It’s never too late to plan for retirement, however, it’s important to start saving and investing as early as possible in order to take advantage of compound interest and have a larger nest egg, but it’s better to start planning late than not at all. It is always a good idea to consult a financial advisor to help you create a retirement plan that fits your specific needs and goals.
Consider Your Medical Needs
Going into your retirement years, you might find you need more medical care and, of course, medication than when you were younger. And issues like dementia-related illnesses are a possibility as you get older. So it stands to reason that you could need professional care when you retire or soon after. And the quality of care, such as that from a luxury assisted living facility, isn’t available to everyone. So consider the residential care establishment you will retire into.
Assess Your Spending
Having reasonable expectations about how you’ll spend your money in retirement will help you figure out how big a portfolio you’ll need. You might think that when you retire, your annual costs will be only 70% of what they were before. This is usually not true, particularly if your mortgage is still not paid off or if medical bills come up out of the blue. And you can spend too much in the first year if you like to travel and do other things that you previously didn’t have the time to do.
Plan for the Unforeseen for a Secure Retirement
When we plan for the future, it’s easy to think about the things we know for sure. But it’s just as important to set up a backup fund so that unplanned expenses don’t wipe out your retirement fund. Even though you can’t know what will happen, it’s important to save some money for costs you didn’t plan for. There are age-related medical issues and medicines. But you should also consider things like natural disasters (such as hurricanes) and the rising cost of living.
Use a Retirement Plan
There isn’t a single best plan for retirement, but there is probably a best plan or set of plans for you. If your employer has a retirement program with matching funds, that might be a good place to start. However, you can activate your own private pension if you don’t have a retirement plan at work. In general, the better plans offer tax breaks and, if possible, an extra incentive to save, like matching contributions or a government-backed percentage payment as in the UK.
Aim to be Debt Free
Debt affects people of all ages, from the youngest people who are old enough to work to the oldest. So, everyone should make it a goal to have no debt when they retire. Credit card debt, vehicle payments, and your mortgage are all common types of debt. But there are also student and personal loans. If you still owe money when you retire, it could hurt your personal finances a lot at a time when your income might be much lower than you are used to.
Summary
No matter your age, you can help yourself if you plan for a secure retirement. First, consider any medical needs. And plan for the unexpected with your finances, and also pay off your debts.
