FOUR RETIREMENT MYTHS, DEBUNKED
Myth #1: You can wait a few more years until you start saving for retirement.
When you’re in your 20’s, it’s easy to push retirement planning off until later to start saving. Your money could be spent on things like getting a new car, paying off loans from college, or saving up for a house. None of which are good reasons to put off saving for retirement.
You see, the earlier you can get into the habit of saving for retirement, the better of you will be in the future, because your money has had more time to compound and grow.
For some people, the plan is to first pay of their mortgage, then help the kids with college costs, and then, finally save for retirement. While Life expectancies are longer today than in the past, you may end up with a bigger nest egg to last from retirement through the rest of your life if you start early.
The longer that you wait to start saving, the more you will have to make up for down the road, which could make reaching your goal significantly harder. Ultimately, it can help to start building your retirement early, even though it may be harder to save.
Myth #2: Your company or the government will take care of your retirement.
In the past, retirement income was commonly compared to a three-legged stool1 — one part came from Social Security, another part came from company pensions, and a third part was from personal retirement savings.
Today, the same cannot be said. Pensions are less common than they were in the past, having been replaced by a hybrid of pensions and savings called defined contribution plans. At the same time, the funds for the Social Security program have been steadily dwindling2.What was a three- legged stool for previous generations is now a somewhat wobbly two-legged stool.
In fact, in 2034, just 15 short years away, the Social Security trust fund is expected to be depleted, according to the Social Security Administration’s summary of the 2018 annual reports2. That means that in order to work toward the retirement of your dreams, you may have to be sure that your other assets make up for the less-than-ideal benefit you may receive from Social Security.
Your Social Security benefit may be a nice supplement to have, but it maybe should not be counted on as the only piece of your retirement income.
Myth #3: Medicare will meet all your healthcare needs.
Medicare may likely be one part of your healthcare coverage, and for some people it may meet the majority of their needs. But many older retirees may suffer from serious medical conditions, and Medicare may not provide the comprehensive coverage you think it does.
For instance, you may have to pick up some prescription costs on your own; pay premiums and coinsurance expenses; and pay out-of-pocket for care that isn’t covered, such as long-term care in a nursing home. You may need additional funds for healthcare, which could come in the form of long-term-care insurance or a health savings account.
Each of these options — and even Medicare itself — may come at a cost to you. You should consult with a certified Medicare broker with questions about the costs that may lie ahead for you and to help you enroll in Medicare.
Myth #4: Retirement means you no longer have to work.
While it may be your goal to stop working altogether in retirement, that may not end up being the case. Retirement has changed and it doesn’t always follow the model many of us envision: Traditional full-time work immediately becomes full-time leisure.
In order to make up for their retirement income gap, some retirees are choosing to do a few things:
- Phase their retirement, or gradually leave the workforce
- Choose second careers
- Do part-time work to make money on the side
That’s not the only reason retirees are returning to the work force, either. With longer life expectancies, some retirees are even finding that they may spend nearly as much time in retirement as they did in their career. For some of them, retirement is best while striking a balance between work and leisure.
These are just a few of the myths that can misguide you about what to expect in retirement. Working with a financial services professional can help ensure you have the information you need to make informed decisions on your path to retirement.
- https://www.invcom/ask/answers/09/three-legged-stool- retirement.asp
- https://www.ssa.gov/oact/trsum/
