Video

Roth IRA Conversion in the Era of COVID-19: Is Now the Right Time for You?

· June 4, 2020 · Investing, Retirement, Video · No Comments

Image by Nattanan Kanchanaprat from Pixabay

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up nearly every aspect of American life. To say it’s been a difficult time would be an understatement.

However, difficult times may open doors to new possibilities. Businesses are changing their ways of operating, and individuals are exploring new avenues for investment. It may be time for you to consider some opportunities, as well.

What is a Roth Conversion?

A Roth conversion refers to the transfer of an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), either Traditional, SIMPLE, or SEP-IRA, into a Roth IRA. With Roth IRAs, you pay tax on the money before it transfers into the account.

One benefit to having your money in the Roth IRA is that, unlike a Traditional IRA, you currently are not obligated to take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) after you reach age 72 (RMDs would be required to any non-spousal beneficiaries, however).

Another benefit is that since the money was taxed before going into the Roth IRA, any distributions are tax-free. Keep in mind that tax rules are constantly changing, and there is no guarantee that Roth IRA distributions will remain tax-free. (1,2)

Why Go Roth in 2020?

In the face of the market downturn after the COVID-19 outbreak, you may be in a unique financial situation. For example, suppose you have an IRA account that was worth $1 million before the downturn, but it’s currently worth $800,000.

Perhaps your income has also decreased, potentially putting you in a lower tax bracket. Maybe you own one or more businesses, such as restaurants, that have been closed. You may not yet know if these businesses will be opening again in 2020. Your income could hypothetically be considerably lower this year than last year.

But: this may present an opportunity. Less earned income may mean lower total taxes due on a Roth conversion, especially if the overall account value has dropped.

Keep in mind, this article is for information purposes only and is making an assumption on an IRA account’s value and applying a hypothetical drop in earned income. We recommend you contact your tax or legal professional before modifying your retirement investment strategy.

No Turning Back.

While this may be a good time for you to consider converting to a Roth IRA, remember that there’s no turning back once you do. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 decreed that Roth conversions could no longer be undone. (3)

A Roth IRA conversion is a complicated process, and it’s wise to involve your trusted financial professional.

▲ Evaluate a Roth at different life stages

The decision to make a pre-tax/deductible contribution to a Traditional 401(k) or IRA or an after-tax contribution to a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA is based on the income tax rate of the individual at the time of making the contribution, and his/her anticipated tax rate in the future. The difference in tax rates can be caused by an investor’s personal situation and/or tax policy over time. This chart shows a typical wage curve and the general “rule of thumb” about what type of contribution may be most appropriate based on current income and the bracket in retirement. An additional consideration is to maintain a healthy mix of taxable, tax-free (Roth) and tax-deferred accounts so that you can have greater flexibility to manage your income taxes. The numbers on the chart specify situations in which contributing to a Roth option should be carefully considered.

Sources

  1. Investopedia.com, November 26, 2019.
  2. Investopedia.com, January 17, 2020.
  3. Congress.gov, December 22, 2017.
  4. https://am.jpmorgan.com/us/en/asset-management/gim/adv/insights/guide-to-retirement

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. To qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a five-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal also can be taken under certain other circumstances, such as a result of the owner’s death. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.

Why Portfolio Diversification Is Important During Volatile Markets

· September 3, 2019 · Investing, Video · No Comments

brown eggs in brown wicker basket

Photo by Julian Schwarzenbach on Pexels.com

A multiple asset class portfolio prevents having all your investment eggs in one basket.

Diversification Helps You Manage Risk

We all want a terrific ROI, but risk management matters just as much in investing, perhaps more. That is why diversification is so important. There are two great reasons to invest across a range of asset classes, even when some are clearly outperforming others.

REASON #1:

Potentially Capture Gains in Different Market Climates

If you allocate your invested assets across the breadth of asset classes, you will at least have some percentage of your portfolio assigned to the market’s best-performing sectors on any given trading day. If your portfolio is too heavily weighted in one asset class, or in one stock, its return is riding too heavily on its performance.

Your portfolio is like a garden. A good gardener will plant a variety of flowers to ensure something is always blooming. The gardener knows that some flowers eventually die off or may not grow well but if there is enough diversity the overall picture will still look good.

REASON #2:

Potentially Less Financial Pain if Stocks Decline

If you have a lot of money in growth stocks and aggressive growth funds (and some people do), what happens to your portfolio in a correction or a bear market? You’ve got a bunch of losers on your hands. Tax loss harvesting can ease the pain only so much.

Diversification gives your portfolio a kind of “buffer” against market volatility and drawdowns. Without it, your exposure to risk is magnified.

ADVICE:

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!

Believe the cliché: don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Wall Street is hardly uneventful and the behavior of the market sometimes leaves even seasoned analysts scratching their heads. We can’t predict how the market will perform; we can diversify to address the challenges presented by its ups and downs.

MI-GTM_3Q19_August_High-Res-60

▲ Asset class returns

This chart shows the historical performance and volatility of different asset classes, as well as an annually rebalanced asset allocation portfolio. The asset allocation portfolio incorporates the various asset classes shown in the chart and highlights that balance and diversification can help reduce volatility and enhance returns. (2)

Sources

  1. usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/perfi/retirement/story/2011-12-08/investment-diversification/51749298/1
  2. https://am.jpmorgan.com/us/en/asset-management/gim/protected/adv/insights/guide-to-the-markets/viewer
  3. This material was prepared, in part, by MarketingPro, Inc.

7 Ways to Replace Your Income In Retirement

· March 7, 2018 · Retirement, Video · No Comments

Thinking about retirement? Wondering where your income will be coming from. Here are the top 7 sources of income for your retirement:

 

INCOME SOURCE #1

SOCIAL SECURITY

Provides Foundation for Average Person’s Retirement

Social Security provides the foundation for the average person’s retirement income. So long as you’ve paid into the system, you will receive it. It’s a good starting point, but unfortunately it usually isn’t enough to help you maintain the lifestyle you may be accustomed to.

INCOME SOURCE #2

DEFINED BENEFIT PENSIONS

Employer Funds This Plan and Provides Lifetime Income

If you have a pension, congrats. Unfortunately pensions are becoming a thing of the past as the burden of retirement funding is falling on the employee. In a pension, the employer funds the plan and agrees to provide you a specified amount of lifetime income. This is a direct contrast to #3 the defined contribution plan

INCOME SOURCE #3

DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS

These Are Your 401(k)’s and 403(b)’s

These are designed to help you , the employee, save for your retirement. They can be funded by both you and your employer but it is your responsibility to contribute and choose the investments. During retirement it is up to you to figure out how to convert these funds into retirement income

INCOME SOURCE #4

IRAs

Funded With Money You Contribute or Rollover

IRAs are individual retirement accounts funded with money you contribute or with money you have rolled over from an old employer’s retirement plan. You can begin withdrawing money from the account for retirement without penalty after you turn 59 1/2

INCOME SOURCE #5

ANNUITIES

Can Provide a Fixed or Variable Amount of Money

Annuities are insurance products that can provide a fixed or variable amount of money during retirement. You do give up some control over your money, however they can help you create guaranteed income for life.

INCOME SOURCE #6

TAXABLE INVESTMENTS

Often Held in Savings or Brokerage Accounts

These are any investments you hold outside your retirement plans. These assets could be held in savings accounts or brokerages accounts. Depending on how have this money invested you can use the dividends, interest and capital gains on these investments to help create retirement income.

INCOME SOURCE #7

JOBS

You May Still Need or Want to Work in Retirement

Even though you are retired you may still want or need to work. If you are healthy and able to still work, a job can help with your retirement income strategy.

 

7 Things to Put on Your Year-End Financial Checklist

· November 20, 2017 · Video · No Comments

The end of the year is a key time to review your financial “health” and well-being. To that end, here are seven aspects of your financial life to think about as this year leads into the next.

#1 | YOUR INVESTMENTS

Review your approach to investing and make sure it suits your objectives. Look over your portfolio positions and revisit your asset allocation.

#2 | YOUR RETIREMENT PLANNING STRATEGY 

Does it seem as practical as it did a few years ago? Are you able to max out contributions to IRAs and workplace retirement plans, like 401(k)s? Is it time to make catch-up contributions? Finally, consider Roth IRA conversion scenarios. If you are at the age when a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is required from your traditional IRA(s), be sure to take your RMD by December 31. If you don’t, the IRS will assess a penalty of 50% of the RMD amount on top of the taxes you will already pay on that income. (While you can postpone your very first IRA RMD until April 1, 2018, that forces you into taking two RMDs next year, both taxable events.)1

   

#3 | YOUR TAX SITUATION

How many potential credits and/or deductions can you and your accountant find before the year ends? Have your CPA craft a year-end projection including Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). In years past, some business owners and executives didn’t really look into deductions and credits because they just assumed they would be hit by the AMT. The recent rise in the top marginal tax bracket (to 39.6%) made fewer high-earning executives and business owners subject to the AMT – their ordinary income tax liabilities grew. The top bracket looks as though it will remain at 39.6% for 2018 even if tax reforms pass. So, examine accelerated depreciation, R&D credits, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, incentive stock options, and certain types of tax-advantaged investments.2

Review any sales of appreciated property and both realized and unrealized losses and gains. Look back at last year’s loss carry-forwards. If you’ve sold securities, gather up cost-basis information. Look for any transactions that could potentially enhance your circumstances.

 

#4 | YOUR CHARITABLE GIFTING GOALS

Plan charitable contributions or contributions to education accounts, and make any desired cash gifts to family members. The annual federal gift tax exclusion is $14,000 per individual for 2017, meaning you can gift as much as $14,000 to as many individuals as you like this year, tax-free. A married couple can gift up to $28,000, tax-free, to as many individuals as they like. (The limits rise to $15,000 and $30,000 in 2018.) The gifts do count against the lifetime estate tax exemption amount, which is $5.49 million per individual (and therefore, $10.98 million per married couple) in 2017.3,4

You could also gift appreciated securities to a charity. If you have owned them for more than a year, you can deduct 100% of their fair market value and legally avoid capital gains tax you would normally incur from selling them.5

Besides outright gifts, you can explore creating and funding trusts on behalf of your family. The end of the year is also a good time to review any trusts you have in place.

 #5 | YOUR LIFE INSURANCE COVERAGE

Are your policies and beneficiaries up-to-date? Review premium costs and beneficiaries, and think about whether your insurance needs have changed.

 

#6 | LIFE EVENTS

Did you happen to get married or divorced in 2017? Did you move or change jobs? Buy a home or business? Did you lose a family member or see a severe illness or ailment affect a loved one? Did you reach the point at which Mom or Dad needed assisted living? Was there a new addition to your family this year? Did you receive an inheritance or a gift? All of these circumstances can have a financial impact on your life as well as the way you invest and plan for retirement and wind down your career or business. They are worth discussing with the financial or tax professional you know and trust.

 

#7 | DID YOU REACH ANY OF THESE FINANCIALLY IMPORTANT AGES IN 2017? 

If so, act accordingly.

  • Did you turn 70½ this year? If so, you must now take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from your IRA(s).
  • Did you turn 65 this year? If so, you are likely now eligible to apply for Medicare.
  • Did you turn 62 this year? If so, you can choose to apply for Social Security benefits.
  • Did you turn 59½ this year? If so, you may take IRA distributions without a 10% early withdrawal tax penalty.
  • Did you turn 55 this year? If so, you may be allowed to take distributions from your 401(k) account without penalty, provided you no longer work for that employer.
  • Did you turn 50 this year? If so, you can make “catch-up” contributions to IRAs (and certain qualified retirement plans).1,5

Sources:

  1. This material was prepared, in part, by MarketingPro, Inc.
  2. fool.com/retirement/2017/04/29/whats-my-required-minimum-distribution-for-2017.aspx [4/29/17]
  3. businessinsider.com/trump-gop-tax-reform-plan-bill-text-details-rate-2017-10 [11/2/17]
  4. irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Frequently-Asked-Questions-on-Gift-Taxes [10/23/17]
  5. turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/estates/the-gift-tax-made-simple/L5tGWVC8N [11/10/17]
  6. kiplinger.com/article/taxes/T055-C032-S014-4-year-end-tax-savings-tips-to-try-by-thanksgiving.html [10/17]
  7. merrilledge.com/article/ready-set-retire-8-deadlines-you-need-to-know [11/10/17]

What Is Covered Under Each Part of Medicare

· November 12, 2017 · Retirement, Video · No Comments

Whether your 65th birthday is on the horizon or decades away, you should understand the parts of Medicare – what they cover, and where they come from.

Medicare was created in 1965 as a national health insurance program for seniors. It was made up of two original components, Part A and Part B.

Part A = Hospital Insurance

National Health Insurance Program for Seniors

It provides coverage for inpatient stays at medical facilities. It can also help cover the costs of hospice care, home health care, and nursing home care – but not for long, and only under certain parameters.

Part B = Medical Insurance

Part B Covers:

  • Physical Therapy
  • Physician Services
  • Medical Equipment
  • Medical Services

Part B is medical insurance and can help pick up some of the tab for physical therapy, physician services, expenses for durable medical equipment (scooters, wheelchairs), and other medical services such as lab tests and varieties of health screenings.

Keep in mind, Part B isn’t free. You pay monthly premiums to get it along with a yearly deductible. The premiums vary according to the Medicare recipient’s income level.

Part C = Medicare Advantage

Part C Covers:

  • Prescription Drug Coverage
  • Vision
  • Dental

Part C are medicare advantage plans. Insurance companies offer these Medicare-approved plans. Part C plans offer seniors all the benefits of Part A and Part B and more: many feature prescription drug coverage, vision and dental benefits. To enroll in a Part C plan, you need have Part A and Part B coverage in place.

Medigap

Addresses Gaps in Part A & B Coverage

Medigap Covers:

  • Copayments
  • Coinsurance
  • Deductibles

Medigap plans address the gaps in Part A and Part B coverage. If you have Part A and Part B already in place, a Medigap policy can pick up some copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles for you.

Part D = Prescription Drug Plans

While Part C plans commonly offer prescription drug coverage, insurers also sell Part D plans as a standalone product to those with Original Medicare.

Visit Medicare.Gov for More Info

I hope this helps to demystify medicare a bit. There is a lot more to know about these plans but this should be enough to get you started in the right direction. If you need more information be sure to visit Medicare.Gov.

Sources:

  1. This material was prepared, in part, by MarketingPro, Inc.
  2. mymedicarematters.org/coverage/parts-a-b/whats-covered/
  3. medicare.gov/coverage/skilled-nursing-facility-care.html
  4. medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/part-b-costs/part-b-costs.html
  5. tinyurl.com/hbll34m
  6. medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/when-can-i-join-a-health-or-drug-plan/when-can-i-join-a-health-or-drug-plan.html
  7. medicare.gov/supplement-other-insurance/medigap/whats-medigap.html
  8. ehealthinsurance.com/medicare/part-d-cost
  9. medicare.gov/part-d/coverage/part-d-coverage.html
  10. medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/when-can-i-join-a-health-or-drug-plan/five-star-enrollment/5-star-enrollment-period.html

 

5 Reasons You’re Not Ready To Retire (And What To Do About It)

· August 23, 2017 · Retirement, Video · No Comments

Thinking about retirement? Not quite sure if you are ready? Here’s what you can do to get ready for a successful retirement:

REASON #1:

YOU DON’T HAVE A PLAN

Know Your Expenses And How You Will Pay For Them

This is a sure sign you are not ready. You need to know what your expenses are during retirement and how you are going to pay for them. Without a well thought out plan there is no way you are ready to retire. So, spend the time to build your plan or sit down with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ to help you.

REASON #2:

YOU HAVE TOO MUCH DEBT

Difficult to Pay Off When Living on a Fixed Income

Too much debt can really derail your retirement plan. Once you retire and are living on a fixed income it will become increasingly difficult to pay that debt off. In addition, too much debt can make dealing with financial emergencies nearly impossible.

REASON #3:

YOU HAVEN’T BUILT A RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO

You Need to Convert Your Savings Into Lifetime Income

During the accumulation phase of your retirement savings years, your goal is to save and grow your portfolio. As you enter retirement you need to refocus that goal and create a decumulation portfolio. Basically you need to convert your savings into lifetime income. In order to do this you’ll need to change your investment strategy. If you are still investing your portfolio with the sole purpose of growing it than you are probably not ready for retirement.

REASON #4:

YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE DON’T AGREE

The Change in Income Can Affect Your Lifestyle

So far I’ve just been talking about the financial aspects of retirement, but there is more to it than that. It’s important that you and your spouse are on the same page. Maybe you are ready but they are not. The change in income can affect your lifestyle so you want to make sure that you talk about this change and work through the issues this may cause before you decide to retire.

REASON #5:

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’LL DO

This Can Lead to Overspending or Depression

Once you retire you will have a lot of time on your hands. Have you thought about what you will do with it? Not having a gameplan for your time can lead to overspending and even depression. Make sure you think through what you want to do, how you will pay for it and if it is really feasible. If you haven’t given this any thought, you are definitely not ready.

Sources:
1. This material was prepared, in part, by MarketingPro, Inc.

Should You Borrow From Your 401(k) if You Need Cash?

· July 19, 2017 · Investing, Retirement, Video · One Comment

Thinking about borrowing money from your 401(k), 403(b), or 457 account? Think twice. Here are 6 reasons 401(k) loans are a bad idea.

REASON #1
Damages Retirement Prospects

A 401(k), 403(b), or 457 should never be viewed like a savings or checking account.

When you withdraw from a bank account, you pull out cash. When you take a loan from your workplace retirement plan, you sell shares of your investments to generate cash. You buy back investment shares as you repay the loan.

So in borrowing from a 401(k), 403(b), or 457, you siphon down your invested retirement assets, leaving a smaller account balance that experiences a smaller degree of compounding. In repaying the loan, you will likely repurchase investment shares at higher prices than in the past – in other words, you will be buying high. None of this makes financial sense.1

Most plans charge a $75 origination fee for a loan, and of course they charge interest – often around 5%. The interest paid will eventually return to your account, but that interest still represents money that could have remained in the account and remained invested.

REASON #2
Contributions Could Be Halted

May not be able to make additional contributions due to outstanding loans

Some workplace retirement plans suspend regular employee salary deferrals when a loan is taken. They can resume when you settle the loan.

REASON #3
Potential for Docked Pay

Your Take-Home Pay Could Be Docked

Most loans from 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans are repaid incrementally – the plan subtracts X dollars from your paycheck, month after month, until the amount borrowed is fully restored.

REASON #4
A. May Have to Pay Back Immediately

30-60 Days: If You Quit, Get Laid Off Or Are Fired

This applies if you quit, get laid off or are fired. You will have 30-60 days (per the terms of the plan) to repay the loan in full, with interest.

If you are younger than age 59½ and fail to pay the full amount of the loan back, the IRS will characterize any amount not repaid as a premature distribution from a retirement plan – taxable income that is also subject to an early withdrawal penalty.1,2

Even if you have great job security, the loan will probably have to be repaid in full within five years. Most workplace retirement plans set such terms. If the terms are not met, then the unpaid balance becomes a taxable distribution with possible penalties (assuming you will not turn 59½ in the year in which repayment is due). If you default on the loan, the retirement plan may bar you from making future contributions.1

B. 5 Years To Repay

If Terms Are Not Met Unpaid Balance is Taxable

Even if you have great job security, the loan will probably have to be repaid in full within five years. Most workplace retirement plans set such terms. If the terms are not met, then the unpaid balance becomes a taxable distribution with possible penalties (assuming you will not turn 59½ in the year in which repayment is due). If you default on the loan, the retirement plan may bar you from making future contributions.1

REASON #5
You Get Taxed Twice!

Repay with after-tax dollars AND Taxed on withdrawals

When you borrow from an employee retirement plan, you invite that prospect. One, you will be repaying your loan with after-tax dollars. Two, those dollars will be taxed again when you withdraw them for retirement (unless your plan offers you a Roth option).

REASON #6
Why Go Into Debt to Pay Off Debt?

It’s Better to Go to a Reputable Lender for a Personal Loan

If you borrow from your retirement plan, you will be assuming one debt to pay off another. It is better to go to a reputable lender for a personal loan; borrowing cash has fewer potential drawbacks.

SMART TIP:

Your 401(k) Plan is NOT a Bank Account

Always remember, you should never confuse your retirement plan with a bank account.

Sources:

  1. cnbc.com/id/101848407 [9/14/14]
  2. mainstreet.com/article/why-you-cant-borrow-your-401k-and-only-way-you-should [7/24/14]
  3. This material was prepared in part by MarketingPro, Inc.

Market and Economic Update for the Second Quarter of 2017

· July 12, 2017 · Investing, Video · No Comments

It has been an awfully good year in most of the capital markets so far. Just like a great summer day with blue skies and bright sunshine, most stock markets have happily been rising and the economy has been chugging along. Bonds of many types have been profitable. We open our account statements and we’re pleased with the progress.

2Q.2017.Chart

The Economy Has Been Looking Good

From an economic standpoint there has been much to be cheerful about. Corporate earnings in the first quarter came in above expectations and sharply higher than preceding quarters. Unemployment is very low and while we haven’t seen a dramatic uptick in wages we are seeing what looks close to full employment. GDP growth continues to show positive numbers even if the pace of growth is somewhat slower than we would like it to be. Good things haven’t been confined to our shores either; Europe’s economy, in spite of Brexit and some tough election cycles, has continued to firm, China continues to grow, even with concerns about banking and debt, India and other parts of Asia show steady progress, and South American economies continue to improve despite the political turmoil in Brazil and elsewhere.

No Signs of Recession Yet

There doesn’t seem to be any sign of recession on the horizon as yet; the Fed continues to be both transparent about and circumspect towards the execution of rate changes. Our government is promising lower taxes and less regulation, items that can cheer even the most gloomy business owner.

So What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

It’s important to remember (or perhaps re-remember) that markets don’t move in a straight line, not very often at any rate. We’ve had 16 periods of downward market movement since the bull began running back in early 2009! It is entirely possible that we are ready for another, and we think it a useful endeavor to remind ourselves of this every so often. Bear markets begin when markets or economies get pretty far out of alignment and while we don’t think we’re seeing any of that right now, the garden variety market correction can strike at any time.

Planning & Diversification

As always, our defense is two-fold, good planning and diversification. In regards to the former, we sure don’t want to get too excited about stock market gyrations that concern money we won’t be touching for a long time; we know we can’t really time the market and we also know that over the long-term stocks tend to give superior returns in spite of that very same volatility. We also know we don’t want to have to eat our “seed corn” and so shorter term money should be invested in other areas.

What Will The Second Half of 2017 Bring?

We of course don’t know if the second half of 2017 will be as productive as the first has been. As mentioned earlier, we don’t think we’re on the verge of a recessionary time and that bodes well for the economy over the short and intermediate term. US stocks appear a bit richer than average, but that has been the case for some time and that modest overvaluation has moderated a bit in light of the robust first quarter earnings.

We’re also cognizant of the fact that reasonable investment time horizons are often greater than many folks’ attention spans and this can create volatility once someone in the proverbial theater yells “fire”! Watching that sort of “running for the exits” is always disconcerting. It is the age old story: we tolerate shorter term volatility for longer term performance; it isn’t always fun but over time it works exceedingly well.

Source:

  1. Prepared by LSA Portfolio Analytics

How Much Money Will You Need For Retirement?

· July 11, 2017 · Retirement, Video · No Comments

What is enough?

If you’re considering retiring in the near future, you’ve probably heard or read that you need about 70% of your end salary to live comfortably in retirement. This estimate is frequently repeated … but that doesn’t mean it is true for everyone. It may not be true for you. Consider the following factors:

FACTOR #1

Your Health

Most of us will face a major health problem at some point in our lives. Think, for a moment, about the costs of prescription medicines, and recurring treatment for chronic ailments. These costs can really take a bite out of retirement income, even with a great health care plan.

FACTOR #2

Your Heredity

If you come from a family where people frequently live into their 80s and 90s, you may live as long or longer. Imagine retiring at 55 and living to 95 or 100. You would need 40-45 years of steady retirement income.

 

FACTOR #3

Your Portfolio

Many people retire with investment portfolios they haven’t reviewed in years, with asset allocations that may no longer be appropriate. New retirees sometimes carry too much risk in their portfolios, with the result being that the retirement income from their investments fluctuates wildly with the vagaries of the market. Other retirees are super-conservative investors: their portfolios are so risk-averse that they can’t earn enough to keep up with even moderate inflation, and over time, they find they have less and less purchasing power.

FACTOR #4

Your Spending Habits

Do you only spend 70% of your salary? Probably not. If you’re like many Americans, you probably spend 90% or 95% of it. Will your spending habits change drastically once you retire? Again, probably not.

Will You Have Enough?

When it comes to retirement income, a casual assumption may prove to be woefully inaccurate. However it doesn’t hurt to get a rough estimate. Using an online calculator link the one listed here can help you get started. You can use CNNMoney’s Will You Have Enough to Retire? calculator.

You won’t learn exactly how much retirement income you’ll need simply by watching this video and using the online calculator. But you will be on the right path. You may want to consider meeting with a fee-only, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ who can help estimate your lifestyle needs and short-term and long-term expenses

Sources:

  1. This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary.Net Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

6 Tips To Help You Begin (or Improve) Your Retirement Savings Plan

· May 15, 2017 · Retirement, Video · 2 Comments

Feeling like you need to start saving and planning for retirement? Here are 6 smart tips to get you going:

TIP #1

Make Savings A Top Priority

Pay Yourself First

Resolve to pay yourself first. That is, direct money toward your retirement before you do anything else, like pay the bills or spend it on needs or wants. Always remember, your future should come first.

TIP #2

Invest Some or Most of What You Save

Potential to Grow and Outpace Inflation

Investing in equities is vital, because it gives you the potential to grow and compound your money to outpace inflation. With interest rates so low right now, ultra-conservative fixed-income investments are generating very low returns, and most savings accounts are offering minimal interest rates. Thirty or forty years from now, you will probably not be able to retire solely on your savings. If you invest your retirement money in equities, you have the opportunity to retire on the earnings and compound interest accumulated through both saving and investing.

TIP #3

The Effect of Compounding Can Be Profoud

The Earlier You Start The Better

The effect of compounding can be profound. Suppose you want to retire with $1 million in savings. Let’s project that your investments will yield 6.5% a year between now and the year you turn 65 and, for the sake of simplicity, we will put any potential capital gains taxes and investment fees aside. Given all that, how early would you have to begin saving and investing to reach that $1 million goal, and how much would you have to save per month to reach it?

How early would you have to begin saving and investing to reach that $1M goal?

START AT 45 = $2,039
START AT 35 = $904
START AT 25 = $438

If you start saving at 45, the answer is $2,039. If you start saving at 35, the monthly number drops to $904. How about if you start saving at 25? Only $438 a month would be needed. So, as you see the earlier you start saving and investing, the more compounding power you can harness.

TIP #4

Strive to Get The Match

Some Companies Contribute 50 cents for Every Dollar

Some companies reward employees with matching retirement plan contributions; they will contribute 50 cents for every dollar the worker does or, perhaps, even match the contribution dollar-for-dollar. An employer match is too good to pass up.

TIP #5

Invest in A Way You Are Comfortable With

Avoid Investments That are Convoluted or Mysterious

In the mid-2000s, some Wall Street money managers directed assets into investments they did not fully understand, a gamble that contributed to the last bear market. Take a lesson from that example and avoid investing in what seems utterly convoluted or mysterious.

TIP #6

Realize That Friends And Family May Not Know It All

Your Main Concern Should Be Staying Invested

The people closest to you may or may not be familiar with investing. If they are not, take what they tell you with a few grains of salt.

Getting a double-digit annual return is great, but the main concern is staying invested. The market goes up and down, sometimes violently, but there has never been a 20-year period in which the market has lost value. As you save for the long run, that is worth remembering.

Sources:

  1. This material was prepared, in part, by MarketingPro, Inc.