DURING PERIODS OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, a paycheck is the ultimate antidote to stress. As long as you’re getting paid, you can buy groceries, pay the mortgage and—one of these days—catch a ball game.
Unless you’re fortunate enough to have a traditional pension, though, those paychecks stop when you retire. That’s unnerving even when times are good. When the stock market is unpredictable, interest rates are at an all-time low and the economy is reeling, the absence of a biweekly or monthly deposit in your bank account can lead to a lot of sleepless nights.
If you’ve saved diligently, you can still convert your nest egg into a reliable source of income that will cover your basic needs, along with those vacations you hope to take when it’s safe to travel again. But to reduce the risk of outliving your savings, you may need to revisit and revise some of the old rules of thumb.
TAPPING YOUR ACCOUNTS
One of the biggest challenges facing retirees is figuring out how much they can withdraw from their individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, taxable accounts and other savings each year and still have enough to maintain their standard of living if they live into their nineties (or beyond). This prospect is so daunting that some retirees are overly frugal, scrimping on expenses even when they have plenty of money in their nest eggs. A study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that people with $500,000 or more in savings at retirement spent down less than 12% of their assets over 20 years on average.
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A SOLID YEAR FOR THE KIPLINGER 25
All but one of our favorite actively managed, no-load mutual funds gained ground as markets recovered.
YOUR VACATION HOME COULD PROVIDE TAX-FREE INCOME
If you plan to rent out your vacation home, it's important to understand how your proceeds will be taxed.
IT'S NOT YOUR IMAGINATION: YOUR CEREAL BOX IS SHRINKING
To avoid raising prices, some manufacturers are reducing the size of common grocery items. Here’s how to fight back.
SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT BEING LAID OFF? IT DEPENDS ON YOUR INDUSTRY
Downsizing has hit certain sectors. But cutbacks may be slowing, and some companies are expanding.
How identity thieves are exploiting your trust
Con artists themselves are disguising as well-known brands to steal your money and personal information.
CUT THE COST OF YOUR WIRELESS BILL
AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon dominate the market, but smaller outfits offer similar network coverage at lower prices.
MAKING HOME ENERGY MORE AFFORDABLE
Households in need can get energy-efficiency upgrades, help with utility bills and more from this nonprofit.
A HEAD START FOR SAVERS
The Saver's Credit is designed to help low- and middleincome taxpayers contribute to a retirement account.
Say I Love You With a Money Date
To nurture a lasting bond with your partner, meet regularly to talk about money.
Plan for Your Own Elder Care
AFTER I wrote a series of columns in 2022 about elder care planning for family members, I received a number of responses like this one: “What about married couples who have no children or whose family members don’t live nearby?” wrote one reader. “Or a single individual with no close relatives? How should these people plan for their own elder care?”
