AARP Hearing Center
Everybody wants to be safe from the buffeting that life can inflict upon retirement plans — to have the financial resilience to bounce back when things go awry. For starters, here are 10 mistakes to avoid in retirement planning.
1. Don't take Social Security too early
Claim Social Security benefits at 62 and your monthly check will be 76 percent less than if you wait until 70. Even so, many people take benefits before full retirement age. Some need the money, and some fear they won't live long enough to collect what they paid into the system. But wait as long as you can. Check out AARP's Social Security calculator.
2. Don't say 'Take this job and shove it'
Even if you quit the 9-to-5 grind, don't entirely exit the workforce. "Find something that is fun for you, so you do not really call it a job," says Scot Hanson of EFS Advisors in Shoreview, Minn. Part-time work at a golf course or local theater might generate only $4,000 to $12,000 a year, but will reduce how much you dip into savings and allow you to invest in a tax-friendly Roth IRA.
3. Don't underestimate your lifespan
More than half of Americans do, and may not save enough, according to a survey by the Society of Actuaries. One way to be safe is to buy a deferred-income annuity. You give an insurance company a lump sum and then, perhaps 15 years later, you start receiving a lifetime income stream. "You can spend a relatively small amount now and end up with a substantial amount of income down the road," says David John at AARP Public Policy Institute. Workers can transfer up to $125,000 from IRAs and 401(k)s to buy an annuity, without having this money included in mandatory withdrawals after age 701/2.
4. Factor in health care costs
Medical costs will rise. Medicare covers the majority of health care at 65 and older, though you must still pay deductibles and other expenses. The savings needed to cover most health care expenses in retirement, including premiums, is $116,000 for men and $131,000 for women, according to estimates. You can calculate health care costs online using AARP's Health Care Costs Calculator.
5. Don't ignore major expenses
Whether you're near or in retirement, beware of taking on large expenses that can wreck your budget. This includes digging deep into savings to help a child pay for graduate school or a dream wedding. Buying a second home can drain $20,000 to $30,000 a year for taxes, insurance, upkeep and mortgage payments, says Kristi Sullivan with Sullivan Financial Planning in Denver.
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