Don’t Let These Mistakes Crack Your Retirement Nest Egg

“According to a Gallup poll, 51% of non-retired Americans don’t think they will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement.”

While half of those Americans who aren’t retired believe they don’t have enough money to retire, 78% of those in retirement say they have enough money to live comfortably.

However, a Fox Business article, “10 mistakes that can sabotage your retirement savings,” advises that wherever you are on the retirement curve—whether you’re just starting to save for retirement or are already retired—there are mistakes that can poke a big hole in your retirement nest egg. Let’s take a look the list:

1. Failing to consider the effect of taxes on retirement income. You need to calculate how taxes could affect your savings. Some retirement savings plans are taxed, when they’re withdrawn. A big mistake many retirees make is believing that Social Security isn’t taxed, but 85% of Social Security can be taxed.
2. Failing to consider the effect of health care costs in retirement. This can be expensive and includes things like deductibles and out of pocket payments—not just the costs for a health care plan.
3. Failing to consider the effect of potential long-term care costs in retirement. It’s easy to forget to consider the day-to-day costs of long-term care, like assisted living, nursing homes, and in-home care. Medicare will pay for certain care for 30 days, but after that it has to come from your own savings.
4. Failing to have enough liquidity and an emergency fund. You need to have money invested appropriately for retirement, so it can be accessed when you need cash.
5. Having too much money tied up in your home. This isn’t a liquid investment, and if you have too much of your net worth tied up in your home, you may experience a lack of liquidity when you need it.
6. Starting your retirement with significant levels of debt. Pay off or reduce your debt before retirement. Otherwise, your debt can debilitate your finances.
7. Failing to plan for Social Security. There are a lot of strategies for using Social Security to maximize the amount of money you’ll receive. You can begin receiving Social Security payments at age 62. However, if you wait, you’ll see more money.
8. Spending too much early in your retirement. Trips are nice, but your money has to last as long as you do! People who spend too much during the early part of their retirement years, can find themselves in a financial pinch later on.
9. Failing to assess your risk. You need to have risk-appropriate investments in retirement. Consider your risk tolerance, since being too risk averse could eat into the value of a savings plan.
10. Thinking you can do it yourself without a professional. Work with a qualified estate planning attorney to have an estate plan in place.

Reference: Fox Business (August 3, 2018) “10 mistakes that can sabotage your retirement savings”