Effective retirement planning is often equated with making good decisions, but avoiding common mistakes can be equally important. Just one or two things done incorrectly can set you back in achieving your retirement dreams.
Here are several retirement savings mistakes you should avoid:
Not starting early enough
Too many people wait too long to start saving for retirement. Investing even a small amount early on can make a big difference thanks to the power of compounding.
Poor asset allocation
Asset allocation is the way in which you divide your money across various classes of investments including stocks, bonds and cash equivalents.
In allocating your investments, you don’t want to be too aggressive, but being too cautious can be just as foolhardy. By investing too conservatively, you deprive yourself of the growth you need to build your retirement nest egg and stay ahead of inflation. The goal is to strike the right balance in allocating your retirement dollars on an ongoing basis and to adjust your allocation appropriately as you get closer to retirement.
Underestimating your life expectancy
It’s difficult to predict life expectancy, but when determining how much money will be needed for retirement, many people tend to underestimate how long they might live.
To be on the safe side, consider calculating your financial needs based on the assumption that either you or your spouse will live into your 90s.
Misjudging your ability to continue working
Working in retirement is a fulfilling way to stay active and generate extra retirement income, but that presumes that both you and the job market for seniors remain healthy.
While many baby boomers plan to work well past their normal retirement age, risks such as illness, disability or job loss may prevent this. For this reason, it’s better to plan as if your working years won’t continue indefinitely.
Not rolling over your retirement savings when you change jobs
According to a recent study, close to 45 percent of people who change jobs withdraw money from their retirement plans and spend it. This is never a good idea.
When you change jobs, you can request that your employer make a direct rollover of your account to another qualified employer plan or IRA. By doing so, you will avoid paying any income tax or penalty. If you choose to have the distribution made to you, 20 percent tax will be withheld; however, it is still possible to make a tax-free rollover within 60 days.
To roll over 100 percent of the distribution, you will have to use other funds to replace the 20 percent withheld. If not, the 20 percent balance will be taxable.
If you receive a lump sum and do not make a rollover, the taxable portion of the distribution will be subject to income tax, and if you are below age 59½, you generally will also be subject to a 10 percent penalty.
Borrowing against your retirement fund
When you borrow money from your 401(k) plan, that money is no longer working for you. In addition, you are required to pay back the amount you borrowed, generally within five years or the loan will be considered a premature distribution, subject to penalties.
Focusing on your nest egg too much
It’s important to check from time to time to see that your asset allocation remains appropriate for your retirement goals, but don’t get carried away worrying about month-to-month fluctuations within your portfolio. For the most part, these movements are a natural part of economic cycles.
And while tending your nest egg is critical, it’s also important to give some thought to how you’re going to spend your time in retirement. Doing so will make the transition into retirement that much smoother.
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Nudelman & Associates CPA's LLC
11299 Owings Mills Boulevard
Suite 200
Owings Mills, MD 21117
410-997-5757