Retirement

5 Ways Gig Economy Workers Can Save for Retirement

Emily Guy Birken — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 22:12:58 +0000

We are in the midst of a major economic shift. While workers in the past could expect to keep a stable job with a traditional employer for decades, workers of today have found they must either cobble together a career from a variety of gigs, or supplement a lackluster salary from a traditional job by doing freelance work in their spare time.

Though you can make a living (and possibly even a good one) in the gig economy, this kind of work does leave gig workers vulnerable in one very important way: retirement planning.

Without the backing of an employer-sponsored retirement account, many gig workers are not saving enough for their golden years. According to a recent report by Betterment, seven out of 10 full-time gig workers say they are unprepared to maintain their current lifestyle during retirement, while three out of 10 say they don't regularly set aside any money for retirement.

So what's a gig worker to do if they don't want to be driving for Uber and taking TaskRabbit jobs into their 70s and 80s? Here are five things you can do to save for retirement as a member of the gig economy. (See also: 15 Lucrative Side Hustles for City Dwellers)

1. Take stock of what you have

Many people don't have a clear idea of how much money they have. And it's impossible to plan your retirement if you don't know where you are today. So any retirement savings should start with a look at what you already have in the accounts in your name.

Add up how much is in your checking and savings accounts, any neglected retirement accounts you may have picked up from previous traditional jobs, cash on hand if your gig work relies on cash tips, or any other financial accounts. The sum total could add up to more than you realize if you haven't recently taken stock of where you are.

Even if you truly have nothing more than pocket lint and a couple quarters to your name, it's better to know where you are than proceed without a clear picture of your financial reality. (See also: These 13 Numbers Are Crucial to Understanding Your Finances)

2. Open an IRA

If you don't already have a retirement account that you can contribute to, then you need to set one up ASAP. You can't save for retirement if you don't have an account to put money in.

IRAs are specifically created for individual investors and you can easily get started with one online. If you have money from a 401(k) to roll over, you have more options available to you, as some IRAs have a minimum investment amount (typically $1,000). If you have less than that to open your account, you may want to choose a Roth IRA, since those often have no minimums.

The difference between the traditional IRA and the Roth IRA is how taxes are levied. With a traditional IRA, you can fund the account with pre-tax income. In other words, every dollar you put in an IRA is a dollar you do not have to claim as income. However, you will have to pay ordinary income tax on your IRA distributions once you reach retirement. Roth IRAs are funded with money that has already been taxed, so you can take distributions tax-free in retirement.

Many gig workers choose a Roth IRA because their current tax burden is low. If you anticipate earning more over the course of your career, using a Roth IRA for retirement investments can protect you from the taxman in retirement.

Whether you choose a Roth or a traditional IRA, the contribution limit per year, as of 2018, is $5,500 for workers under 50, and $6,500 for anyone who is 50+.

3. Avoid the bite of investment fees

While no investor wants to lose portfolio growth to fees, it's especially important for gig workers to choose asset allocations that will minimize investment fees. That's because gig workers are likely to have less money to invest, so every dollar needs to be working hard for them.

Investing in index funds is one good way to make sure investment fees don't suck the life out of your retirement account. Index funds are mutual funds that are constructed to mimic a specific market index, like the S&P 500. Since there is no portfolio manager who is choosing investments, there is no management fee for index funds. (See also: How to Start Investing With Just $100)

4. Embrace automation

One of the toughest challenges of being a gig worker is the fact that your income is variable — which makes it very difficult to plan on contributing the same amount each month. This is where technology comes in.

To start, set up an automatic transfer of an amount of money you will not miss. Whether you can spare $50 per week or $5 per month, having a small amount of money quietly moving into your IRA gives you a little cushion that you don't have to think about.

From there, consider using a savings app to handle retirement savings for you. For instance, Digit will analyze your checking account's inflow and outflow, and will determine an amount that is safe to save without triggering an overdraft, and automatically move that amount into a savings account. You can then transfer your Digit savings into your retirement account.

5. Invest found money

An excellent way to make sure you're maxing out your contributions each year is to change your view of "found money." For instance, if you receive a birthday check from your grandmother, only spend half of it and put the rest in your retirement account. Similarly, if you receive a tax refund (which is a little less likely if you're a gig worker paying quarterly estimated taxes), send at least half of the refund toward your retirement.

Any gig workers who often receive cash can also make their own rules about the cash they receive. For instance, you could decide that every $5 bill you get has to go into retirement savings. That will help you change your view of the money and give you a way to boost your retirement savings.

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How the Sandwich Generation Can Protect Their Retirement

Emily Guy Birken — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 17:32:44 +0000

For those who are caring for their aging parents and raising kids at the same time, it can often seem like there's never enough time, money, or energy to provide for all the family members who need you. In particular, handling finances when two different generations are relying on you can feel like an impossible balancing act — not to mention an exercise in feeling guilty no matter what you do.

But being the caregiver sandwiched between two generations makes it even more important for you to prioritize your own financial needs, especially when it comes to retirement planning. By protecting your retirement during this difficult season of your life, you'll be in a better place to remain independent as you age, launch your kids into a more secure adulthood, and offer ongoing support to your parents.

Sound impossible? It's not. Here's how you can protect your retirement if you're a member of the sandwich generation.

Retirement savings comes first

Retirement savings should get priority ahead of putting money into your kids' college funds. You know that already. Your kids can take on loans for college, but there are no loans available to pay for your retirement.

The more difficult decision is prioritizing retirement savings ahead of paying for long-term care for your parents. That can feel like a heartless choice, but it is a necessary one to keep from passing money problems from one generation to the next. Forgoing your retirement savings during your 40s and 50s means you'll miss out on long-term growth and the benefits of compound interest. By making sure that you continue to set aside money for retirement, you can make sure your kids won't feel financially squeezed as you get older.

Instead of personally bankrolling your parents' care, use their assets for as long as they last. That will not only allow you to make the best use of programs like Medicaid (which requires long-term care recipients to have exhausted their own assets before it kicks in), but it will also protect your future.

Communication is key

Part of the stress of being in the sandwich generation is feeling like the financial burdens of two generations (as well as your own) are resting entirely on your shoulders. You feel like you'll be letting down the vulnerable people you love if you can't do it all. But the truth is that you can't do it all. And you shouldn't expect that of yourself, nor should your family expect it of you. So communicating with your loved ones about what they can expect can help you draw important boundaries around what you're able to offer them.

This conversation will be somewhat simpler with your children. You can let them know what kind of financial help they can expect from you for college and beyond, and simply leave it at that.

The conversation is a little tougher with your parents, in part because you need to ask them about nitty-gritty details about their finances. Whether or not money is a taboo subject in your family, it can be tough for your parents to let you in on important financial conversations — to them it feels like they were changing your diapers only a few short years ago.

Being in the loop on what your parents have saved, where it is, what plans they have for the future, and who they trust as their financial adviser, will help protect their money and yours. You'll be better able to make decisions for them in case of an emergency, and being included in financial decisions means you can help protect them from scams. (See also: 5 Money Strategies for the Sandwich Generation)

Insurance is a necessity

Having adequate disability insurance in place is an important fail-safe for any worker, but it's especially important for those who are caring for aging parents and young children. The Council for Disability Awareness reports that nearly one in four workers will be out of work for at least a year because of a disabling condition. With parents and children counting on your income, even a short-term disability could spell disaster, and force you to dip into your retirement savings to keep things going. Making sure you have sufficient disability income insurance coverage can help make sure you protect your family and your retirement if you become disabled.

Life insurance is another area where you don't want to skimp. With two generations counting on you, it's important to have enough life insurance to make sure your family will be okay if something happens to you. This is true even if you're a full-time unpaid caregiver for either your parents or your children, since your family will need to pay for the care you provide even if they aren't counting on your income.

It's also a good idea to talk to your parents about life insurance for them, if they're able to qualify. For aging parents who know they will draw down their assets for long-term care, a life insurance policy can be a savvy way to ensure they leave some kind of inheritance. If your parents are anxious about their ability to leave an inheritance, a life insurance policy can help to relieve that money stress and potentially make it emotionally easier for them to draw down their own assets.

Become a Social Security and Medicare expert

Spending time reading up on Social Security, Medicare, and other programs can help you to make better financial decisions for your parents and yourself. There are a number of misconceptions, myths, and misunderstandings masquerading as facts about these programs, and knowing exactly what your parents (and eventually you) will be entitled to can help make sure you don't leave money on the table or make decisions based on bad information.

The eligibility questionnaires at benefits.gov can help you determine what benefits are available and whether your parents qualify. In addition, it's a good idea to sign up for a my Social Security account for yourself. This site will provide you with personalized estimates of future benefits based on your lifetime earnings, which can better help you prepare for your own retirement.

Don't be afraid to ask for help

Caring for children and parents at the same time is exhausting. Don't compound the problem by thinking you have to make financial decisions all by yourself. Consider interviewing and hiring a financial adviser to help you make sense of the tough choices. He or she can help you figure out the best way to preserve your assets, help your parents enjoy their twilight years with dignity, and plan for your children's future.

Even if a traditional financial adviser isn't in the cards for you, don't forget that you can ask for help among your extended family and network of friends. There's no need to pretend that juggling it all is easy. Family can potentially offer financial or caregiving support. Knowledgeable friends can steer you toward the best resources to help you make decisions. Relying on your network means you're less likely to burn out and make disordered financial decisions. (See also: 9 Simple Acts of Self-Care for the Sandwich Generation)

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ask the Readers: Are You On Track for Retirement?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 08:30:11 +0000

Ensuring a comfortable retirement isn't easy. It requires a lot of planning — and a lot of saving. Many people are even deciding to continue working part-time after they've retired to supplement their income.

Are you on track for retirement? At what age do you plan to retire? What are your plans for after retirement?

Tell us whether you're on track for retirement and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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Tell us whether you're on track for retirement and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Do a Reconnaissance Trip Before Retiring Overseas

Nick Wharton — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 08:00:11 +0000

Making the decision to retire abroad is a huge step for anyone, even if you're a seasoned world traveler. Perhaps you've spent significant periods of your life overseas exploring various locations, but making the move to another country is entirely different. It can be a daunting prospect, but you should do thorough research rather than making this kind of decision on a whim.

There are several steps you'll need to take to get ready for your big move, but one of the most important steps is to schedule at least one reconnaissance trip to your chosen country. This will enable you to make a fully informed decision as to whether or not that location is right for you. Here's what you need to do, and the info you should gather while you're in your desired retirement location. (See also: 5 Countries Where You Can Retire for $1,000 a Month)

Meet as many people as you can

The best place to start on your reconnaissance mission is to get the lowdown from people in the know. People who live and work in your potential destination can provide you with personal accounts of the important aspects of everyday life.

Expats

Some of the most insightful people to arrange to meet prior to arriving will be expats. Ideally they'll be from the same country as you, and also retired. This way, they'll know exactly what you need to do before you leave, and once you arrive. You'll also learn the pros and cons of that particular area, which will help you make your decision.

An easy way to find expats is to search on Facebook or other community sites for expat and retirement groups in that location. You can request to join these groups, and tell the members that you want to meet up while you're there. Expats tend to be a friendly bunch who are eager to meet new arrivals and help them out. It may also help if you offer to buy them a coffee or a cocktail in exchange for racking their brains. (See also: How to Get the Most Out of Your Overseas Retirement)

Locals

While it may be more difficult to set up these meetings in advance, it should be very easy to meet locals when you arrive. This will mean taking the lead and striking up conversations with people wherever you go. Locals might even provide you with alternative views to the expats you meet and mention aspects of living abroad you haven't yet considered.

If you don't speak the local language, you'll be relying on meeting locals who speak English. Visit places that are likely to attract tourists, as most locals who work within this area will speak English. Bars, restaurants, cafes, and shopping centers are all good options.

Ask the right questions

Meeting the right people is only half of it, because you're also going to have to ask the right questions. What you ask will be personal to you and the destination you're scoping out, but here a few questions to get started:

"What is the quality of the healthcare system like, and how does it work?"
"What's the one thing you like least about living here?"
"What do you wish you knew before making the move yourself?"
"Is it necessary to speak the language, or can you get by with some basics?"
"What do you miss most about home?"

Spend some time writing down a list of details that you want to find out before you leave, so you don't forget while you're there. (See also: 13 Financial Steps to Take Before Retiring Abroad)

Check out the property market

One of the most important things to get right when you move overseas is to find the right place to call home, so meeting with a few realtors should be a top priority. Keep in mind there's only so much research you can do online, and it could turn out to be a costly mistake if you purchase or rent a place without seeing it in person beforehand.

Narrow your search down to a few neighborhoods you're considering. Google Street View is a useful tool to help you get a visual idea of what the areas are like. It's essential to remain open-minded when you're looking for property overseas, because depending on where you are, it might be very different than what you're used to at home.

Once you arrive, arrange some viewings for properties that meet your criteria so you can see exactly what you'll get for your money. Ask the realtors to explain the process for renting or buying, and write down everything you'll need to do to complete a transaction. (See also: 9 Things to Know Before Retiring Abroad)

Treat it as research, not a vacation

Though there's no set time frame for a reconnaissance visit, you should really stay as long as you can. Between one to three months would be a solid test run for living there, but clearly not everyone will be in a position to do that. Just know that a one-week trip probably isn't going to be enough time to see everything you need to see, and the less it feels like a vacation, the more you'll understand what living there is truly like.

Use Airbnb to find a local home for your recon trip, similar to what you might expect when you move there. Staying in a hotel is fine, but it won't feel like you're living there, and probably won't give you the option to cook your own meals. A short-term rental, on the other hand, will most likely have a kitchen, and that way you'll get a better idea of the cost of groceries. (See also: The 14 Best Ways to Cut Food Costs While Traveling)

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This article is from Nick Wharton of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

4 Golden Rules of Investing in Retirement

Matt Bell — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 08:00:09 +0000

After you've spent a lifetime investing for retirement, it can feel very different to invest in retirement. Many retirees are hesitant to start withdrawing from the nest eggs they've carefully built over the years. And, they sometimes feel especially nervous about managing that account, knowing it needs to last as long as they do.

Thankfully, there are some guidelines that can help. Here are four golden rules for investing in retirement.

1. Don't be too conservative

Longevity is increasing. Your retirement could last for two decades or more. According to the Social Security Administration, a 65-year-old man today can expect to live to nearly age 85. A 65-year-old woman today can expect to live past age 86. And those are just averages. Many people will live well into their 90s.

Of course, given a choice, most people would prefer to live a long life. However, the more years you spend in retirement, the longer your nest egg will need to last. That's why it's important to avoid being overly conservative with your investments in your later years. Bond-like returns will only get you so far. (See also: 5 Ways Longevity Is Changing Retirement Planning — And What to Do About It)

This reality is reflected in many of today's target-date funds. For example, Vanguard's Target Retirement 2020 fund, which is designed for people right on the cusp of retirement, currently has 54 percent of its assets invested in stocks. The lowest level of stock exposure Vanguard's target-date funds ever hit is 30 percent, which occurs seven years after each fund's target date. Thereafter, it remains fixed.

If you're managing your own portfolio, you would be wise to take a page from these professionally managed portfolios and make sure you're maintaining a healthy exposure to stocks. (See also: 7 Reasons You're Never Too Old to Buy Stocks)

2. Don't be too aggressive

By the same token, you can't afford to get carried away with risk. With the current long-running bull market showing few signs of running out of steam, it may be tempting to take on more risk than you should, especially if you feel somewhat behind on your retirement savings. But that would be dangerous to your portfolio and your peace of mind.

Instead, trust the rules of asset allocation. If your optimal asset allocation calls for a 50/50 stock/bond mix, stick with that. One day, the bull market will end and you'll be glad you weren't invested any more aggressively than you should have been. If you're not sure what your optimal mix should be, Vanguard's asset allocation questionnaire can help you figure it out.

Remember, if your nest egg isn't as large as it should be, you have other options besides taking undue risk with your investments. For example, if you're still in the workforce, pushing back your intended retirement date even by a few months or a year can make a noticeable difference in your financial health. (See also: How One More Year of Work Can Transform Your Retirement)

3. Consider maintaining a cash "bucket"

One of the biggest threats to your portfolio in retirement goes by the fancy name of sequence of returns risk. That refers to the possibility that the market could fall just as you enter retirement. While the market naturally ebbs and flows over time, a significant downturn right at the start of retirement can put a strain on your cash flow throughout retirement.

Especially if you lean toward the conservative side of the risk spectrum, one way to manage that risk is to implement the bucket strategy — creating a cash account containing two to three years' worth of essential living expenses. That can help you avoid having to withdraw from your investment account in a bear market.

When the market is falling, you draw living expenses from your cash bucket, giving your investment account time to recover. When the market is growing, you draw from your investment account while also using a portion of your gains to refill your cash bucket. (See also: 8 Ways to Preserve Your Net Worth in Retirement)

4. Make sure you're on the same page as your spouse

Within many marriages, there's a division of labor, with each spouse taking the lead in different areas. If one of you has been managing the investments, now is the time to bring the other into the process. Otherwise, when the investment-manager spouse dies, it can leave the surviving spouse ill-equipped to take over.

If you handle the investments in your household, start talking about your investments with your spouse. How many accounts do you have and what's the total balance? What are the online passwords? What strategy are you following with your investments? If you were to die first, how would you recommend your spouse manage the account? If you're using a fairly involved approach, is there a simplified alternative? (See also: 5 Money Conversations Couples Should Have Before Retirement)

One of the sweetest rewards of a life lived well is peace of mind in your later years. When it comes to experiencing financial peace of mind during retirement, the four steps described above should help.

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This article is from Matt Bell of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: 10 Countries Where Retirees Can Live Large and Save Big

Amy Lu — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 08:30:17 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found articles on the best countries to retire, how to score cheap flights this summer, and cheap and easy dessert recipes.

How One More Year of Work Can Transform Your Retirement

Matt Bell — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 08:30:17 +0000

As you glance into the future, do you see a life of endless work stretching out in front of you? If so, you're not alone. An increasing number of people are wondering how they'll ever be able to retire.

But maybe things aren't as bad as they seem. In fact, a recent study found that delaying retirement by just a few months could have a major impact on your ability to retire and your standard of living in retirement.

A National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) study concluded that "working three to six months longer boosts retirement income by as much as increasing retirement contributions by one percentage point over 30 years of employment."

More specifically, the study found that instead of retiring at age 66, working until age 67 can boost retirement income by 7.75 percent. By contrast, increasing the amount of earnings saved in a retirement account by one percentage point starting at age 36 and keeping it at that level for the next 30 years would raise retirement income by just over 2 percent.

The NBER findings held true for singles as well the primary earner of married couple households across a wide range of incomes.

That isn't to say that increasing your savings rate is a bad idea. It's just that of the two main options available to workers who are behind on their retirement planning — saving more or working longer — working even a little longer will likely pay higher dividends than saving more.

The value of waiting

The researchers noted four benefits from delaying retirement. First, each additional month of work provides an opportunity to save more in a retirement account. Second, it gives that account balance more time to grow. Third, if you plan to buy an annuity, each month that you hold off will increase the benefit amount for the same cost or lower the cost of the same benefit amount.

Fourth, and by far most importantly, each month you delay retirement will boost your Social Security benefits. The earliest you can claim benefits is age 62; the latest is age 70. Between those two points, each month that you wait will increase your monthly benefit.

You can review your estimated Social Security benefits by creating an account on the SSA website. You'll see how dramatically different your estimated monthly benefits will be at age 62, at your "full retirement age" (67 for those born in 1960 or later), and at age 70. For example, my benefit will increase more than 50 percent if I claim at age 67 instead of 62. And if I wait until age 70, my benefit will be nearly twice as high as my age 62 benefit.

Once you know your full retirement age benefit, you can also estimate the month-by-month or year-by-year differences in your benefits by using the SSA's calculator. For example, if I were to claim benefits beginning at age 67 instead of age 66, waiting that extra year would give me a 6.5 percent raise — $2,750 per month vs. $2,582, a difference of $168 per month or $2,016 per year.

To understand how that compares to saving more, let's start with "the 4 percent rule," a common recommendation to withdraw no more than 4 percent of your nest egg each year in order to make sure your retirement savings last throughout retirement. Following that guideline, it would take $50,400 of additional retirement savings in order to provide a $2,016 boost of yearly retirement "income."

To accumulate that much more money in her retirement account, a 56-year-old making $80,000 per year would have to contribute an additional 4.3 percent of salary each month ($289.50) to her workplace retirement plan, generate an average annual return of 7 percent, and do that for 10 years. (See also: 6 Smart Ways to Boost Your Social Security Payout Before Retirement)

There may be other benefits to delaying retirement as well.

Continued employer matches on retirement savings

If your employer matches a portion of the money you contribute to your workplace retirement plan, that's an incredible benefit. The longer you keep taking advantage of it, the larger your nest egg will grow. (See also: 7 Things You Should Know About Your 401(k) Match)

Extended group health insurance

Medicare eligibility begins at age 65, so if you retire before then, you'll need to find coverage elsewhere, which can be expensive. By the same token, if you continue to work past age 65, you may be able to hang onto your group health insurance, which may be more comprehensive than Medicare.

If that's your situation, be sure to contact your benefits department to see how your current health insurance works with Medicare. It may be that you'll have to sign up for Medicare even if you keep your current insurance. The number of people employed at your company will dictate how payment of claims will be coordinated between the two insurance plans. (See also: 4 Common Mistakes to Avoid When You Enroll in Medicare)

More employer-provided education opportunities

Employer-sponsored training is another valuable benefit, whether it comes in the form of tuition reimbursement for college classes or in-house workshops. If you're among the growing number of people who plan to do some type of work for pay after leaving the full-time workforce, new skills you pick up on your current employer's dime could be well worthwhile.

If you're behind on your retirement planning, hopefully this has shown you that you probably won't have to work forever in order to cover your later life expenses. Even relatively small delays in your retirement can make a meaningful difference. And when you factor in the other benefits of working a bit longer, you may be in far better shape than you thought. (See also: 6 Great Retirement Jobs)

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This article is from Matt Bell of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Signs You Need to Come Out of Retirement

Dan Rafter — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 09:00:11 +0000

You imagined retirement as a long-awaited reward for all those years of work. Maybe you pictured cruises around the globe, lazy days playing tennis, or plenty of time to spend with your grandchildren. But now that it's finally here, you're not so happy.

Maybe you're bored. Maybe you're restless. Maybe you're having trouble paying the bills. Whatever the issue, your retirement isn't the happy time you expected. The solution? You might need to come out of retirement, at least part-time.

Retirement doesn't work for everyone, at least not the first time around. But you might find happiness, a renewed sense of purpose, or financial relief by coming out of retirement and jumping back into the world of work again. Here are some signs that you need to end your retirement and start working again. (See also: 6 Great Retirement Jobs)

1. You're struggling to pay the bills

The most important reason to return to work is if you're struggling to pay your bills each month. Maybe you didn't save enough money during your first go-round in the working world. Maybe your expenses, such as health care, are higher than you expected. Whatever the reason, if your monthly income is barely enough to pay your bills, it might be time to find a job, even a part-time one, to help cover the costs.

If you're facing this challenge, know that you're not alone. According to a 2017 report from the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis, 35 percent of workers from the ages of 55 to 64 didn't have any retirement savings in an IRA or 401(k)-type plan. The median account balance of workers nearing retirement was just $15,000.

2. Your retirement savings are dwindling

Maybe you did save for retirement. But now that you're not working, you're finding that those retirement savings are disappearing much faster than you expected.

It could be that you've spent more than you expected during your after-work years, or it could be that you underestimated how much money you'd need to support yourself once you stopped working. After all, people are living longer today than ever. Many people are experiencing retirements that last the same number of years as their career.

Returning to work, even part-time, can help prevent you from depleting your savings too quickly. Earning even $1,000 a month might help stretch those savings out long enough to enjoy a happy and healthy retirement. (See also: 10 Signs You Aren't Saving Enough for Retirement)

3. Your health is suffering

Work might not always be fulfilling, but it does keep you moving. And that can be an underrated benefit.

It's easy to get lazy in retirement. You might spend far too much time sitting in front of the TV or reclining on the couch with a book. There's nothing wrong with a bit of relaxation, but what if you're sitting so much that your health is suffering?

The Mayo Clinic and other medical professionals have reported that sitting too much can result in serious health problems — everything from obesity and higher blood pressure, to elevated cholesterol levels. Getting back to work on a full- or part-time basis could keep you from sitting your days away. And that might provide a quick boost to your overall health. (See also: 5 Retirement Struggles Nobody Talks About — And How to Beat Them)

4. You're bored

Planning on whiling away your days on the golf course, fishing from the banks of your favorite lake, or spending more time with your grandchildren might sound good. And it might be good, too … for a while.

The truth is, days can be long when you're not busy at work. All that free time can start to feel more like a burden than a pleasure if you don't know how to fill the hours. You can only read so many books or binge-watch so much TV.

It's easy to get bored during retirement, especially now that retirement is lasting so much longer. Getting a new job could alleviate much of that boredom. It will take you out of the house and give you something to do. It doesn't have to be thrilling work, but it could be just enough to make those long, empty hours seem less intimidating.

5. You're lonely

Miss the office chitchat? Miss the after-work drinks on Fridays? Being retired can cut you out from the social interaction that work often provides. You might start to feel lonely once you leave the working world.

Even if your partner is still living and you have adult children and grandchildren, your social circle can shrink dramatically during retirement. That's because many of us rely heavily on work relationships for our social interactions. Rejoining the workforce, even on a limited basis, could boost your social life and ease the loneliness that too often comes with retired life. (See also: How to Find Your New Identity After Retirement)

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This article is from Dan Rafter of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Ways to Embrace Having to Work in Retirement

Emily Guy Birken — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 08:00:15 +0000

We all know what retirement is supposed to look like: You get a nice farewell luncheon and a gold watch from your employer — and then you get busy golfing, traveling, spoiling the grandkids, and generally living it up in your golden years.

So if you find yourself with an underfunded nest egg and the realization that you have to continue working in retirement, you can be forgiven for wanting to throw an epic temper tantrum. Working in retirement is not what we were promised, and if that doesn’t warrant some flailing and crying, I don’t know what does.

But not being able to fully retire doesn’t have to put you in a permanent bad mood. Once you’ve stopped shaking your fist at the heavens, consider these ways to not only accept, but also embrace the reality of working in retirement.

1. You may be happier than retirees

Though it might seem like retirement is the key to happiness, psychological researchers have found that working is actually better for your subjective well-being. According to a 2014 study by Dr. Elizabeth Mokyr Horner in the Journal of Happiness Studies, retirees do experience a rush of well-being and life satisfaction in the first few months after they retire — but they feel a sharp decline of their levels of contentment within the first few years of retirement.

There are a couple of reasons for this decline in happiness. First, anything you spend years planning for is unlikely to live up to your expectations. It’s only natural for retirees to feel let down when they realize their new chapter in life isn’t exactly what they expected. In addition, when you end a career that has helped define who you are, it’s common to feel adrift once that career has ended. Finally, retirement can often lead to a shrinking social circle, since you no longer see co-workers on a daily basis. Lack of social contact can increase feelings of loneliness and depression, which can be a major problem among retirees.

Even if you are not happy about the fact that you have to work past retirement age, remember that working may actually be improving your happiness by helping to define you, giving you a broader social circle, and providing you with a reason to get up every morning. (See also: How to Find Your New Identity After Retirement)

2. You can make your workplace better

One of the benefits of working past traditional retirement age is the amount of knowledge and experience you bring to your job. Not only does that make you a valuable member of your workplace, but it provides you with an opportunity to help encourage and shape the culture there. By taking younger co-workers under your wing and making suggestions based on your depth of knowledge, you can potentially improve the company you work for. It’s tough to do this without the kind of clout your experience lends you.

3. You can put off taking Social Security

According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, approximately 42 percent of men and 48 percent of women begin taking their Social Security benefits at age 62, the earliest you are eligible to receive them. But Social Security benefits are permanently reduced by up to 30 percent by taking them so far in advance of full retirement age.

If you are still working in retirement, you can put off taking your Social Security benefits, and thereby increase your monthly benefit by as much as 8 percent per year that you put off Social Security. In addition, you may also be increasing your Social Security monthly payment by continuing to work, since the Social Security Administration calculates your benefit based on your 35 highest earning years. If you are at the top of your lifetime salary while working past retirement age, these high earning years will replace lower earning years from your youth — and potentially increase your monthly payment. (See also: 6 Smart Ways to Boost Your Social Security Payout Before Retirement)

4. You are in a retirement investment sweet spot

Though working past retirement age may not be your idea of fun, it does give you an unparalleled opportunity to invest. First, since you are over the age of 50, you can take advantage of the catch-up provisions that allow you to contribute up to $24,500 to your 401(k) and up to $6,500 to your IRA, allowing you to reduce your tax burden while funding your retirement accounts.

In addition, since you are working longer, that means you have a longer investment timeline to play with. This can allow you to invest for growth in ways that a typical retiree could not, since she would be trying to protect principal. Since you anticipate working for a few more years, you get a few more years of the magic of compound interest working to build your wealth. (See also: 7 Reasons to Invest in Stocks Past Age 50)

5. You can keep using your employer’s health insurance

All Americans are eligible for Medicare as of age 65, but the program costs more than you might expect and covers less than you might think. Not only do you have to pay a premium of at least $134 per month for Medicare Part B, but you will be on the hook for 20 percent of the Medicare approved amount for health care after you have met the annual deductible of $183. In addition, Medicare does not cover prescription drugs, dental or vision care, foot care, hearing aids, or dentures.

Being able to stay on your employer’s health insurance could be a major benefit to working, since you are likely to have more comprehensive coverage under that insurance and it may be less expensive for you, as well. (See also: 4 Common Mistakes to Avoid When You Enroll in Medicare)

No need to curse the heavens

Working in retirement may not be what you planned, but it doesn’t have to feel like the end of the world. If you take the time to recognize how working in retirement can actually help your emotional, mental, financial, and physical well-being, you can embrace the reality of working when you’d expected to be golfing.

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Why Health Care Should be Part of Your Retirement Savings Plan, Too

Emily Guy Birken — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 08:30:15 +0000

You might think that retirement planning should be all about the fun and rewarding stuff you are saving up for: remodeling your home, traveling, spoiling your grandkids, and enjoying life. But only thinking about the good parts of your retirement leaves a major piece of your future unfunded: health care.

The fact of the matter is that health care could be your largest retirement expense — by a lot. Each year, Fidelity calculates the average cost of medical expenses for a 65-year-old couple retiring during that calendar year. In 2018, Fidelity has calculated that the average couple will need $280,000 in today's dollars to cover medical expenses in retirement — and that figure does not include long-term care.

As heartburn-inducing as that number is, it's not time to panic. Even people earning average incomes can prepare for health care costs in retirement without robbing a bank, moving in with their children, or learning to practice medicine on oneself. Here's what you need to know about medical care in retirement, and how to prepare yourself and your budget for it. (See also: 4 Affordable Retirement Spots With World-Class Health Care)

Your health in retirement

Let's start with the bad news: It's likely that your health will deteriorate in retirement.

In some ways, it's harder to think about declining health than it is to think about mortality, since we know the latter is inevitable. The statistics on preparing for death vs. preparing for poor health in retirement bear this out, since 42 percent of Americans have a will or estate plan in place, according to a Care.com survey, while the Economic Policy Institute found that only 30 percent of Americans have more than $1,000 saved for retirement.

But declining health as you age is a fact of life. According to the CDC, three out of every four Americans over the age of 65 have multiple chronic conditions. These are defined as illnesses or medical conditions that last a year or longer and require ongoing medical attention or limit daily activities.

In addition, the Alzheimer's Association reports that one out of every three seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. What is so pernicious about these medical issues is the fact that dealing with chronic health conditions or dementia can be devastating to a retirement budget. (See also: Don't Let Poor Health Kill Your Retirement Fund)

What about Medicare?

What is most concerning about the Fidelity calculation of $280,000 for medical care costs in retirement is the fact that the numbers are based on a 65-year-old retiring couple, which means they are eligible for Medicare. In fact, Medicare premiums make up 35 percent of Fidelity's calculation, or $98,000. (The remaining breakdown is 45 percent to co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles, and 20 percent to prescription drugs.)

Medicare costs more than you realize, and covers less than you'd expect. It's important to understand what Medicare does and does not cover. (See also: 5 Common Medicare Myths, Debunked)

Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A, which is also known as hospital insurance, charges no monthly premium for the majority of enrollees. However, Part A coverage is quite sparse. It is called hospital insurance for a reason — because it only (partially) covers inpatient hospital care, inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility, home health care, and hospice care. In short, Medicare Part A will only pay for a serious medical problem that either lands you in the hospital or is expected to be fatal. It does not cover doctor's visits or prescriptions.

In addition, Part A only partially covers this care. You will still have to meet a deductible of $1,340 (for 2018) for each benefit period, and you will be responsible for a coinsurance amount of $335 per day if you stay more than 60 days in a hospital and $167.50 per day if you stay more than 20 days in a skilled nursing facility. (See also: 4 Common Mistakes to Avoid When You Enroll in Medicare)

Medicare Part B

This is the part of Medicare that works like regular health insurance. The majority of beneficiaries will pay a monthly premium (which can be deducted from their monthly Social Security check) for this program. As of 2018, the monthly premium for most Medicare Part B beneficiaries is $134, although higher income beneficiaries may have to pay more.

On Part B, you will pay all costs for covered services up to the yearly $183 deductible. Once that has been met, you will generally pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for most doctor services, outpatient therapy, and durable medical equipment. However, Medicare Part B does not cover long-term care (nonmedical help that the elderly may need for daily living), prescription drugs, routine dental or eye care, dentures, hearing aids or exams for fitting them, or routine foot care.

These coverage gaps can help explain the astronomical amount of money Fidelity calculates for health care needs in retirement. (See also: How to Make Sense of the Different Parts of Medicare)

Why you shouldn't panic

While none of this is good news, it's still no reason to go on a bank-robbing spree or start playing the lottery. There are a number of savvy strategies you can adopt right now to help make sure health care does not overwhelm your retirement budget.

1. Take care of your health

Adequate sleep, exercise, and healthy eating may not seem like part of your financial plan, but they can potentially have a greater return than any traditional investment. Taking better care of yourself can help to improve your health and potentially reduce the need for medical care as you age.

However, it's important to remember that even the most fit ultramarathoner who consumes only kale smoothies is not immune to the vagaries of poor health. But you will never regret taking care of yourself, because at the very least, it helps you to feel better in the present. (See also: 7 Smart Ways to Invest in Your Health)

2. Investigate long-term care insurance

One of the biggest coverage gaps in Medicare is long-term care, which is help that a senior might need with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility. Private health insurance also does not cover this kind of care, which means any retiree who needs it will be on the hook to pay for it herself. And according to the Department of Health and Human Services, the average 65-year-old today has a 70 percent chance of needing long-term care at some point in the future.

Long-term care insurance can potentially fill the coverage gap. This kind of insurance will help pay for your nonmedical long-term care after you have reached the end of the "elimination period," which can last anywhere from 20 days to 120 days. Until that point, you will pay for your care out of pocket.

Long-term care insurance isn't cheap, though. Prices vary, but a 60-year-old couple could expect to pay between $2,700 and $5,600 per year for a policy that pays for $150 per day in care, for a benefit period of three years. (See also: The Best Age to Buy Long-Term Care Insurance)

This kind of insurance is the best option for about 20 to 30 percent of retirees, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College — those who have a moderate nest egg. For many others, it will make more sense to exhaust their assets to become eligible for Medicaid, which will cover long-term care. (See also: 5 Ways to Make Long-Term Care More Affordable)

3. Consider a health savings account

If you are in good health as you approach retirement, you may want to sign up for a health savings account (HSA). This account, which works a little like an IRA, allows families to contribute up to $6,900 (as of 2018) and individuals to contribute up to $3,450 in pretax income. If you are over the age of 55, you can contribute an additional $1,000 above these limits. The money grows tax-deferred, and as long as you use any withdrawals for qualified medical expenses, they are also untaxed.

The downside of HSAs is that you must have a high-deductible health insurance policy to qualify for one. To be considered a high-deductible policy, your insurance must have a deductible of least $1,350 per individual or $2,700 for a family, and an out-of-pocket maximum that is at most $6,650 per individual plan or $13,300 per family plan.

This makes HSA plans a bit of a difficult choice. If you enjoy good health as you approach retirement, they can be an excellent option, since you can also make penalty-free nonmedical withdrawals after age 65 (although you will pay taxes). That means your HSA can be one part of your retirement nest egg that can be used for something other than medical care if you continue to have good health.

But the high-deductible health plan puts you in a bad position if you get sick before reaching Medicare eligibility. You might end up having to raid your HSA before your official retirement. (See also: How an HSA Could Help Your Retirement)

4. Open a Roth IRA for health care savings

Roth IRAs are tax-advantaged investment vehicles that allow you to put aside already taxed money into the account, where it grows tax-deferred. As long as you keep the Roth IRA for at least five years and are over age 59½, you can withdraw funds from the account tax-free. As of 2018, you can set aside $5,500 per year, and savers over the age of 50 can contribute an additional $1,000.

This makes the Roth IRA a good place to earmark funds for health care in retirement. Since there is no penalty or tax on withdrawn funds, you do not have to worry about how a big withdrawal for medical care could affect your taxes in retirement.

You can determine the asset allocation of your Roth IRA based on your health expectations. If you are in good health as you approach retirement, plan on investing mostly in growth-oriented stocks, since you don't anticipate needing expensive health care until 10 or 20 years after retirement. If you already have a chronic health issue or know that certain medical problems run in your family, you may want to put most of your money in more stable investments, and only allocate a portion for growth. (See also: The Right Way to Withdraw Money From Your Retirement Accounts During Retirement)

The good, the bad, and the healthy

Health care in retirement does not need to overwhelm your budget. If you make sure you recognize the potential costs and understand Medicare's coverage gaps, you can prepare for your medical needs as you age. (See also: Follow These 5 Steps to Full Health Care Coverage in Retirement)

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Revamp Your Budget for Retirement

Alicia Rose Hudnett — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:00:29 +0000

Retirement is a major life adjustment for most people. From figuring out how to spend your days, to determining the best way to manage your personal finances, there are many choices to make.

Once you leave the world of paychecks and the daily 9-to-5 behind you, you may also think you're done with budgeting. At this point in your life, you may believe you've got a good handle on your spending and saving habits, and there's no point to budgeting anymore. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Here's a primer on all the ways your post-work budget needs to change.

Pay yourself and the IRS

The first step of building any household budget is figuring out total income. You now have the task of recreating a paycheck for yourself based on your available income sources. In retirement, that may mean a combination of Social Security benefits, a pension, distributions from IRAs and 401(k)s, and personal savings. You'll simultaneously need to cover your monthly living expenses and continually monitor the total balance of your portfolio.

Your Social Security check will be a set amount each month, and any pensions or annuities you have may also be. Once you've established how much money you'll need on top of those benefits, you can determine how much to take out of your tax-advantaged retirement accounts.

Then there are taxes to consider. You may have the option to have federal income taxes withheld from these payments, and while it's not required that you do so, it will save you the hassle of having to file quarterly estimated taxes. In any case, you'll need to factor taxes into your ongoing budget. (See also: Here's How You Should Budget Your Social Security Checks)

Stop saving for retirement

You've spent your entire pre-retirement life saving and accumulating assets so that one day you'd be able to live comfortably without having to work. Now that you're finally in the decumulation phase, you no longer have to save a portion of your monthly income for long-term goals. Monthly retirement contributions are one line item you can remove from your budget.

Increase your emergency fund

During your working and saving years, it's important that you have enough cash saved to cover a large unexpected bill or a job loss in order to prevent having to take early withdrawals from retirement accounts or take on debt.

In retirement, your need for cash savings may be even greater, but for different reasons. You may not have to worry about something like a job loss, but emergencies can still happen. As your home and vehicle age, you may find yourself needing to make major repairs or replacements. A health care crisis could devastate your finances. If you aren't prepared for major unexpected expenses, you risk wiping out a portion of the nest egg you're meant to be living on for the next few decades.

Remember, unlike your pre-retirement years, the majority of your savings may now be in tax-deferred retirement accounts. As you build your yearly income stream, you'll also be considering your income tax liability, taking into account your portfolio balance and your expected withdrawal rate. What happens to those numbers if you have a large emergency expense one year? Having to take distributions from your retirement accounts during those times may permanently affect the long-term viability of your nest egg, which is why a cash reserve can help support your overall retirement plan.

Standard financial advice recommends that working people build an emergency fund that can cover at least six months' worth of essential living expenses. In retirement, you should strive to save between 12 and 18 months' worth of those living expenses, including annual insurance premiums. (See also: Yes, You Still Need an Emergency Fund in Retirement)

Assess your changing housing costs

Housing is usually the largest household expense in everyone's budget, regardless of whether you rent or own. But after raising families and possibly paying a mortgage for 30 or more years, you may be in a position to either downsize, eliminate your mortgage payment, move to a new location, or a combination of all of these options — which can all meaningfully affect your budget.

As you prepare for retirement and rethink your income and budget needs, carefully calculate what your new housing and associated costs will be. For example, you may think about moving into a smaller apartment or condo in a trendy part of town, but a more expensive location can unexpectedly increase your other everyday living expenses.

Prepare for a possible increase in medical expenses

If you're used to having employer-sponsored health insurance, be prepared to do your homework on Medicare before you retire. Many people are surprised to learn that Medicare does not cover all health care expenses, such as routine vision or dental care. Nor does it cover some assisted living expenses, which may create a huge financial strain if you didn't purchase a long-term care policy when you were younger. And if you're traveling outside of the United States, Medicare typically won't cover any health care related costs you may incur.

Between purchasing various Medicare coverages, like Part D for prescriptions, and perhaps obtaining a supplemental plan to close the Medicare coverage gaps, you may wind up spending significantly more on making sure all of your health needs are properly insured. Crunch the numbers and make sure your new budget takes all of this into account. (See also: How to Make Sense of the Different Parts of Medicare)

Eliminate work-related expenses

Throughout your entire working career, you've probably spent lots of money on various professional and daily work-related expenses. When you exit the workforce, much of that will change as your lifestyle will be different. Things like business attire and dry cleaning, daily transportation and parking costs, or business certifications and professional dues can all be crossed off your budget.

Adjust for an increase in leisure expenditures

When your schedule is completely free and you no longer have a daily commitment to be at work, every day feels like a Saturday. You may find yourself spending money on things you used to do only on the weekends or when you had some time off. Whether it's spending more time eating out, traveling, or participating in hobbies, you may need to adjust your budget for your increased free time.

Consider your gifting choices

If you have children and grandchildren, you may have started thinking about including financial support for them in your retirement budget. In addition to more substantial gifting opportunities that involve legal documents (like a trust), there are other ways to support your family members. Each year, you are able to gift anyone up to the annual gift exclusion, which is $15,000 for 2018, without having to file a gift tax return. A married couple can gift a total of $30,000 to one individual in one year.

And if you are interested in helping to save for a family member's education, you can open and fund a 529 account, which is a tax-favored education savings plan. The same yearly gifting rules apply, but with a 529 account, you are allowed to front-load five years' worth of the 2018 $15,000 yearly amount for a total of $75,000 in one year. Once again, that is doubled for a married couple. (See also: 4 Things You Need to Know About Gift Tax)

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This article is from Alicia Rose Hudnett of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Ways to Preserve Your Net Worth in Retirement

Tim Lemke — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 08:01:16 +0000

We all know the key to a comfortable retirement is amassing enough wealth to last your entire post-work life. But if you truly want to ensure financial security, you should work to maintain or even build upon your net worth as you age. This requires an aggressive level of saving when you are young, and a lot of discipline along the way — but it can be done.

Let's examine some ways you cannot only make your retirement savings last, but also protect all of your net worth throughout your lifetime.

1. Budget and plan wisely

Retirees generally see their expenses decline as they age. The kids are out of the house, college is paid off, homes are owned free and clear. Don't get too cocky, though; you still need to ensure your expenses don't outpace your income. Continue working hard to live within your means. Keep budgets for most expenses, and develop savings plans for any big-ticket purchases. If you want to maintain your net worth, you can't allow your day-to-day cost of living to get out of hand.

2. Downsize

Do you need to live in such a large house? Do you really need two cars? You can reduce your day-to-day expenses and make your retirement funds last longer by simply scaling down your possessions. Considering selling some of your material items and converting them to cash for living expenses or for investing. Or, just donate them to charity and potentially get a tax break on donations.

Even though the footprint of your life may be getting smaller, your net worth can actually increase under these circumstances because you may be converting physical assets (house, car, etc.) to investments that can rise in value and generate new income. (See also: 7 Reasons You Need to Downsize)

3. Never spend your principal

In an ideal world, you are spending your retirement living off the gains and interest from your savings, not the savings itself. If you amass enough savings, that sum can by itself generate its own income in the form of interest, dividends, and capital gains, and it may be possible to live on that income alone. You need a lot of money saved to make this happen, but it's a wonderful feeling to know you are living comfortably without ever tapping into the bulk of your savings.

4. Avoid taking on new debt

You may be tempted in retirement to finally buy that beach house, that luxury car, or that set of his-and-hers personal watercraft. This is fine if these are things you saved for, but you can't let yourself go overboard. The last thing you want is to take on new debt that will add to your expenses at a time when your income is drastically reduced.

Borrowing can lead to interest payments, which can lead to more debt, and then you're seeing your nest egg and net worth drop faster than you ever intended. Avoid debt — especially new debt — and you will be in much better shape financially as you age. (See also: What to Do If You're Retiring With Debt)

5. File for Social Security as late as possible

Anyone can begin accepting Social Security benefits starting at age 62, but if you can wait until you're 67 (what the Social Security Administration considers full retirement age), you'll get 100 percent of your benefits. Accepting benefits before your full retirement age means you'll receive lower monthly payments, costing yourself thousands of dollars annually. (See also: 6 Smart Ways to Boost Your Social Security Payout Before Retirement)

6. Continue to invest

It may seem counterintuitive to consider investing when you're looking to protect the income you have. But there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that it's OK to invest in stocks even as you get older. Why? Because people are living longer and are more likely to outlast their savings.

Continuing to invest smartly in stocks can help you increase your savings and make it last longer. It's certainly wise to move most of your money into safer things like bonds and cash, but setting aside a certain portion for stocks could mean the difference between seeing your net worth shrink and watching it grow.

7. Pay as little tax as you can

Hopefully, you've used tax-advantaged accounts such as a 401(k) and Roth IRA to build your retirement savings. When you retire, you no longer have those vehicles at your disposal. But there are some things you can do to keep the government from taking too much. First, you can work to ensure that any income you have is taxed at as low a rate as possible. This means taking advantage of stock dividends and long-term capital gains, which are taxed at lower rates than normal income. It means purchasing tax-free municipal bonds. It means claiming as many deductions as you can on your taxes. Taxes are necessary to keep our society upright, but there's no reason to pay more than required.

8. Avoid bailing out relatives

This is not an argument against helping out your children or other loved ones with financial expenses. But it's important to be thoughtful about how you help and the impact it may have on your finances. Is the money you are giving to your adult child simply throwing good money after bad?

If you are helping to take care of the grandkids, are you being reimbursed for the child care expenses (food, clothes, etc.) you are taking on? Remember that in order to make your retirement funds last, you can't be giving away your savings carelessly. (See also: Are You Ruining Your Retirement by Spoiling Your Kids?)

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This article is from Tim Lemke of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: The Downsides to Early Retirement

Amy Lu — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 08:30:27 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found articles on the downsides to early retirement, clever Alexa commands you will use over and over again, and creative ways to save money this summer.

Best Money Tips: 10 Big Ways Retirement Will Be Different in 2030

Amy Lu — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 08:30:29 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found articles on ways retirement will be different in 2030, awesome travel site to find the cheapest flight, and how solar panels can save you a fortune.

5 Common Habits of Retirement-Savvy Savers

Alicia Rose Hudnett — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 08:00:27 +0000

Here's some good news for anyone behind on retirement savings: Being a smart saver isn't difficult. There's no magic secret to getting it right. Once you understand the rules of the game, you'll know exactly what you need to do to manage your money wisely as you navigate through life.

Here are some standard practices that every retirement-savvy saver lives by. Let them inspire and guide you during your own phase of accumulating wealth.

1. They never pass up free money

Whenever you have access to a workplace retirement plan, always check to see if there is a company match on contributions. If there is, make sure you contribute at least enough to earn the match. This is one of the easiest and fastest ways to jump-start your savings — and, of course, it's free money. Not taking advantage of a company match is one of the biggest missteps you could take with your 401(k). (See also: 7 Things You Should Know About Your 401(k) Match)

2. They always know where their money is

There is something to be said for having organization among your financial accounts. Having multiple old workplace retirement plans can lead to higher fees (paying multiple plan management and fund fees) and an undiversified portfolio (not realizing that all of your retirement accounts represent one portfolio and should be invested as a whole). Each time you leave a job, consider rolling your old plan over into either an IRA, or if allowed, into your new company's retirement plan. (See also: A Simple Guide to Rolling Over All of Your 401(k)s and IRAs)

3. They keep retirement savings for retirement

While most early withdrawals of retirement funds will result in a tax bill and a penalty fee, there are a few penalty-free exceptions for certain accounts, including a first-time home purchase or paying for some higher education costs. But these are financial goals that should be saved for separately, regardless of the fact that the government allows you to touch your retirement savings for them. Once you earmark money for retirement, don't factor it into any of your other financial obligations. The best thing you can do for your retirement accounts is to let them grow. (See also: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Borrow From Your Retirement Account)

4. They pay themselves first

For most people, their first financial priority each month is covering their non-discretionary living expenses, like housing, utilities, and food. But serious retirement savers know that paying their retirement account every single month as well sets them up for successful saving. Build retirement savings into your budget as a nonnegotiable bill, not as a leftover expense that you may or may not be able to pay at the end of the month. (See also: 7 Reasons You Really Need to Pay Yourself First (Seriously))

5. They use tax-advantaged accounts

It's in everyone's best interest, including the government's, that we save for our own retirement. That's precisely why there are accounts specifically designed to encourage long-term savings. Whether you use a tax-deferred account, which allows your money to compound for decades before any taxes are due, or a tax-exempt account, which allows your after-tax money to grow tax-free and qualified distributions remain untaxed, or a combination of both — a strategic saver makes use of all available saving tools. (See also: 401(k) or IRA? You Need Both)

Being a retirement-savvy saver doesn't mean having or saving more money than everyone else. It's about knowing what moves can make a difference in your savings goals and being an active and purposeful retirement saver.

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Retirement

5 Ways Gig Economy Workers Can Save for Retirement

1. Take stock of what you have

2. Open an IRA

3. Avoid the bite of investment fees

4. Embrace automation

5. Invest found money

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How the Sandwich Generation Can Protect Their Retirement

Retirement savings comes first

Communication is key

Insurance is a necessity

Become a Social Security and Medicare expert

Don't be afraid to ask for help

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Ask the Readers: Are You On Track for Retirement?

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

Giveaway Rules:

How to Do a Reconnaissance Trip Before Retiring Overseas

Meet as many people as you can

Expats

Locals

Ask the right questions

Check out the property market

Treat it as research, not a vacation

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4 Golden Rules of Investing in Retirement

1. Don't be too conservative

2. Don't be too aggressive

3. Consider maintaining a cash "bucket"

4. Make sure you're on the same page as your spouse

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Best Money Tips: 10 Countries Where Retirees Can Live Large and Save Big

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

How One More Year of Work Can Transform Your Retirement

The value of waiting

Continued employer matches on retirement savings

Extended group health insurance

More employer-provided education opportunities

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5 Signs You Need to Come Out of Retirement

1. You're struggling to pay the bills

2. Your retirement savings are dwindling

3. Your health is suffering

4. You're bored

5. You're lonely

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5 Ways to Embrace Having to Work in Retirement

1. You may be happier than retirees

2. You can make your workplace better

3. You can put off taking Social Security

4. You are in a retirement investment sweet spot

5. You can keep using your employer’s health insurance

No need to curse the heavens

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Why Health Care Should be Part of Your Retirement Savings Plan, Too

Your health in retirement

What about Medicare?

Medicare Part A

Medicare Part B

Why you shouldn't panic

1. Take care of your health

2. Investigate long-term care insurance

3. Consider a health savings account

4. Open a Roth IRA for health care savings

The good, the bad, and the healthy

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How to Revamp Your Budget for Retirement

Pay yourself and the IRS

Stop saving for retirement

Increase your emergency fund

Assess your changing housing costs

Prepare for a possible increase in medical expenses

Eliminate work-related expenses

Adjust for an increase in leisure expenditures

Consider your gifting choices

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8 Ways to Preserve Your Net Worth in Retirement

1. Budget and plan wisely