Retirement is worse than expected for more than 1 in 4 seniors: Retirement Scan

Over a quarter of seniors say retirement is worse than they expected
About 28% of seniors polled by Nationwide claimed that their lives worsened after they retired, according to this article on Motley Fool. To avoid this experience, pre-retirees should lower their expectations about Social Security. They can also prepare for out-of-pocket medical expenses in retirement that are not covered by Medicare by contributing to a health savings account, which is funded with pre-tax dollars and allows tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses.

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How to invest for lifetime income and long-term growth
Clients who have a sizeable retirement savings may want to annuitize a portion of these funds to create a guaranteed income stream enough to cover their needs in the golden years, according to this article on CNNMoney. A small portion of their savings may be socked away in a cash reserve fund, and the remainder of the money may be invested in a diversified portfolio with a 40% to 60% asset allocation.

Why ‘nudging’ works: People need a push when it comes to retirement savings
For Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard Thaler, inertia, loss aversion preventing people from saving, and immediate gratification are some of the reasons why retirement saving can be difficult for many people. That's why a little "nudge" is needed to push them to save, writes an expert on MarketWatch. "Because of these natural behavioral factors, a defined contribution retirement savings program often fails to overcome [these] behavioral barriers and leads to less than optimal outcomes," writes the expert.

Ask Larry: Can I collect on my boyfriend's record if we marry?
A 52-year-old client who collects Social Security disability benefits may qualify for spousal benefits at age 62 if she marries her boyfriend, according to this article on Forbes. However, her husband's full retirement age benefit rate should be more than twice of her SSDI rate to collect a spousal benefit on his record.

Yes, you can save $1 million for retirement with a $50,000 salary—here’s how
Clients with $50,000 or less in income can end up with a sizeable nest egg in retirement if they set aside a portion of their earnings aggressively for the golden years, according to this article on CNBC. They should also have a good estimate of the amount of money they need to secure their retirement. They should also start saving as early as possible, reduce spending to save more money, be consistent in their saving.

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