4 things keeping clients from retirement savings (and how to fix them)

Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.

4 things keeping clients from retirement savings (and how to fix them)
Many seniors may not be able to have a comfortable life in their golden years because they carry a hefty credit card debt into retirement, according to this article on personal finance website Motley Fool. They may also not be able to secure their retirement because they put their child's college tuition or debt ahead of retirement savings. Many of them may pay off fixed debt too quickly, or have the "unrealistic optimism" mindset, preventing them from making wise and sound financial decisions that will improve their retirement prospects.

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Are clients taking too much risk with retirement money?
Experts recommend clients to adopt a less aggressive approach to investing if they are approaching retirement, or already retired, according to this article from Forbes. A study by MassMutual has found that a significant number of retirees and pre-retirees remain in the stock market purposely to achieve investment growth. “It’s clear from our research that many retirees may be vulnerable to sudden market corrections and volatility, which can adversely impact savings,” says an expert with MassMutual.

This 39-year-old saves 75% of every paycheck and is almost ready to retire. Here’s how she does it
A 39-year-old flight attendant is on track to financial independence and ready to retire within a year, according to this article from Money. She says that she learns new ideas from other people who also aim to retire early, save at least 75% of her wage income, and find the right balance between making money and spending. “The point of this is to thrive in your life and to not feel like you’re missing out.”

3 facts about Social Security every retiree should know
Before filing for Social Security, retirees should know that a portion of their benefits could be subject to federal tax, according to this article on Nasdaq. For example, up to 85% of their retirement benefits will be taxed if their combined income will be more than $34,000 (or $44,000 if they are married). Because of this, they should have a strategy for withdrawing funds from their retirement accounts such as 401(k) and IRA to ensure that their withdrawals will not exceed the threshold.

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