Blog

MANY WORKERS WONDER WHEN (AND IF) THEY’LL RETIRE

Many Workers

MANY WORKERS WONDER WHEN (AND IF) THEY’LL RETIRE

Inflation, market fluctuations, and uncertainties about Social Security raise concerns.

Retirement is supposed to be our “golden years,” but many Americans worry there will be nothing “golden” about it—and they might even have to cut back and scrape by to pay their bills (or keep working). NerdWallet reported in 2023 that 27% of Americans saved less than they normally would for retirement in the previous 12 months due to inflation. (1) Stock-market downturns and higher taxes have also challenged retirement finances for both retirees and those who are nearing retirement. (2)

Falling behind instead of achieving goals

More than half of Americans report they’re behind on their retirement savings—with 35% saying they’re “significantly behind,” and 20% saying they’re “somewhat behind” on their goals. (3) This “retirement gap,” as it’s often called, has been a common problem for generations, but it appears to be getting wider. Many people are struggling to pay for basics like food and shelter, so saving for retirement isn’t at the top of their list. Baby boomers— the largest generation retiring now—is currently the furthest behind in retirement savings, with only 7% ahead of their goals, and 71% behind. (3) This is concerning, because 10,000 baby boomers a day will hit retirement age between now and 2030.

Keep working, or retire?

Americans born before 1960 can receive full Social Security retirement benefits at age 66, but the number of older Americans still working past retirement age has grown. Octogenarians in the workplace have risen since 1980 and reached a high of about 734,000 in 2019, before the nation’s oldest president was voted into office. (4)

As of October 2022, 5.16% of America’s octogenarians had a job, according to Business Insider. The reasons ranged from a need for income to a sense of purpose. A study by the Center for Retirement Research revealed that working longer is associated with lower mortality, depression, and diabetes risks for both men and women. (5)

Take steps to be prepared

The earlier you start to prepare for retirement, the better off you’ll be. The average American spends about 20 years in retirement, and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to depend on your Social Security alone to get you through. The average amount of Social Security
income paid to beneficiaries in Dec. 2022 was $1,637.71 for females, and $2020.38 for males, according to the Social Security Administration.

To boost your retirement income, take these steps as soon as possible:

ƒ Start saving.
ƒ Contribute to your employer’s retirement savings plan, if available.
ƒ If your employer has a pension plan, check to see if you are covered, learn all you can
about it, and take advantage of it if possible.
ƒ Put money into an IRA.
ƒ Estimate how much you will need in retirement (typically 70% to 90% of your preretirement income to maintain your standard of living).
ƒ Make catch-up contributions to your retirement savings, if possible.
ƒ Eliminate unnecessary expenses.
ƒ Talk to a financial professional about creating an investment plan that fits your needs and goals.

You may not be able to do all of these things, but do what you can. Every little bit helps, and you will thank yourself later.

Thanks for checking out the blog. 

Gregory Armstrong , CFP®

 

Sources

(1) Nerdwallet survey: Some Americans who plan to retire say they’ll leave the workforce early, Feb. 28, 2023

(2) Allspring Global: Hiding Behind the Averages, 2022 Retirement Research Results

(3) Bankrate survey: 55% of working Americans say they’re behind on retirement savings, Oct. 24, 2022

(4) Business Insider: It’s not just Joe Biden. Plenty of Americans are now working into their 80s, Nov. 22, 2022

(5) Center for Retirement Research: How Does Delayed Retirement Affect Mortality and Health? Oct. 8, 2018


This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. There is no assurance that the views or strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive  outcomes. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal.

This material was prepared by LPL Financial.   Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and
broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). 

Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. To the extent you are receiving investment advice from a separately registered independent investment advisor that is not an LPL Financial affiliate, please note LPL Financial makes no representation with respect to such entity.

Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

 

Share This Article

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

You May Also Like

Estimating Your Retirement Income Needs

You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you’ll need to fund your retirement. That’s not as easy as it sounds, because retirement planning is not an exact science. Your specific needs depend on your goals and many other factors.

Read More »

Bypassing Probate

If you bypass probate, your estate will go to your beneficiaries without any court proceeding, and you may save a certain amount of time and expenses. However, there is usually little reason for most people to avoid probate today. States continue to revise their probate laws, making them more consumer friendly, particularly for small estates.

Read More »

Exceptions to the 10% Early-Withdrawal Penalty

There are certain situations in which you are allowed to make early withdrawals from a retirement account and avoid the tax penalty. (Check your specific plan provisions to see whether a particular withdrawal option is available.)
IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans have different exceptions, although the rules are similar.

Read More »

A/D Juicebox Hello Spring: Planting Seeds for Future Wealth! – April 9th

W​​​​​​​e are happy to present our A/D JuiceBox Webinar Series. JuiceBox will provide current events, financial planning strategies, taxes, investments, and general business updates.

We have a special guest, Margo Steinlage from Steinlage Insurance Agency, who will join us to discuss Medicare.

Join us as Autumn fills the air, and the time is quiet and mellow to discuss things in the financial planning world.

Read More »

Tax Planning for Annuities

Favorable tax treatment is one of the main reasons for buying an annuity. But what exactly are the tax benefits? And are there any drawbacks? It’s important to know the answers to these questions before deciding whether to purchase an annuity.

Read More »

Private Foundations

Private foundations are tax-exempt entities, just like hospitals or universities. What makes them different from organizations that are known as public charities is that private foundations are set up, funded, and controlled by a single individual, family, or corporation. By contrast, public charities derive a significant percentage of their revenue from the general public and cannot be under the control of any one individual or family.

Read More »

Don't Miss Anything

Stay up to date with our monthly newsletter.