Stress tests aren’t just for banks – they’re useful for retirement plans too! And a comprehensive stress test of your retirement plan involves more than just stress testing your portfolio: the author of today’s article advises that “you should stress test your venue, your retirement and income portfolios, and anticipated leisure pursuits.” For more on carrying out a comprehensive stress test of your retirement plan – including how to test whether your portfolio can survive a market shock and how many times it may be prudent to visit prospective retirement venues – CLICK HERE.
Retired
What Social Security Is, What It Isn’t – And Why The Distinction Matters To Your Retirement Plan
“Social Security is what it is — and it isn’t what it isn’t,” states the author of today’s article who argues that, while Social Security is an asset, it is not a bond – and thus investors are ill-served by considering Social Security part of their retirement portfolio’s bond allocation. What is Social Security, what isn’t Social Security – and how does the author recommend fitting it into an overall retirement portfolio? CLICK HERE.
Nudging Towards A More Secure Retirement
“Money and rationality don’t always mix…That’s especially true with retirement,” notes the author of today’s article. Just one example of many: The fact that nearly half of Americans claim Social Security benefits as soon as possible (age 62), foregoing a significantly larger benefit had they waited. Fortunately, insights from behavioral finance can help “nudge” individuals towards making more rational decisions as they enter retirement. For four critical retirement decisions – related to Social Security, annuities, asset allocation and consumption rates – and how behavioral science can help nudge retirees towards more optimal decisions – CLICK HERE.
No Retirement Savings? There’s An Austerity Solution For That!
If you’re in your 30s, 40s or even 50s and, like many Americans, have little-to-nothing saved for retirement, the author of today’s article has some words of encouragement: “You are not screwed. The only way you are screwed is if you are at retirement age already. Then it is kind of too late. But if there is any time on the clock at all, you can fix this.” He proceeds to outline what he sees as the sole solution for this dire situation: austerity. What does this austerity solution entail? CLICK HERE.
How To Build A Dividend Portfolio To Fund Your Retirement
When it comes to funding his retirement, the author of today’s article intends to do it with the dividend income his equity portfolio generates, noting that “Dividend payments are more stable than share prices and the potential for capital gains, which makes them an ideal source of income for retirement. Historically, US dividend growth has exceeded the rate of inflation. This means that dividend income not only maintains purchasing power, but increases it over time.” As for how to go about creating a portfolio of dividend stocks to live off of in retirement, he lays out his process, which begins with having “the end goal in mind”. For more, CLICK HERE.
“Bad Losses In Bad Times”: The Risk With Substituting Dividend Payers For Bonds In Retirement
While the author of today’s article acknowledges that there is much to make dividend-paying stocks appealing as a source of cash flow in retirement, she warns “I get nervous when retirees use them to take the place of bonds altogether. And I think retirees should get nervous, too.” What’s not to like, for retirees, about dividend payers, according to the author? It has to do with the risk of “bad losses in bad times” – and the financial crisis provides a perfect example. For more, CLICK HERE.
Spend Safely In Retirement (And Delay Taking Social Security) With This Strategy
With most financial experts advising that primary wage earners delay taking Social Security until age 70 (as delaying can result in payments that are 70% higher), the author of today’s article acknowledges that “for those who do want to maximize their benefits, that means utilizing other assets in the meantime which requires some strategizing.” He proceeds to outline one potential strategy – the Spend Safely in Retirement Strategy – that allows you to effectively create your own annuity or pension income stream. For more, CLICK HERE.
How To Wreck Your Retirement – With Minimal Effort
Only save in tax-deductible accounts – and disregard Roth accounts. Claim your Social Security benefit at age 62 – whether you need it then or not. Plan on your expenses dropping significantly once you leave the workforce. Double down on your employer’s stock. Ditch stocks for bonds when the market goes south. These are five of the 20 ways identified in today’s article that you can go about “wreck[ing] your chances of a financially comfortable retirement”. For more, CLICK HERE.
10 “Almost Effortless” Ways To Improve Your Retirement Savings
Why would you pretend you still have debts to pay off when you don’t, or open a Health Savings Account and then not use it? Because those are among some of the easiest and most effective ways to help save for retirement, as outlined in today’s article. For more on these two retirement saving suggestions and several more (including why you may want to consider “gamifying the retirement savings process”), CLICK HERE.
Considerations When Geo-Arbitraging Your Retirement
This retirement strategy is on the rise – and it also has a fancy name: geo-arbitrage. With geo-arbitrage, individuals accumulate retirement income in the U.S. and then relocate to locations around the globe with a lower cost of living. Noting that “it’s a big world, and every country poses unique opportunities and complications”, today’s article outlines “five practical questions” for individuals considering taking advantage of geo-arbitrage to ask themselves as they evaluate various locales. For more, CLICK HERE.
