Advice On How To Retire Comfortably And Happy

By Ines Flores


When it comes to your retirement, you must realize from the outset that you, and only you, are responsible for your financial future. If you want to know how to retire comfortably and happy, start by using the things available to you. If your company has a retirement savings plan, like a 401(k), it would be wise for you to contribute to it, especially if they offer a match. Doing this could make your taxes lower. It also gives you the benefit of saving by automatic deductions to make things easier.

The first thing you need to do is choose the date you are planning to retire. Most workers leave the workforce when they are ready to, normally at sixty-five, but many are forced to leave early for various situations, such as a company layoff or health issues. For this reason, it is always good to plan ahead. If you have a retirement date in mind, work toward that goal, but create a contingency plan if your date is moved up unexpectedly.

If your employer does not have a retirement plan, ask them to start one. If they refuse, put your money in an Individual Retirement Account. You are allowed to put $5,500 each year into your IRA. Once you are over fifty, you can contribute more than that. An IRA offers certain tax advantages for individuals who want to grow their money for the future.

It is also helpful if you can stay in good health after you stop working. This is important because you do not want to dwindle your nest egg paying for health expenses that may have been avoidable. Make sure you eat healthy and get regular exercise. Staying healthy will allow you to do the things you enjoy, such as travel and volunteer at different places, now that you are not confined to a job.

Whatever you are interested in doing in retirement, the key to living well is to start saving early and keep saving. Save no less than twenty percent of your income. With each paycheck, the money can be taken out if you set up an automatic transfer for it to go in an investment account where you will not be tempted to touch it.

Diversification is important. You should allocate your savings in various types of investment vehicles. Doing this will help you to reduce your risk and improve your investment returns over time. Also remember that your investment allocation will change over time, depending on your age, how close you are to retirement, and your financial circumstances.

Also, do not touch your savings when you build it up. Withdrawing from your savings can cause you to lose principal and the benefits of compound interest. You might also lose the tax benefits or have to pay a penalty for withdrawing early. Do not cash out your 401(k) or pension account if you leave your job. It is wiser to leave the funds invested there or roll the money over to an IRA or a pension account at your new job.

Remember that your retirement is what you choose to make it. This period will signal a new chapter in your life, so plan ahead to make the most of it.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire