RETIREMENT PLANNING
Imagine if you could preview your retirement in advance.
You could see just how much money you might need, and know if you can sustain the lifestyle you desire without ever running out of funds.
Unfortunately, with all the changes happening today, it can be difficult to determine what the future of retirement will look like, and since there isn’t a retirement crystal ball out there, many are finding it difficult to feel confident with their retirement plans.
This is where we can help. We look at your specific retirement outlook to determine what adjustments could be made to potentially improve your retirement income. We take a holistic approach to planning and abide by the Fiduciary Standards. This means we only make financial recommendations that are best for our clients.
We also utilize a comprehensive wealth management software platform that organizes all business and/or personal financial information in one, secure location. This allows our clients to see their entire financial picture in minutes. In addition, you will be able to view calculators that show the possible outcome of changes to your plan based on items such as age, short-term and long-term goal funding, savings goals and alterations to your asset allocations.
Life insurance is designed to help solve the problems created when someone dies prematurely. An annuity, on the other hand, is designed to protect against the possibility of living too long. A “fixed indexed” annuity is a contract between an individual and an insurance company. In exchange for a single, lump-sum premium, the insurance company agrees to begin paying a regular income to the purchase for a period of years or life.
There are different types of annuities and purchasing an annuity can form an important part of a retirement income plan. However, annuities can be complex products to navigate. This is where we can help. We have the knowledge and experience to help you find the type of annuity that is right for your retirement income plan.
*Annuity guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Financial products and services if recommended may include investment advisory fees, commissions and/or other charges.
When it comes to Social Security for retirees, one of the biggest questions is “When should I start taking my benefits?” This is a strategy that has to be optimized to your retirement plan. It’s important to understand how your benefits are calculated, how they are taxed, and what happens if you continue to work after beginning to receive benefits.
Example: The amount of the social security benefit reduction varies with the year of birth. For example, an individual born in 1937 (FRA= age 65) who began receiving benefits at age 62 had his or her retirement benefit reduced to 80% of what it would have been had they chosen to wait until FRA. However, for a worker born in 1962, for whom FRA is age 67, choosing to receive retirement benefits at age 62 results in an initial benefit reduced to 70% of what it would have been had the individual waited to age 67.
Every retirement plan will be different, so each Social Security optimization strategy will be different as well. This is why we make sure your Social Security benefits are very much a part of our retirement strategy conversation.
Long-term care (LTC) is the term used to describe a variety of services in the areas of health, personal care, and social needs of those who are chronically disabled, ill or infirm. LTC can include services such as nursing home care, assisted living, home health care, or adult day care.
Considering that 49% of those 75 years and older have a disability, the need for long-term care support can be an important subject to touch on when it comes to retirement planning. In addition, the average cost of stay in an assisted living facility is coming out to $4,000 per month. So the LTC conversation is one that must be had. The question is, how will you afford such extensive costs of living far into the future?*
We work closely with our clients to discuss the options of LTC planning within their retirement strategy. In addition to general medical costs in retirement, the cost of long-term care could be significant if not financially prepared.
*U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates / Genworth 2018 Cost of Care Survey
