Precision isnt always possible when it comes to retirement planning. That doesnt mean you have to wing it and hope your savings dont expire before you do.
Looking at the income, living expenses and life spans of todays retirees can help you make the right financial moves so your golden years arent tarnished by an unexpected shortfall.
WHATS AN AVERAGE RETIREMENT COST?
Government and Gallup data reveal a lot about what retirement is like for Americans today.
It starts at age 61, even though many tell Gallup they planned to work longer. And based on some morbid math the average remaining life expectancy of someone whos made it to their early 60s (23.3 years), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention you should plan to be retired for at least a few decades.
Your mileage may vary based on things such as your work (accountant versus rodeo clown, for example), diet, family health history and participation in extreme sports leagues.
The average budget for a retiree, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, provides even more color on what to expect when youre expecting to retire. Older households, defined as ones headed by someone 65 or older, spend $46,000 annually, versus the $57,000 average spent by all U.S. households combined. The top three monthly expenses for those 65 and older are housing ($1,322), health care ($500) and food ($484).
On average, about half of a retired households income comes from Social Security and private and government pensions, according to the BLS, with personal savings and investment and rental income providing 6.9 percent.
FIND OUT HOW LONG YOUR MONEY WILL LAST
An online retirement calculator can project a more accurate picture of your retirement readiness. It will use your current saving, spending and investment profile and some rules of thumb about historical investment returns, reasonable withdrawal rates and, yes, life expectancy. (Most calculators assume people will live into their 90s.)
What if the calculator shows that at the rate youre going, youll outlive your retirement savings? If youre not yet retired, one of the best moves is postponing your retirement party. This strategy is especially valuable for those in their peak earning years.
Besides reducing the number of years youll need to live off your savings, working longer allows more time for your investments to grow. Plus, the additional time contributing to Social Security could mean a bigger benefits paycheck down the road. Every year you postpone filing for Social Security after your full-benefit retirement age (66 or 67 for most people), your future monthly benefits check grows by as much as 8 percent per year until you turn 70.
