth of your retirement fund up to chance.
Why Is Retirement Planning Important?
You’re responsible for creating the retirement you want. While Social Security benefits may provide an income stream for you, they probably won’t cover all your living expenses. If you’re lucky enough to receive a pension from an employer, you may not need to build as big of a retirement fund.
Many people prioritize other financial goals over saving for retirement, like sending their kids to college. The problem is you can’t get a loan for your retirement if you run out of money, but your kids can apply for financial aid to pay for college expenses. There’s nothing wrong with helping your dependents go to college or pursuing other financial goals, but don’t do it at the cost of saving for your retirement.
Where Your Retirement Income Comes From
It’s a good idea to think about where your retirement income will come from. We can assess your current assets and investments to help you calculate what kind of income stream you can expect. These are the different sources that may provide an income during retirement for you:
- Pensions
- 401(k) or 403(b) distributions
- Social Security retirement benefits
- IRA withdrawals
- Savings account
- Other investment accounts
You may have other investments that generate income, such as rental properties. The goal is to collect as many income streams as possible to finance your retirement lifestyle.
Don’t Stop Planning When You Retire
Retirement planning doesn’t end when you retire from your job. In fact, it’s even more important to pay attention to your income during retirement. You don’t want to withdraw cash as needed from your retirement accounts. Instead, we recommend using a distribution strategy to preserve more of your wealth and provide you with a fixed income each month.
FAQs about Retirement Planning
When Should I Start Planning for Retirement?
If you’re earning an income, you should use a portion of your earnings to plan for retirement. An exception might be if you have an unusually high level of debt. We can help you create a financial plan to pay off a good portion of your debt before investing heavily in your retirement account.
Is It Too Late to Start Retirement Planning?
While it’s always better to start when you’re young, it’s never too late to do anything. Retirement planning is still beneficial when you’re nearing retirement, because it helps you manage your expected income and expenses. Your ability to build up significant wealth will be limited by the shorter timeline, but we can still help you find investments that generate results.
Do I Need a Retirement Plan?
Yes. Everyone should have a retirement plan. Even if you plan on working into your 70s or longer, a retirement plan gives you the option to slow down or take more vacations. You can also use the money you’ve saved to help other family members. A retirement plan gives you choices, and that translates to financial freedom.
How Much Money Do I Need in Retirement?
How much money you need to retire depends on your expenses in retirement. If you own your home and live a simple life, your income needs may be lower than someone who wants to travel the world or start a new business upon retiring. We can help you calculate how much money you need for your retirement when we sit down with you and create your retirement plan.
Will Social Security Be Enough to Live On?
Probably not. Most people have to supplement their Social Security income during retirement to make ends meet. The rest of your income can come from employer-sponsored retirement accounts, IRAs, savings, or investment accounts. By planning for retirement, you can make sure you don’t have to go back to work because Social Security doesn’t provide enough income for you.
It’s Time to Plan for Your Retirement
Don’t delay your retirement planning any longer. You deserve to enjoy a prosperous retirement and live the life you want. I can set you up for success by creating a retirement plan based on your specific goals and timelines. Call today to schedule your appointment.
todd@volkmanwealthmanagement.com | 214-215-4300