所謂的老年人口爆炸式增長(zhǎng)從今年開(kāi)始達(dá)到頂峰:將有410萬(wàn)美國(guó)人在2024年達(dá)到65歲,創(chuàng)歷史新高。雖然許多人將成為離開(kāi)勞動(dòng)力市場(chǎng)大軍的一份子,但并非所有人都會(huì)退休:有些人無(wú)法負(fù)擔(dān)停止工作的費(fèi)用,還有越來(lái)越多的受過(guò)大學(xué)教育的嬰兒潮一代,盡管有經(jīng)濟(jì)能力退休,但仍然想要保住工作。
不過(guò),根據(jù)終身收入聯(lián)盟(Alliance for Lifetime Income)的退休收入研究所(Retirement Income Institute)的數(shù)據(jù),隨著嬰兒潮一代達(dá)到專(zhuān)家們所說(shuō)的“65歲高峰區(qū)間”,退休人數(shù)預(yù)計(jì)將從過(guò)去10年的每天約1萬(wàn)人躍升至超過(guò)11,200人。退休人員激增預(yù)計(jì)將持續(xù)到2027年。
雖然嬰兒潮一代已經(jīng)有數(shù)十年的時(shí)間進(jìn)行儲(chǔ)蓄、投資并為人生的下一篇章做準(zhǔn)備,但他們可能忽略了能夠采取的幾項(xiàng)策略。對(duì)于那些臨近退休的人來(lái)說(shuō),以下是理財(cái)顧問(wèn)提供的五條建議,可以讓你在晚年實(shí)現(xiàn)資金最大化和長(zhǎng)壽。
1. 考慮進(jìn)行羅斯轉(zhuǎn)換
大多數(shù)人都熟悉401(k)養(yǎng)老金計(jì)劃和個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù),但其他退休賬戶(hù)也能夠列入財(cái)務(wù)計(jì)劃,比如羅斯個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)(Roth IRA)。雖然由于繳款的收入上限,它們通常被認(rèn)為最適合年輕員工,但即使你收入過(guò)高,無(wú)法直接向羅斯個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)繳款,也可以通過(guò)羅斯轉(zhuǎn)換獲得羅斯個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)帶來(lái)的益處。
顧名思義,該策略包括把傳統(tǒng)個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)轉(zhuǎn)換為羅斯個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)。當(dāng)你進(jìn)行轉(zhuǎn)換時(shí),實(shí)際上是將資金從稅前工具轉(zhuǎn)移到稅后工具;如今要按照當(dāng)前稅率為這筆資金繳稅,然后它將實(shí)現(xiàn)免稅增長(zhǎng)。
顧問(wèn)們表示,這樣做大有裨益。假設(shè)你滿(mǎn)足其他要求,就能夠在退休時(shí)享受免稅提領(lǐng),并且在有生之年沒(méi)有規(guī)定最低提領(lǐng)額。這是為你的財(cái)務(wù)計(jì)劃增加稅收多樣化,并在有生之年減少稅費(fèi)的好方法。
2. 優(yōu)化應(yīng)稅賬戶(hù)
說(shuō)到這一點(diǎn),實(shí)現(xiàn)稅收多樣化可以超出401(k)養(yǎng)老金計(jì)劃和個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)的范圍。應(yīng)稅賬戶(hù)也發(fā)揮著重要作用,重要的是要知道先利用哪個(gè)賬戶(hù)。
得克薩斯州的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師斯科特·畢曉普表示:“401(k)養(yǎng)老金計(jì)劃或個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)都是稅前的,需要繳納所得稅,因此聯(lián)邦和州政府可能‘擁有’這些賬戶(hù)中30%至50%的資金。如果將這筆資金儲(chǔ)存進(jìn)羅斯個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)或應(yīng)稅經(jīng)紀(jì)賬戶(hù)里,結(jié)果可能就會(huì)有所不同?!?/p>
應(yīng)稅賬戶(hù)沒(méi)有退休賬戶(hù)的稅收優(yōu)惠,但也沒(méi)有退休賬戶(hù)的限制。它允許你為未來(lái)投資,但沒(méi)有繳款限制、提前支取罰款、規(guī)定提領(lǐng)額等限制。
如果你不確定退休后的納稅等級(jí),在經(jīng)紀(jì)賬戶(hù)里存放一些資金就尤其有用;從應(yīng)稅賬戶(hù)中提取資金按照資本利得稅率征稅,而從401(k)賬戶(hù)中提取資金按照普通所得稅稅率征稅(稅率可能更高)。對(duì)于應(yīng)稅賬戶(hù)而言,只有收益需要納稅,而從401(k)賬戶(hù)中提取的全部資金都需要納稅。擁有一系列賬戶(hù)能夠讓你制定巧妙的提款策略。
T. Rowe Price的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師朱迪思·沃德寫(xiě)道:“正如你通過(guò)分散投資來(lái)幫助應(yīng)對(duì)市場(chǎng)的不確定性一樣,分散賬戶(hù)的稅務(wù)處理方式也可以幫助你應(yīng)對(duì)稅收環(huán)境的不確定性,并管理好退休后的收入?!?/p>
當(dāng)然,你還需要預(yù)留一大筆現(xiàn)金,以備不時(shí)之需。馬里蘭州的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師韋斯·巴特爾說(shuō),理想的金額是六個(gè)月的開(kāi)支。
3. 推遲社會(huì)保障金的領(lǐng)取時(shí)間
雖然有些人早在62歲就有資格開(kāi)始領(lǐng)取社會(huì)保障金,但理財(cái)顧問(wèn)表示,如果可能的話,最好推遲到70歲,或者至少推遲到所謂的全面退休年齡。這將增加福利金額,并幫助你降低應(yīng)稅收入,原因是你將先用掉其他退休賬戶(hù)中的部分儲(chǔ)蓄。伊利諾伊州的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師安迪·巴克斯利說(shuō):“這是財(cái)務(wù)規(guī)劃中最容易被忽視的機(jī)會(huì)之一?!?/p>
全面退休年齡取決于你的出生時(shí)間。對(duì)于1960年或之后出生的人來(lái)說(shuō),全面退休年齡是67歲。對(duì)于1955年到1959年底出生的人而言,全面退休年齡介于66歲零2個(gè)月和66歲零10個(gè)月之間。如果你在1955年之前出生,全面退休年齡則為66歲(你已經(jīng)達(dá)到了這個(gè)年齡)。推遲到70歲意味著你能夠獲得“延遲退休”積分,從而獲得更高的福利。
即使推遲到70歲不太可能實(shí)現(xiàn),推遲幾年或幾個(gè)月時(shí)間也會(huì)對(duì)你最終獲得的支票數(shù)額產(chǎn)生很大的影響。你可以在社會(huì)保障金年度對(duì)賬單上查看預(yù)計(jì)福利金額,對(duì)賬單能夠在美國(guó)社會(huì)保障管理局(Social Security Administration)的網(wǎng)站上查看。
4. 微調(diào)預(yù)算
許多人(和財(cái)經(jīng)媒體)都專(zhuān)注于達(dá)到一個(gè)神奇的退休儲(chǔ)蓄“數(shù)字”,無(wú)論是100萬(wàn)美元、146萬(wàn)美元,還是更多。但畢曉普稱(chēng),對(duì)于即將退休的人來(lái)說(shuō),更需要關(guān)注的其實(shí)是退休預(yù)算里的各類(lèi)數(shù)字。它們可以分為以下幾類(lèi):
(1)固定開(kāi)支。即房貸或租金、保險(xiǎn)、房產(chǎn)稅、食品、醫(yī)療保健等。
(2)可自由支配的開(kāi)支。這包括你退休后要做的有趣事情的估計(jì)費(fèi)用,包括旅行、外出就餐等。
(3)未來(lái)計(jì)劃開(kāi)支。固定開(kāi)支和可自由支配的開(kāi)支可能在大多數(shù)情況下占預(yù)算的大部分,但如果你沒(méi)有預(yù)計(jì)到其他費(fèi)用,比如房屋維修費(fèi)用、新車(chē)費(fèi)用、長(zhǎng)期護(hù)理費(fèi)用等,就會(huì)陷入麻煩。
畢曉普指出,預(yù)算“需要深思熟慮和保守估計(jì)”。顧問(wèn)能夠幫助你考慮或有成本,并為你的家庭制定可行的預(yù)算方案。
也就是說(shuō),你的預(yù)算可能隨時(shí)發(fā)生變化??八_斯州的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師桑迪·韋弗建議,在六個(gè)月左右的時(shí)間里測(cè)試一下每月的提款金額,然后根據(jù)需要重新調(diào)整。退休后支出會(huì)發(fā)生變化,你的計(jì)劃也要隨之改變。
韋弗說(shuō):“不要因?yàn)樾∈露话病M诵蓦A段很長(zhǎng),[有可能]長(zhǎng)達(dá)30多年,因此,如果你在一到兩年的時(shí)間里財(cái)務(wù)出了問(wèn)題,你還可以讓它回到正軌?!?/p>
5. 制定“不退休計(jì)劃”
最后,顧問(wèn)們表示,雖然合適的財(cái)務(wù)和稅收策略很重要,但充分利用退休后的日子也同樣重要:你制定了財(cái)務(wù)計(jì)劃,但也需要制定全面的生活計(jì)劃。如何保持身心健康?你對(duì)志愿服務(wù)感興趣嗎?參加兼職工作會(huì)更好嗎?你想幫忙照看孫輩嗎?如果事先沒(méi)有考慮周全,想輕松打發(fā)時(shí)間可能就比想象中要困難得多。
一種策略是制定所謂的不退休計(jì)劃。皮博迪獎(jiǎng)(Peabody Awards)的獲獎(jiǎng)記者馬克·沃爾頓在他的《不退休:高效人士如何幸福生活》(Unretired: How Highly Effective People Live Happily Ever After)一書(shū)中概述了這一計(jì)劃,這包括思考哪些事情讓你著迷,以及退休后你能夠把時(shí)間投入到哪些事情上。它可以是(全職或兼職)工作,但也不一定是工作。
弗吉尼亞州的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師霍華德·普雷斯曼指出:“即將退休的人應(yīng)該記住,那些退休后從事某項(xiàng)工作的人比那些退休后停止工作的人更成功。如果你只是坐在門(mén)廊上吆喝鄰居家的孩子遠(yuǎn)離自家草坪,那么24小時(shí)就是一段很長(zhǎng)的時(shí)間?!?/p>
他建議問(wèn)自己一些問(wèn)題,包括你將在哪里居?。咳绾伪3謪⑴c度?如何保持活躍?如何彌補(bǔ)不再擁有的工作中的社會(huì)關(guān)系?
普雷斯曼說(shuō):“這一愿景越清晰,實(shí)現(xiàn)過(guò)渡就越容易。經(jīng)濟(jì)上有保障的退休生活和快樂(lè)的退休生活之間有著天壤之別?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
所謂的老年人口爆炸式增長(zhǎng)從今年開(kāi)始達(dá)到頂峰:將有410萬(wàn)美國(guó)人在2024年達(dá)到65歲,創(chuàng)歷史新高。雖然許多人將成為離開(kāi)勞動(dòng)力市場(chǎng)大軍的一份子,但并非所有人都會(huì)退休:有些人無(wú)法負(fù)擔(dān)停止工作的費(fèi)用,還有越來(lái)越多的受過(guò)大學(xué)教育的嬰兒潮一代,盡管有經(jīng)濟(jì)能力退休,但仍然想要保住工作。
不過(guò),根據(jù)終身收入聯(lián)盟(Alliance for Lifetime Income)的退休收入研究所(Retirement Income Institute)的數(shù)據(jù),隨著嬰兒潮一代達(dá)到專(zhuān)家們所說(shuō)的“65歲高峰區(qū)間”,退休人數(shù)預(yù)計(jì)將從過(guò)去10年的每天約1萬(wàn)人躍升至超過(guò)11,200人。退休人員激增預(yù)計(jì)將持續(xù)到2027年。
雖然嬰兒潮一代已經(jīng)有數(shù)十年的時(shí)間進(jìn)行儲(chǔ)蓄、投資并為人生的下一篇章做準(zhǔn)備,但他們可能忽略了能夠采取的幾項(xiàng)策略。對(duì)于那些臨近退休的人來(lái)說(shuō),以下是理財(cái)顧問(wèn)提供的五條建議,可以讓你在晚年實(shí)現(xiàn)資金最大化和長(zhǎng)壽。
1. 考慮進(jìn)行羅斯轉(zhuǎn)換
大多數(shù)人都熟悉401(k)養(yǎng)老金計(jì)劃和個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù),但其他退休賬戶(hù)也能夠列入財(cái)務(wù)計(jì)劃,比如羅斯個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)(Roth IRA)。雖然由于繳款的收入上限,它們通常被認(rèn)為最適合年輕員工,但即使你收入過(guò)高,無(wú)法直接向羅斯個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)繳款,也可以通過(guò)羅斯轉(zhuǎn)換獲得羅斯個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)帶來(lái)的益處。
顧名思義,該策略包括把傳統(tǒng)個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)轉(zhuǎn)換為羅斯個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)。當(dāng)你進(jìn)行轉(zhuǎn)換時(shí),實(shí)際上是將資金從稅前工具轉(zhuǎn)移到稅后工具;如今要按照當(dāng)前稅率為這筆資金繳稅,然后它將實(shí)現(xiàn)免稅增長(zhǎng)。
顧問(wèn)們表示,這樣做大有裨益。假設(shè)你滿(mǎn)足其他要求,就能夠在退休時(shí)享受免稅提領(lǐng),并且在有生之年沒(méi)有規(guī)定最低提領(lǐng)額。這是為你的財(cái)務(wù)計(jì)劃增加稅收多樣化,并在有生之年減少稅費(fèi)的好方法。
2. 優(yōu)化應(yīng)稅賬戶(hù)
說(shuō)到這一點(diǎn),實(shí)現(xiàn)稅收多樣化可以超出401(k)養(yǎng)老金計(jì)劃和個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)的范圍。應(yīng)稅賬戶(hù)也發(fā)揮著重要作用,重要的是要知道先利用哪個(gè)賬戶(hù)。
得克薩斯州的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師斯科特·畢曉普表示:“401(k)養(yǎng)老金計(jì)劃或個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)都是稅前的,需要繳納所得稅,因此聯(lián)邦和州政府可能‘擁有’這些賬戶(hù)中30%至50%的資金。如果將這筆資金儲(chǔ)存進(jìn)羅斯個(gè)人退休賬戶(hù)或應(yīng)稅經(jīng)紀(jì)賬戶(hù)里,結(jié)果可能就會(huì)有所不同?!?/p>
應(yīng)稅賬戶(hù)沒(méi)有退休賬戶(hù)的稅收優(yōu)惠,但也沒(méi)有退休賬戶(hù)的限制。它允許你為未來(lái)投資,但沒(méi)有繳款限制、提前支取罰款、規(guī)定提領(lǐng)額等限制。
如果你不確定退休后的納稅等級(jí),在經(jīng)紀(jì)賬戶(hù)里存放一些資金就尤其有用;從應(yīng)稅賬戶(hù)中提取資金按照資本利得稅率征稅,而從401(k)賬戶(hù)中提取資金按照普通所得稅稅率征稅(稅率可能更高)。對(duì)于應(yīng)稅賬戶(hù)而言,只有收益需要納稅,而從401(k)賬戶(hù)中提取的全部資金都需要納稅。擁有一系列賬戶(hù)能夠讓你制定巧妙的提款策略。
T. Rowe Price的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師朱迪思·沃德寫(xiě)道:“正如你通過(guò)分散投資來(lái)幫助應(yīng)對(duì)市場(chǎng)的不確定性一樣,分散賬戶(hù)的稅務(wù)處理方式也可以幫助你應(yīng)對(duì)稅收環(huán)境的不確定性,并管理好退休后的收入。”
當(dāng)然,你還需要預(yù)留一大筆現(xiàn)金,以備不時(shí)之需。馬里蘭州的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師韋斯·巴特爾說(shuō),理想的金額是六個(gè)月的開(kāi)支。
3. 推遲社會(huì)保障金的領(lǐng)取時(shí)間
雖然有些人早在62歲就有資格開(kāi)始領(lǐng)取社會(huì)保障金,但理財(cái)顧問(wèn)表示,如果可能的話,最好推遲到70歲,或者至少推遲到所謂的全面退休年齡。這將增加福利金額,并幫助你降低應(yīng)稅收入,原因是你將先用掉其他退休賬戶(hù)中的部分儲(chǔ)蓄。伊利諾伊州的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師安迪·巴克斯利說(shuō):“這是財(cái)務(wù)規(guī)劃中最容易被忽視的機(jī)會(huì)之一?!?/p>
全面退休年齡取決于你的出生時(shí)間。對(duì)于1960年或之后出生的人來(lái)說(shuō),全面退休年齡是67歲。對(duì)于1955年到1959年底出生的人而言,全面退休年齡介于66歲零2個(gè)月和66歲零10個(gè)月之間。如果你在1955年之前出生,全面退休年齡則為66歲(你已經(jīng)達(dá)到了這個(gè)年齡)。推遲到70歲意味著你能夠獲得“延遲退休”積分,從而獲得更高的福利。
即使推遲到70歲不太可能實(shí)現(xiàn),推遲幾年或幾個(gè)月時(shí)間也會(huì)對(duì)你最終獲得的支票數(shù)額產(chǎn)生很大的影響。你可以在社會(huì)保障金年度對(duì)賬單上查看預(yù)計(jì)福利金額,對(duì)賬單能夠在美國(guó)社會(huì)保障管理局(Social Security Administration)的網(wǎng)站上查看。
4. 微調(diào)預(yù)算
許多人(和財(cái)經(jīng)媒體)都專(zhuān)注于達(dá)到一個(gè)神奇的退休儲(chǔ)蓄“數(shù)字”,無(wú)論是100萬(wàn)美元、146萬(wàn)美元,還是更多。但畢曉普稱(chēng),對(duì)于即將退休的人來(lái)說(shuō),更需要關(guān)注的其實(shí)是退休預(yù)算里的各類(lèi)數(shù)字。它們可以分為以下幾類(lèi):
1. 固定開(kāi)支。即房貸或租金、保險(xiǎn)、房產(chǎn)稅、食品、醫(yī)療保健等。
2. 可自由支配的開(kāi)支。這包括你退休后要做的有趣事情的估計(jì)費(fèi)用,包括旅行、外出就餐等。
3. 未來(lái)計(jì)劃開(kāi)支。固定開(kāi)支和可自由支配的開(kāi)支可能在大多數(shù)情況下占預(yù)算的大部分,但如果你沒(méi)有預(yù)計(jì)到其他費(fèi)用,比如房屋維修費(fèi)用、新車(chē)費(fèi)用、長(zhǎng)期護(hù)理費(fèi)用等,就會(huì)陷入麻煩。
畢曉普指出,預(yù)算“需要深思熟慮和保守估計(jì)”。顧問(wèn)能夠幫助你考慮或有成本,并為你的家庭制定可行的預(yù)算方案。
也就是說(shuō),你的預(yù)算可能隨時(shí)發(fā)生變化??八_斯州的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師桑迪·韋弗建議,在六個(gè)月左右的時(shí)間里測(cè)試一下每月的提款金額,然后根據(jù)需要重新調(diào)整。退休后支出會(huì)發(fā)生變化,你的計(jì)劃也要隨之改變。
韋弗說(shuō):“不要因?yàn)樾∈露话?。退休階段很長(zhǎng),[有可能]長(zhǎng)達(dá)30多年,因此,如果你在一到兩年的時(shí)間里財(cái)務(wù)出了問(wèn)題,你還可以讓它回到正軌?!?/p>
5. 制定“不退休計(jì)劃”
最后,顧問(wèn)們表示,雖然合適的財(cái)務(wù)和稅收策略很重要,但充分利用退休后的日子也同樣重要:你制定了財(cái)務(wù)計(jì)劃,但也需要制定全面的生活計(jì)劃。如何保持身心健康?你對(duì)志愿服務(wù)感興趣嗎?參加兼職工作會(huì)更好嗎?你想幫忙照看孫輩嗎?如果事先沒(méi)有考慮周全,想輕松打發(fā)時(shí)間可能就比想象中要困難得多。
一種策略是制定所謂的不退休計(jì)劃。皮博迪獎(jiǎng)(Peabody Awards)的獲獎(jiǎng)記者馬克·沃爾頓在他的《不退休:高效人士如何幸福生活》(Unretired: How Highly Effective People Live Happily Ever After)一書(shū)中概述了這一計(jì)劃,這包括思考哪些事情讓你著迷,以及退休后你能夠把時(shí)間投入到哪些事情上。它可以是(全職或兼職)工作,但也不一定是工作。
弗吉尼亞州的注冊(cè)理財(cái)規(guī)劃師霍華德·普雷斯曼指出:“即將退休的人應(yīng)該記住,那些退休后從事某項(xiàng)工作的人比那些退休后停止工作的人更成功。如果你只是坐在門(mén)廊上吆喝鄰居家的孩子遠(yuǎn)離自家草坪,那么24小時(shí)就是一段很長(zhǎng)的時(shí)間?!?/p>
他建議問(wèn)自己一些問(wèn)題,包括你將在哪里居?。咳绾伪3謪⑴c度?如何保持活躍?如何彌補(bǔ)不再擁有的工作中的社會(huì)關(guān)系?
普雷斯曼說(shuō):“這一愿景越清晰,實(shí)現(xiàn)過(guò)渡就越容易。經(jīng)濟(jì)上有保障的退休生活和快樂(lè)的退休生活之間有著天壤之別?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
The so-called silver tsunami of retirees is beginning to crest this year, as a record-high 4.1 million Americans turn 65 in 2024. While many are part of an exodus from the workforce, not all of them will retire: Some cannot afford to stop working, and there is also a growing cohort of college-educated baby boomers who want to keep their jobs despite having the financial means to retire.
Still, as baby boomers reach what experts are calling the “peak 65 zone,” the number of people retiring is expected to jump from around 10,000 per day over the past decade to over 11,200, according to the Alliance for Lifetime Income’s Retirement Income Institute. The surge in retirees is expected to last through 2027.
While boomers have had decades to save, invest, and prepare for the next chapter, there are a few strategies they may have overlooked. For those nearing retirement, here are five tips from financial advisors to maximize money—and longevity—in the golden years.
1. Consider a Roth conversion
Most people are familiar with 401(k)s and IRAs, but there are other retirement accounts that belong in your financial plan, like a Roth IRA. Though they are usually thought to be best for younger workers due to the income cap on contributions, you can still get the benefits of a Roth even if you make too much to contribute to one outright, via a Roth conversion.
As the name implies, the strategy involves converting your traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. When you make the conversion, you’re essentially moving funds from a pre-tax vehicle to a post-tax vehicle; you’ll pay taxes on the money now at your current rate, and then it will grow tax-free.
The benefits are plenty, advisors say. You’ll enjoy tax-free withdrawals in retirement (assuming you meet the other requirements) and no required-minimum distributions during your lifetime. This is a good way to add tax diversification to your financial plan and reduce your lifetime tax bill.
2. Optimize your taxable account
Speaking of which, tax diversification can go beyond 401(k)s and IRAs. Taxable accounts also play an important role, and it’s important to know which to tap first.
“With a 401(k) or IRA, it is all pre-tax and subject to income tax, so the federal and state government may ‘own’ around 30% to 50% of those accounts,” says Scott Bishop, a Texas-based certified financial planner (CFP). “If money is in a Roth IRA or taxable brokerage account, the results may be different.”
A taxable account doesn’t have the tax benefits of a retirement account, but it also doesn’t have the restrictions they do. It allows you to invest for the future, but without the contribution limits, withdrawal penalties, required distributions, and so on.
It is especially useful to have some funds in a brokerage account if you’re not sure what tax bracket you’ll be in in retirement; withdrawals from a taxable account are taxed at the capital gains rate, whereas money taken out of a 401(k) is taxed at your ordinary income tax rate (which will likely be higher). And with a taxable account, only the gains are taxed, whereas the entire withdrawal from a 401(k) is. Having an array of accounts allows you to develop a strategic withdrawal strategy.
“Just as you diversify your investments to help tackle the uncertainty of the markets, diversifying the tax treatment of your accounts can help you weather the uncertainty of the tax landscape and manage your income in retirement,” writes Judith Ward, a CFP, for T. Rowe Price.
And of course, you will want a chunk of money set aside in cash, in case of emergency. Wes Battle, a Maryland-based CFP, says the ideal amount is six months’ worth of expenses.
3. Delay Social Security
Though some people are eligible to start taking Social Security benefits as early as 62, financial advisors say it’s best to postpone doing so until age 70, or at least to when you reach the so-called full retirement age, if at all possible. That will increase the benefit amount and help you lower your taxable income, because you will have spent some of your savings from your other retirement accounts first. “This is one of the most overlooked opportunities in financial planning,” says Andy Baxley, a CFP in Illinois.
The full retirement age depends on when you were born. For those born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67. For those born between 1955 through the end of 1959, it is between 66 and 2 months and 66 and 10 months. If you were born before 1955, it is 66 (and you’ve already reached it). Delaying until age 70 means you can earn a “delayed retirement” credit, which gets you a higher benefit.
Even if 70 isn’t likely, delaying them even a few years or months can make a big difference in the size of the check you end up getting. You can view your projected benefit amount on your annual Social Security statement, which you can view on the Social Security Administration’s website.
4. Fine-tune your budget
Many people (and financial media) focus on reaching a magic retirement savings “number,” be it $1 million or $1.46 million or more. But the more important numbers for near-retirees to focus on are actually those in their retirement budget, says Bishop. They can be broken into the following categories:
1. Fixed costs. That’s your mortgage or rent, insurance, property taxes, food, healthcare, and so on.
2. Discretionary costs. That includes estimated expenses for the fun things you’ll do in retirement, including traveling, dining out, etc.
3. Planned future costs. Fixed and discretionary costs may make up most of your budget most of the time, but you can run into trouble if you’re not anticipating other expenses, like home repair costs, new cars, long-term care, etc.
The budget “needs to be thoughtful and conservative,” Bishop says. An advisor can help you think through contingent costs and craft one that works for your family.
That said, your budget can always change. Sandi Weaver, a CFP in Kansas, suggests testing out a monthly withdrawal amount for around six months, and then readjusting as needed. Expenses change in retirement, and it’s okay for your plan to change too.
“Don’t sweat the small stuff,” Weaver says. “The retirement phase is long, [potentially] 30-plus years, so if you get the finances wrong for one to two years, you can get it back on track.”
5. Make an “unretirement plan”
Finally, advisors say while getting the finances and tax strategies right is important, equally so is making the most of your days in retirement: You have a financial plan, but you’ll want a holistic life plan as well. How will you keep your mind and body healthy? Are you interested in volunteering? Would part-time work be better? Do you want to help with your grandkids? Without some forethought, it might be more difficult than you think to easily fill your time.
One strategy is to create a so-called unretirement plan. Outlined by Mark Walton, a Peabody award-winning journalist, in his book Unretired: How Highly Effective People Live Happily Ever After, this involves thinking through what fascinates you and what you could dedicate your time to in retirement. It could be (full- or part-time) work, though it doesn’t have to be.
“Soon-to-be retirees should keep in mind that those who are retiring to something are more successful than those that are retiring from something,” says Howard Pressman, a Virginia-based CFP. “Twenty-four hours is a long time if you’re just sitting on the porch yelling at the neighborhood kids to stay off your lawn.”
He suggests asking yourself questions including, where will you live? How will you stay engaged? How will you stay active? How will you replace lost social connections from work?
“The clearer this vision is, the easier the transition will be,” says Pressman. “There’s a big difference between a financially secure retirement and a happy retirement.”