The Basics of Financial Literacy in Retirement
- January 30, 2023
- Financial Planning, Retirement Planning
Working towards retirement, you may have a detailed plan on how to manage your finances so that you have enough saved by the time you leave the workforce. With no earned income coming in, there will be a new rulebook on how to manage your retirement earnings, expenses, and investments – not just so that you can keep growing your portfolio – but so you can live comfortably. Financial literacy in retirement is crucial to achieving the retirement of your dreams. Here are some of the basics.
Earning
In retirement, you start to pay yourself with money you earned and have invested throughout your career. This money may come from employer-sponsored retirement accounts, individual retirement accounts, and Social Security. It’s essential to understand your sources of income, how much is in them, how much you’ll be getting from them, and the best times to access each. For example, you are eligible for Social Security from age 62, but delaying benefits until full retirement age or even later can offer you a higher monthly payment.[1] Note: This is highly individualized and not everyone should delay Social Security benefits.
The trick is that how much income you choose to draw is up to you. Some recommendations are to draw 80% of your previous income[2] by utilizing multiple income sources. However, you need to be aware of how each source of income is taxed. Overall, the timeline for when to utilize the different sources of income will require a comprehensive plan based on your financial situation, assets, and goals.
Spending
Believe it or not, spending wisely is the key to retirement longevity. Your spending is dependent on your lifestyle relative to your earnings. If you opt for a similar lifestyle to that of your workforce days, you can predict how much you’ll be spending in your day-to-day life. However, in retirement, there may be new additions like hobbies and habits that should be financed, big purchases like homes and cars, and major financial decisions like relocating or traveling regularly. You may also have home mortgages and car loans to pay off or an obligation to financially support your kids’ and grandkids’ education. All these costs need to be factored in when thinking about spending.
The most under-planned costs in retirement are healthcare and long-term care. You can only receive Medicare beginning at age 65, and that will not include long-term care. In addition, Part B, which covers your regular doctor visits, for example, is not free. Therefore, when thinking about expenses in retirement, it’s beneficial to evaluate your potential health care and long-term care costs as early as possible.
Understanding income and spending in retirement is the first step to financial literacy, empowering you to take control of your future. To further gain insight into your finances in retirement, sign up for a complimentary review with us.
