|
< Back to Previous Page
Know Your Retirement Needs
Retirement is expensive. Experts estimate that you’ll need about 70 percent of your preretirement income – lower earners, 90 percent or more – to maintain your standard of living when you stop working. Take charge of your financial future.
Find Out About Your Social Security Benefits
Social Security pays the average retiree about 40 percent of preretirement earnings.
Learn About Your Employer's Pension Or Profit Sharing Plan.
If your employer may offer pension profit sharing or a tax-sheltered savings plan, check to see what is offered . If your employer offers a tax-sheltered savings plan, such as a 401(k), sign up and contribute all you can. Your taxes will be lower, your company may kick in more, and automatic deductions make it easy
Before you change jobs, find out what will happen to your pension. Learn what benefits you may have from previous employment. Find out if you will be entitled to benefits from your spouse’s plan.
Ask Your Employer To Start A Plan
If your employer doesn’t offer a retirement plan, suggest that it start one. Simplified plans can be set up by certain employers. You can put up to $4,000 a year into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and gain tax advantages.
When you open an IRA, you have two options – a traditional IRA or the newer Roth IRA. The tax treatment of your contributions and withdrawals will depend on which option you select. Also, you should know that the after-tax value of your withdrawal will depend on inflation and the type of IRA you choose.
Don’t dip into your retirement savings. You’ll lose principal and interest, and you may lose tax benefits. If you change jobs, roll over your savings directly into an IRA or your new employer’s retirement plan.
Start early. The sooner you start saving, the more time your money has to grow. Put time on your side. Make retirement savings a high priority. Devise a plan, stick to it, and set goals for
yourself. Remember, it’s never too early or too late to start saving.
How you save can be as important as how much you save. Inflation and the type of investments you make play important roles in how much you’ll have saved at retirement. Know how your pension or savings plan is invested. Financial security and knowledge go hand in hand.
Talk to your employer, our bank, your union, or a financial advisor. Ask questions and make sure the answers make sense to you. Get practical advice and act now.
Financial security doesn’t just happen. It takes planning and commitment and, yes, money.
|
