Let’s Talk About Retirement

piscesgurl310 asked:


I am 21 , going to school, and living with my parents. I plan to put $200 to start a retirement account and then add roughly $83 a month to make it $1,000 a year for the next few years till I get a better paying job.

My question is can I open an online retirement account? Right now my bank is bank of america. I also wanted to know if I started a 401k with my current employer how does that transfer to future employers. I do NOT plan on staying at this job much longer.

Until I learn more about stocks and other investment tools I just want to focus on retirement accounts.

MALLORY

Cindy Heller asked:


Investing for retirement is not something everyone does ahead of time. Many people do not get started because they feel that their retirement is several decades away and they can get to it in good time. Almost everyone under estimates the resources, mainly cash, that are required to retire with a certain quality of life. With better health management and medical technology, many people are beginning to live beyond the previous general estimates for human life spans. The result is that many people run the risk of running out of money before their time is up.

Since few people are motivated in investing for retirement early enough, it has become a serious issue for governments in many developed countries. In some of these countries their welfare systems are straining from the demands put on them by the growing numbers of elderly living beyond the estimates of previous human longevity models. In these countries governments have warned their citizens that their social security systems may not have enough funds to go around.

In order to face our retirements more confidently, it has become necessary for us to not rely on state-sponsored programs; but increasingly on self-managed initiatives.

Key Issues Regarding Investing For Retirement

Investing for retirement requires us to prepare a retirement plan early - the earlier the better. Unfortunately, when you are young it is very difficult to imagine life as a retiree. What can we do? Perhaps we should initially discuss it with our parents. Many of them would have experienced the positive and negative elements of investing for retirement. Next you may wish to a financial planner. Do not commit to any investments until you feel that you have done enough research, clarified your doubts, identified your key goals and estimated what portion of your salary you are prepared to save for the long-term.

During your discussions with your financial planner regarding investing for retirement, you are likely to be surprised how much you will need to set aside for the golden years when you would have stopped working. Many people tend to extrapolate their planned savings linearly and find that achieving their investment goals are near impossible. Your financial planner should be able to enlighten you regarding some essential concepts of investing like the time value of money, the effect of compounding interest, the benefits of a diversified portfolio with a spread among asset classes with varying risk and return profiles and pre-tax investment programs made possible by your employer or government.

When you have done sufficient research, understood key investment concepts and got sound advice from your financial planner, you will realize that if you start early enough and do the right things, you should be able to retire rather comfortably with sufficient funds to last your lifetime. Investing for retirement is not difficult if you start sufficiently early and act on sound financial planning advice.

The Advantages Of 401k Retirement Plans

A 401k retirement plan allows a worker to save for retirement while deferring income taxes on the saved money and earnings until withdrawal. Many people today are relying on 401k retirement plans to support their needs during their retirement. The funds from this retirement plan can be used to pay regular bills and in some cases if the funds are substantial, help us retire in style and luxury. In these uncertain times fraught with economic and political uncertainty and health scares, it pays to plan ahead for our future when we may not be economically very productive by saving with a 401k retirement plan. The 401k retirement plan is a flexible program that has substantial benefits for retirees.

Of all the advantages of a 401k retirement plan, they key advantage are the tax benefits. Companies you work for are responsible for creating and designing the plan. Some companies may restrict the amount set aside to match what the employer sets aside.

The tax benefit arises from the fact that you will only be taxed on the remaining amount of your salary after the savings into the 401k retirement plan. The return on investment from a 401k retirement plan may be higher than many other competing retirement investment plans. The flexibility advantage is that you may transfer the funds from the retirement fund initially setup with your former employer into the new employer’s 401k retirement plan. You may also choose to transfer the funds to a personal 401k retirement fund account.

Use Your 401k Funds To Build A Diversified Financial Portfolio

The 401k retirement fund plan is to a large extent a self-directed investment program. You can choose to assign the funds into a wide variety of financial assets like stocks, bonds, money market investments, mutual funds or some of them. You can choose to re-allocate the funds among these investment choices at any time. It is critical to get some information and advise regarding these financial instruments if you choose to invest and re-allocate the funds yourself.

Saving and investing with a 401k retirement plan is a great way to ensure that you have sufficient funds to live on long after your retirement from full-time employment. The funds can be withdrawn if they are needed in the event of an emergency. If necessary, you may also take out a loan against your 401k retirement funds. This should only be done after much careful thought and consideration. The funds in your 401k retirement plan are for your retirement. If you squander the money, you will just be postponing your agony into the future.



DARREN

Ramsay Mameesh asked:


There are three fundamental retirement planning questions, that are universal to everyone, no matter their age, income, or wealth. More than investments, asset allocation, or tax strategy, people want to know the answer to the following three questions:



When can I retire?

How much savings do I need for retirement?

How much can I spend in retirement?

The most important of the three questions, from a

retirement planning perspective, is the last one – How much can I spend in retirement?

How much can I spend in retirement?

How much you can spend in retirement, is based on how much you have saved for retirement, divided by an annual safe withdrawal rate of between 3% to 4.75% depending on your age at retirement.

A better, and the more important, question to ask is “How much do I need to spend in retirement?” To answer this question you will have to create a retirement budget.

Creating a retirement budget, insures that you will not run out of money during retirement, and it allows you to answer the other two retirement planning questions.

How much savings do I need for retirement?

How much savings you need for retirement, depends on how much you spend in retirement (your annual retirement budget), divided by an annual safe withdrawal rate of between 3% to 4.75% depending on your age at retirement.

The amount you need to save for retirement, is the amount of money you will need, to cover the cost of your retirement. The cost of your retirement is your retirement budget, which we calculated, when we answered the previous question – «how much can I spend in retirement?»

When can I retire?

When you can retire, is determined by when your savings can pay for your spending in retirement, based on your retirement budget. So, if your retirement budget is $3,000 per month, you currently have $600k, you need $900k to pay for your retirement, you save 25k per year, and your investments earn 10% compounded annually - you can retire in 3.5 years.

Did you notice, that the common thread in answering all three questions, was your retirement budget? That is because creating a retirement budget, your spending plan for retirement, is the key to calculating how much you will need for retirement, and to figure out when you can retire.



TAMMI

Dan Skriver asked:


Whether retirement is right around the corner, or several years down the road, it’s never too early, or too late, to start planning for your future. Some people feel intimidated by matters of finance, while others simply don’t feel comfortable with their knowledge regarding retirement planning. Make it a priority to learn as much as you can about your finances by reviewing the following essential 5 top baby boomers retirement tips.

It’s no secret that retirement can be expensive, especially with the rising costs of just about everything, which is why most experts recommend planning on needing anywhere from 70 to 90% of your current earnings after you retire to maintain the standard of living you’re accustomed to.

Here are the 5 top baby boomers retirement tips for those who are serious about planning for their future:

Start With a Definitive Plan

Start by noting your current standard of living and then examine whether or not you’re willing to make sacrifices, or if you plan to live just as you always have. Most people expect to enjoy the same lifestyle along with travel or vacation plans after retiring, but really have no true idea of how much money they’re going to need to actually do so.

A retirement calculator is useful for figuring out exactly what you will need each month to meet your goals. Either online or through your own calculations, use your current age, the age you plan on retiring, your current savings, and how much you need to live comfortably per year after retiring to get the final amount.

For solutions to your specific circumstances, seek out the advice of a professional, such as a financial advisor, your bank or union, as well as your employer’s human resources department. Ultimately, trust your own instincts and educate yourself before making any decisions.

Review Your Social Security Benefits

On average, the Social Security Administration (SSA) pays roughly 40% of one’s pre-retirement earnings after retiring. Earnings statements are usually mailed three to four months before your birthday that outline what you have paid in taxes, along with a summary of your estimated benefits depending on the age you retire. If you haven’t yet received any statements, contact the SSA to request one by visiting their web site at www .ssa. gov.

Learn About Your Employee Benefits

Any employee who is covered under their employer’s retirement plan is entitled to a clear explanation of their benefits and receive what is known as a summary plan description. Also remember to inquire about your spouse’s retirement benefits through their employer, or open a spousal IRA (Individual Retirement Account) for those who do not work outside of the home.

Contribute to a 401k

One of the most often overlooked of the 5 top baby boomers retirement tips are investing in a 401k, which is a tax-sheltered savings plan that your employer also contributes to. It is estimated that an entire quarter of all people who were offered the chance to participate in a 401k plan chose not to. If your employer doesn’t currently have any type of retirement plan in place, suggest that it start one as soon as possible.

Follow Through

Although a growing nest egg may be tempting during those times when you might need a little extra cash, it’s imperative to stick to your plan to avoid any withdrawal penalties, as well as falling short of your ultimate goal when you do retire.

By simply following these 5 top baby boomers retirement tips, it really is possible to retire the way you envisioned and truly enjoy your future without worrying about finances.



FORREST

David Chazin asked:


Retirement Planning: Scared or Prepared?

By David N. Chazin

In conjunction with Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor. Mr. Chazin is a regular contributor to PlannerConnect.

If you are planning on winning the lottery, don’t bother reading this. For the rest of you, however, it is never too early to begin planning for a comfortable retirement. Given the new economic realities of retirement planning, building up a nest egg is a top priority. No longer can you rely on the government or employer-provided pensions to carry you through your retirement years. The long-term viability of the Social Security system is uncertain, given the crush of aging baby boomers who will begin retiring after 2010.

Generally, the private sector is shifting away from defined benefit plans — which promise a certain payout for long-time workers after they retire — to other types of arrangements like 401(k) defined contribution plans, which place greater responsibility for retirement investing on employees. Additionally, Americans are living longer than ever before, so to avoid outliving your savings, you’ll need to set aside more now to finance a retirement that could last over twenty years.

Unfortunately, when it comes to retirement planning, many people are more scared than prepared. Three out of four working Americans are worried about not having enough savings for retirement, yet over half have not begun to save for retirement, according to a New York Times/CBS poll. Retirement planning may seem like a struggle, but you can reach your goals if you develop a disciplined savings strategy.

The first step is to set your goals: when would you like to retire and what kind of lifestyle will you maintain during retirement? Next, you may want to contact a financial professional to help you estimate what your expenses in retirement will be, how much you will receive from Social Security and your employer’s pension, and how much you’ll need to make up any shortfall between retirement expenses and income. Full Social Security benefits now accrue at age 67 for someone born in 1960.

Don’t rely too heavily on the rough rule of thumb that you’ll need about 70 percent of your pre-retirement income after you stop working — your expenses for health care and leisure activities, for instance, may increase as you get older.

Whether you have 25 years or five years until retirement, take full advantage of the time you have until you retire. Obviously, the earlier you begin, the more you will end up contributing over time. Additionally, starting early lets you generate a greater payoff down the road due to the process of compounding — the process by which the investment earnings you accumulate begin to generate earnings of their own. Compounding benefits increase with time.

Avoid the habit of contributing to your retirement fund only if there happens to be any cash left over at month-end. Without fail, set aside a specific amount each month for retirement before paying other bills. Saving even a small amount regularly is much easier than trying to save it all at once.

Another tip: contribute as much as you can to any tax-deferred retirement plan offered by your employer. A 401(k) plan, for instance, lets you contribute pre-tax dollars and exclude any investment earnings from your yearly taxable income until you withdraw your money later at retirement. As an incentive for you to save, some employers match some or all of what you contribute, which can help build up your nest egg even more. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ are subject to a 10% penalty and income taxes.

Choosing the right investments isn’t easy. Your portfolio will be shaped by several factors, including your age, time horizon, tax bracket, and risk tolerance. All investments are subject to varying degrees of risk, but one type of risk in particular — inflation — is often overlooked. Inflation erodes the value of your savings over time and takes its toll on most types of investments, including those, which are considered “safe,” such as money-market funds.

Naturally, you want to be cautious with your retirement savings, but investing too conservatively can keep you from reaching your goals. Avoid putting all your eggs in one basket by diversifying or spreading your savings among several types of investments, such as stocks, bonds and money market accounts. Diversification may help moderate the risks inherent in investing, but diversification cannot eliminate the risk of investment losses.

If planning for your retirement seems like a daunting task, contact a qualified financial professional for help. He or she can help you devise a strategy to meet your goals and suggest the most appropriate investments for your retirement portfolio.

David N. Chazin is part of a network of qualified financial planners affiliated with PlannerConnect. You can reach him at David.Chazin@LFG.com, or to connect with a financial planner in your area please call (800) 318-7848, or visit the PlannerConnect website.

David N. Chazin, is a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, and offers investment advisory service through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor,3000 Executive Parkway, Suite 400, San Ramon, CA 94583, (925) 275-0300. Insurance offered through Lincoln affiliates and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstances.



ROBERT

Pete Miguel asked:


The question of how to retire wealthy can be answered much easier than you think. It all starts with you evaluating your actual situation and then beginning to craft a financial plan. For most people, the quest for retiring wealthy is something that needs hard work, discipline, and patience - that’s unless of course you have been born from a rich family and the prospect of inheritance is always there.

One of the usual mistakes committed by people is that they think retirement comes with age. There has always been this perception by many that retirement is only for those who already reached their 50s and above, and that retirement signifies an age when one no longer has the capacity to work as fully as before, therefore retirement becomes the best option.

If truth be told, anybody can choose to retire when they feel like it. Age should not be the basis for retirement but rather, the financial resources that you have. Even as early as in your 30s, you can retire. It’s not a question of when but rather how.

Here’s a quick list on how to retire wealthy which includes some of the most practical ways in setting up a good financial plan:

1. Make a solid retirement plan

If you wanted to save up for retirement, then you should also allow yourself to know the things you are saving for. Outline which aspects of your life would you need sufficient funding for in order for you to live comfortably during retirement. Consider a healthy balance between essentials such as utility bills and those for personal pleasure.

2. Create a financial system

The next step would be to seek a system that would help you facilitate your retirement plan. Most companies offer this as a benefit by automatically deducting a part of your salary for your retirement plan. You can also get in touch with your personal banking account to help you set up a retirement plan.

Ask them to automate obtaining at least 10% of your monthly salary into a retirement plan. Usually, this goes under the guise of a time deposit account because time deposits cannot be withdrawn unless it reaches a specified period. As it is kept safely within the bank, it earns higher interest rates since time deposits are usually being used by banks for corporate investments.

3. Put up your own home based business

Have you ever considered putting up your own business on the internet? If your answer is no, then you better start thinking on considering this option. With the internet technology soaring up high and fast, if you start preparing yourself and do the necessary learning today, then in a couple of years time - it won’t be surprising for you to have one pleasant retirement while having your own business right at the comfort of home.

You need to keep in mind that putting up your own business can be compared to creating a good investment. The longer you stick with your business, the better you get at it. The longer your business runs, the more established it becomes. So really, it is like putting your time, money, and effort on a highly valuable investment wherein you get more value out of it as days go by.



TRACIE