7 roadblocks to early retirement
February 9, 2012 2:12 PM
7 Roadblocks to Early Retirement
These days, investors of all ages are understandably concerned about socking away enough income and making the best investments today to ensure a comfortable retirement later in life.
Only 20 years ago, more than half of all American workers said they were on track to retire before they reached the age of 65. Today, only about 23% of Americans say they’ll be able to retire by that age.
But for those investors – and the financial planners they rely upon – who still plan to retire early – maybe in their 50s or early 60s – here’s an interactive slide show featuring seven of the largest obstacles standing in their way.
Source: RetirementEgg.com
Only 20 years ago, more than half of all American workers said they were on track to retire before they reached the age of 65. Today, only about 23% of Americans say they’ll be able to retire by that age.
But for those investors – and the financial planners they rely upon – who still plan to retire early – maybe in their 50s or early 60s – here’s an interactive slide show featuring seven of the largest obstacles standing in their way.
Source: RetirementEgg.com
1. Not Saving Enough, Early Enough<br><br>
The best advice is often free and surprisingly simple. This is the case with retirement planning: save early, save often, save consistently. It's easy to state but harder to implement, and that's usually the trick with great advice. It's surprising how few people actually stick to a rigorous saving schedule.
Adding cash to your retirement account as early as possible during your working lifetime is the single most important factor when saving for retirement. For example, a 25-year old who funds a traditional IRA with $5,000 in 2011 (the maximum amount allowed) that earns 5% annually for 40 years will have almost $635,000 at age 65. If the account averages 10% a year, the total will be over $2,434,000.
Adding cash to your retirement account as early as possible during your working lifetime is the single most important factor when saving for retirement. For example, a 25-year old who funds a traditional IRA with $5,000 in 2011 (the maximum amount allowed) that earns 5% annually for 40 years will have almost $635,000 at age 65. If the account averages 10% a year, the total will be over $2,434,000.
2. Ignoring Free Money<br><br>
Many investors fail to take full advantage of their employer's contribution matching, which is just about the same as throwing away money. Anyone fortunate enough to work for a company that offers a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan must take advantage up to the full amount. Regardless of the amount of the match the employer provides, the match is free money.
The amount of money earned and contributed each year will of course change, but for illustrative purposes, assume $6,000 is saved and matched each year for 30 years. At 5%, $12,000 per year ($360,000) becomes over $837,000 in 30 years. At 10%, that same $12,000 per month would be worth over $2,171,300.
While employer contributions can be a nice boost to your retirement savings, this strategy alone isn't sufficient to build a comfortable retirement nest egg.
The amount of money earned and contributed each year will of course change, but for illustrative purposes, assume $6,000 is saved and matched each year for 30 years. At 5%, $12,000 per year ($360,000) becomes over $837,000 in 30 years. At 10%, that same $12,000 per month would be worth over $2,171,300.
While employer contributions can be a nice boost to your retirement savings, this strategy alone isn't sufficient to build a comfortable retirement nest egg.
3. Failing to Diversify<br><br>
A common investment pitfall is spending far too much time trying to pick individual stocks that will increase in value. It's much more important to understand proper diversification. Diversification among stocks, such as owning growth and value stocks, stocks from different market sectors, and stocks from different countries, is critical to a retirement portfolio.
Diversification spreads risk. If one industry or sector suffers a loss (and it surely will during your working lifetime) another may gain. For example, if stocks in the consumer sectors are down, stocks in the technology sectors might be up. Further, owning bonds provides additional diversification. Stocks and bonds often move in direct opposition to each other. When stocks are down, investors buy bonds. This is called the "flight to safety."
Diversification spreads risk. If one industry or sector suffers a loss (and it surely will during your working lifetime) another may gain. For example, if stocks in the consumer sectors are down, stocks in the technology sectors might be up. Further, owning bonds provides additional diversification. Stocks and bonds often move in direct opposition to each other. When stocks are down, investors buy bonds. This is called the "flight to safety."
4. Starting to Plan Too Late<br><br>
One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until their 50s or 60s to start planning for retirement. Waiting this long typically means that more sacrifices will have to be made, sometime sacrifices that are too hard to bear. Those in their 50s and 60s often assume that since they've been putting money into a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan will suffice.
However, even with generous employer match and compounding, most people need more than just a 401(k) to comfortably retire.
If you're over 50, add the $1,000 "catch up" contribution to your retirement savings plan. If you need to, open up a new account. Take a look at how assets are allocated and talk to a financial advisor about risk and reward.
However, even with generous employer match and compounding, most people need more than just a 401(k) to comfortably retire.
If you're over 50, add the $1,000 "catch up" contribution to your retirement savings plan. If you need to, open up a new account. Take a look at how assets are allocated and talk to a financial advisor about risk and reward.
5. Underestimating the Effects of Inflation<br><br>
Inflation is the biggest risk to any retirement savings plan, and woe be unto any retiree who underestimates its effects. Inflation is the sustained increase in the price of goods and services over time. Most experts agree that retirees need to assume an annual inflation rate of 3-4%, but a good retirement plan should account for periods of high inflation as well.
If the annual rate of inflation is 3% but your salary rises 5% each year, that's ok. But if you're retired and on a fixed income, you need to make sure that your investments earn more than the rate of inflation. Otherwise, you're at risk of running out of money because goods and services will cost more than you're earning.
Two common solutions to the inflation problem are gold and real estate. Both of these assets usually rise in value as the dollar weakens. Retirees with fixed mortgages actually benefit from inflation because the value of their house grows while monthly payments remain the same.
If the annual rate of inflation is 3% but your salary rises 5% each year, that's ok. But if you're retired and on a fixed income, you need to make sure that your investments earn more than the rate of inflation. Otherwise, you're at risk of running out of money because goods and services will cost more than you're earning.
Two common solutions to the inflation problem are gold and real estate. Both of these assets usually rise in value as the dollar weakens. Retirees with fixed mortgages actually benefit from inflation because the value of their house grows while monthly payments remain the same.
6. Underestimating the Need and Cost of Health Care<br><br>
Not planning for rising health care costs is a huge retirement planning pitfall. There's no doubt that health care costs are not only rising, they are rising faster than the rate of inflation. While Medicare is available for those retirees over the age of 65, it doesn't cover everything. Any retirement plan worth its salt must account for these rising costs and offer a means of health insurance after retirement.
Current estimates project that the Medicare trust fund will become insolvent in 2017. Considering that almost 15% of the population of the United States will be age 65 or older in 2017, and 20% of the population in 25 years, it's clear that we need to save even more for health care in retirement.
Current estimates project that the Medicare trust fund will become insolvent in 2017. Considering that almost 15% of the population of the United States will be age 65 or older in 2017, and 20% of the population in 25 years, it's clear that we need to save even more for health care in retirement.
7. Going it Alone<br><br>
An all too common retirement planning mistake is going it alone. This usually results in missed investment opportunities, sloppy planning, and lax savings schedules. Enlisting the help of a certified financial planner is a smart move at any age to avoid retirement planning pitfalls. A certified financial planner will be able to take a look at the "big picture." He or she will be able to develop a retirement savings plan unique to your current expenses and lifestyle, and most importantly, instill the necessary discipline and rigor needed to build a solid retirement nest egg.
