Retirement is no longer viewed as a time to slow down, but is now considered a new beginning in life. That means your current living expenses may have very little to do with your retirement expenses. You need to give serious thought to the type of retirement you want—visualize what retirement will be like. To help you estimate retirement expenses, consider these questions:
- When do you want to retire? Will you realistically have the resources to retire at that age?
- Do you plan to stay in your current home, trade down to a smaller one, or move to a different city? If you plan to move, is the cost of living there more or less expensive than your present city?
- Will your mortgage be paid off by retirement? What about other debts?
- Will you continue to work after retirement? If so, will you work part- or full-time? Where will you work and how much can you expect to earn?
- Do you have any hobbies or interests that can be turned into paying jobs? Are you planning to start a business after retirement?
- How will you spend your free time? What hobbies will you pursue? How much and where will you travel? How much will all these activities cost?
- How will you pay for medical costs? Will your employer provide health insurance or will you need to purchase insurance to supplement Medicare coverage?
- Do you have any medical conditions that are likely to impact your quality of life in retirement? What would you do if you became physically disabled? Would your spouse take care of you, would you move in with your children, or would you go to a nursing home? How will you provide for long-term-care costs?
- How much of your income will be provided by personal investments including 401(k) investments? Are you confident you can invest so those investments will last your entire retirement?
- What would happen financially if your spouse dies? If you die, would your spouse be able to support himself/herself financially?
Answering these questions should give you a clearer picture of retirement. We’re here to help you transfer your goals and dreams into an actualized retirement plan.
Copyright © 2019 This article is published in its original form or adapted from its original publication with Investment Answers and Integrated Concepts, a separate, non-affiliated business entity. The original newsletter publication, Investment Answers Financial Success Summer 2019, is intended to offer factual and up-to-date information on the subjects discussed but should not be regarded as a complete, evolving, or personalized analysis of the topics, and should not be construed as personalized investment advice. Qualified financial professionals should be consulted before implementing a personalized financial plan. Please reference the original publication for additional disclaimers.
