If you’re like most people, your 50s seemed like a far-off event that would happen in another lifetime; as a consequence, you might have also treated retirement as a distant event. However, now that you’ve arrived in your 50s, you may feel inclined to panic or feel defeated when it comes to your retirement savings. Repeat after us: the best day to start taking action is today. Taking advantage of the knowledge and guidance of a trusted financial advisor can be a great place to start.
Southwestern Investment Group is here to provide you with a solid plan of action to kick your retirement savings into high gear, quickly. Ideally, within the range of ages 45-54, you have reached the mid-level peak of your career and have optimized your earnings potential. This will undoubtedly make investing in retirement more accessible; but, even if you do not fall into this category, there are plenty of methods to help you amplify your retirement savings.
In this article, we will discuss how individuals in their 50s can help either boost their retirement savings or finally begin building their savings rapidly.
Examine Your Expenses (and Make a Plan)
The first preliminary step before making any financial plan is to take an honest look at your current financial affairs. Take note and divide your expenses into long-term and short-term expenses. For example, a long-term expense would be healthcare for you and your spouse, a short-term expense could be your children’s college tuition or a car lease.
It’s important to divide your expenses in this manner so that you can more accurately determine what you will need to budget for in retirement and what debt you can work to eliminate now. Though your expenses may seem overwhelming now, it is helpful to know which expenses will be out of the picture in 10-15 years.
The Importance of Asset Allocation
When saving for retirement in your 50s, it’s especially important to create a diverse retirement portfolio that keeps up with inflation. Although you might be feeling pressure to take more risks with your investments in order to make up for lost time, keep in mind that risk should most always correlate with age and earning potential.
But, don’t worry—there are still ways to successfully play catch-up! Once you’ve hit age 50, you are allowed to make an additional contribution, of up to $6,500 annually, to your employer-sponsored retirement account. If you do not have access to an employer plan, we would suggest making contributions to tax-advantaged retirement plans, like a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA; if you are over the age of 50, you are eligible to contribute $7,000 annually, which can be a great way to quickly amass savings.
Create a Health Savings Account
You may feel that there will be ample savings in your retirement accounts to cover healthcare expenses, but you should be aware that a couple in their mid-60s will need around $285,000 to cover health care costs, and that number only substantially increases if an assisted-living home must be considered.
By creating a health savings account (HSA), you not only help to position yourself and your spouse (and your children) from shouldering this financial burden, you also have the advantage of potentially reducing your taxable income. Another option when it comes to healthcare savings in retirement is to consider investing in long-term health insurance to help guarantee that nursing home expenses are covered.
Consider the Advantages of Delaying Retirement
After taking an honest look at your finances with a trusted financial advisor, it may become apparent that your retirement savings could really benefit from delaying retirement by a year or two. Though your initial reaction after hearing this might be dread or shame, we assure you, this does not mean you have failed.
If this option is right for you and your family, you might consider opening up a small business or working as a consultant on the side to generate additional income. A great way to look at this can be as an opportunity to pursue a passion project or finally be your own boss.
Ready to Make a Plan?
Southwestern Investment Group provides no-judgement advising, helping you to alleviate financial stress and build your way toward retirement. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!
