Retirement

• toomeyinvest
• Retirement
• November 16, 2021

What is Phased Retirement and Should I Consider It?

Retirement rates have skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Many baby boomers and older-aged employees left their jobs earlier than they originally had planned.

During what should be a happy milestone in one’s career, many were faced with hard decisions on how to maintain finances without their full salaries. Dipping into savings is an option for some. But not all. Social security payments are also lower for those who initiate benefits before the program’s full retirement age.

Beyond just the financial implications of retirement, there is also an emotional aspect that factors into how someone feels when they’ve worked 5 days a week for 30 plus years with a company and then suddenly they no longer have that piece of their life.

Phased retirement is trending more and more today as the workplace landscape also shifts.

Employer pension plans have dwindled and people are living longer overall today. With a phased approach, one is easing into retirement by keeping an income stream during the transition. Many are now even “retiring twice” as a result of finding work they can do to fill their spare time or to increase income after their initial retirement.

Some may have a workplace retirement incentive plan offered. These often require benefits-eligible employees who have completed a certain amount of years with the company. They include the ability to work part-time instead of full-time for a fixed period and allow employees to begin to withdraw retirement benefits.

The other option is to retire and then find a part-time job.

And 45 percent of U.S. workers agree. A recent Transamerica Retirement Survey of Workers found that almost half of respondents plan to reduce their work hours as they move closer to retirement.

Whether the reason is for physiologically easing into the shift in lifestyle, or to help financially support yourself after retiring, it’s important to understand phased retirement options so you can make the most informed decision.

Consider speaking with a trusted advisor about your specific circumstances. You should know for sure if you can afford to retire soon and the impact that retirement will have on your income/lifestyle.

• toomeyinvest
• Retirement
• July 28, 2021

A Retirement Crisis in America

For most of those in the workforce today, dreaming about when they can retire and start to enjoy more time for themselves and with their families is a given. The goal to work hard, save and then retire has always been in place – but what the retirement years will look like for many is changing drastically compared to the plans that some of our elders had access to in the past.

In addition to starting to save late in life and access to potentially less federal funding for retirement in the future, we find ourselves in what many experts are calling a “retirement crisis” in the U.S. But what does this really mean and should you actually be concerned?

Let’s take a closer look.

Currently, age 62 is the earliest you can claim Social Security retirement benefits. This is when you would be able to get replacement income based on factors such as your earnings history, the year you’re born, and what age you’ll start to claim Social Security. According to the AARP, the estimated average Social Security retirement benefit in 2021 is $1,543 a month.

In the past, workers had access to additional sources of income to help boost that monthly number. For example employer-sponsored pensions or other retirement savings plans, and personal savings that they accumulated.

Today, most of those defined benefit (DB) pension plans for employees have been replaced. So instead of getting a guaranteed monthly income in exchange for the years of work they’ve put in, they have a defined contribution plan (DC), such as a 401k, 403(b), 457, etc., that allows specific monetary contributions deferred from the employee’s paycheck – and sometimes with an employer match, usually based on a percentage of the employee contributions.

With the move to more self-directed retirement plans, figuring out how much you’ll need to withhold to save enough for retirement is very difficult and salary deferrals always reduce your net spendable income. This may be why an astounding number of employees forego participation in available retirement plans. This is partially where the retirement crisis begins.

Add to this the fact that the current Social Security benefit recipients are “paid” by the Social Security payroll taxes of the current workforce; effectively, a pay-as-you-go system.  There are ominous undertones about the equity and long-term viability of the Social Security system, as we know it today.

Then there are the small businesses and private-sector workers that may not have access to a retirement plan through their employer at all due to them being too costly to manage and fund. This often leaves many failing to have any plans for how they’ll survive financially after retirement.

The reality here is that people are living longer and having fewer kids. That means a longer average duration of Social Security benefit payments but fewer workers paying into the Social Security system. So without having enough saved for their retirement years, individuals are depending much more on Social Security benefits to live – and this likely creates additional public assistance expenditures to further strain federal resources and inevitably leading to the potential for higher taxes and lower benefits.

So what can we do now?

It’s up to us as individuals to think about our retirement years now – before we’re close to the age where we are approaching retiring. Having a broad understanding of your options to efficiently and effectively save for your future can make an immeasurable difference. Our financial professionals can help ensure that you work towards securing your financial future. We understand risks, how to properly allocate assets, and help you determine how much to start saving now. Don’t wait until it’s too late – reach out today.

• toomeyinvest
• Retirement
• June 8, 2021

Tips to Protect Retirement Income

With Americans living longer, healthcare costs rising, and many people beginning to save later in life, it’s possible to enter retirement unprepared. If you’re currently saving or planning to retire in the near future, here are some tips to help you get and stay on track.

Diversify Your Investments

Some financial investments will perform better than others and it can be difficult or impossible to predict how an individual investment will fare over the long term. That’s why it’s important to diversify.

Having a mix of assets in your portfolio can increase the likelihood that your money will grow in the long run and help shield you from the impact of an economic downturn. Of course, it’s impossible to completely insulate yourself from risk, but diversification may provide a greater measure of security than putting all of your retirement savings into one investment type or objective.

Plan to Live a Long Time after You Retire

It’s common for retirees to live well into their 80s or 90s. That means that your retirement savings may have to last for 20 or 30 years. You will have to plan accordingly to make sure that you don’t run out of money.

Factor healthcare costs into your retirement planning. As people age, they tend to require medication, as well as in-home assistance or care in a nursing home or assisted living facility. You may want to think about purchasing a long-term care insurance policy, or educate yourself about other protective strategies so you won’t have to drain your retirement account to cover those expenses.

Think about Inflation

Inflation gradually decreases the purchasing power of money. Each year that you’re retired, your cost of living will likely increase, but your savings may not grow enough to keep pace. Some types of investments, such as stocks, commodities, real estate securities, and Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS) may help your retirement savings keep pace with inflation so you don’t run out of money as the years go by.

Be Strict When It Comes to Withdrawals

You may accumulate a sizable nest egg by the time you retire and may be tempted to make a major purchase, such as a new car, or take a long and expensive vacation. It’s important to be disciplined when withdrawing money from your retirement account. The fact is, you don’t know how long you’ll live or whether you’ll need expensive healthcare in the future. If you withdraw too much money early in your retirement, you may come to regret it later.

Get Professional Help to Plan for Retirement

Toomey Investment Management, Inc. can work with you to develop a diversified investment portfolio to attempt to optimize performance and minimize risk. Our team can develop an integrated plan that also considers insurance and taxes. Contact us today to learn more.