The word ‘retirement’ can be exciting to some and give them the feeling of freedom. While to others it is a really scary word that might cause your heart to lose a beat. If you are over 50 year old, and in order to be not be afraid of this stage of life, it is important to be prepared. The following article will give you all the tips you need to plan for your retirement.
Open an IRA to increase your savings for retirement. If you have good income, you can probably put in the max of about $6000/year. Automatic scheduled deposits are probably the best way to go; that removes you from the picture of having to make the decision each and every month. This can be beneficial as there are many tax benefits, and is another way to lock in money when retirement comes. This retirement account does not charge you taxes if you were to take money out of it after you turn 60.
Decrease what you spend on random items during the week. Get a list written down of each expense you have and figure out what you can live without. Spending money on things that are not necessary can represent tremendous expense in the course of a lifetime.
Your 401(k) is a great way to put away funds, especially if your company adds to it when you do. A 401k plan allows you to invest pre-tax dollars into a retirement plan. With matching employer contributions, you are basically giving yourself a raise by saving. Unfortunately, not all companies have 401k plans.
Ask your employer if they match your 401K savings. Many employers will match the savings you place into your 401K, but only if they meet minimum requirements. Figure out if your company offers this kind of deal and what the minimum deposit is before the employer will match the saving.
Never spend your retirement money. Pulling money from your retirement fund not only reduces the amount of money you have for retirement, but it also increases your tax burden. You will also be responsible for early withdrawal penalties, tax liabilities and lose interest from the amount withdrawn from your retirement fund.
Make sure that you know what you are going to do for health insurance. Healthcare can really take a toll on your finances. Make sure that you have your health expenses accounted for when you retire. If you retire early, you may not qualify for Medicare. It’s important to have a plan.
Are you frustrated because the company you work for does not have a retirement plan? Take matters into your own hands. Go to your employer and ask them to get started with one. You may be surprised at how willing they are to take this step and become more attractive to potential employees.
Make friends with other retirees. Finding a friendly group of individuals who are also retired can help you enjoy your free time. When you have a group of people, you can do a lot of fun activities that retired people can enjoy. In addition, you may find it easier to talk to them than to people who are younger than you.
Do the math and figure out how much money you need to live. If you ever hope to live without working, then you’ll need to have that money saved ahead of time in your retirement plan. Figure out how much it costs you to live comfortably and this will give you some form of saving goal.
Be very certain that the funds that you’ve saved for retirement are vested by the time you are looking to retire. Sure all that money is earmarked for retirement, but there may be restrictions on when you can actually touch those funds. Removing them early could mean having to pay fees for touching the funds.
Research Medicare and the different ways it will affect your insurance. If you already have insurance, you should learn how they will work together. If you completely understand how this works, then you are more likely to be fully covered.
Think about teaching or consulting during your retirement. Since you’ll have a nest egg set up, you won’t really need full time income year round. Instead, you can teach classes or do freelance advising to clients when it suits you. You’ll have freedom of schedule and still be bringing in some money.
When you retire, it’s a must to change your investing strategies to something more secure. You don’t want to play high risk investments during retirement age. Sure you still want your money to make you money, but make safer choices with your nest egg. Losing it now can be a big problem.
Do not depend solely on Social Security benefits to fund your retirement. These benefits are approximately 40 percent of what you earn while working. You will need to supplement your Social Security benefits with other retirement savings, such as a 401k plan or an IRA. You will need a minimum of 70 percent of your gross yearly earning to maintain your standard of living.
Hopefully this article was enlightening and provided you with very valuable information that will help you in your retirement years. The tips that were provided will not only help you plan for it, but also help you manage your income in your retirement years. So do not let the word retirement become a scary word for you. Learn and conquer!
