You’ve worked hard your whole life anticipating the day you could finally retire. Congratulations — that day has arrived! But with it comes the realization that you’ll need to carefully manage your assets to give them lasting potential.
Review your portfolio regularly
Traditional wisdom holds that retirees should value the safety of their principal above all else. For this reason, you may assume your investment portfolio should be shifted to all fixed-income investments, such as bonds and money market accounts. The problem with this approach is that you’ll effectively lose purchasing power if the return on your investments doesn’t keep up with inflation.
While generally it makes sense for your portfolio to become progressively more conservative as you grow older, it may be wise to consider maintaining at least a portion of your portfolio in growth investments.
Spend wisely
Don’t assume that you’ll be able to live on the earnings generated by your investment portfolio and retirement accounts for the rest of your life. At some point, you’ll probably have to start drawing on the principal. But you’ll want to be careful not to spend too much too soon. This can be a great temptation, particularly early in retirement.
A good guideline is to make sure your annual withdrawal rate isn’t greater than 4% to 5% of your portfolio. (The appropriate percentage for you will depend on a number of factors, including the length of your payout period and your portfolio’s asset allocation.) Remember that if you whittle away your principal too quickly, you may not be able to earn enough on the remaining principal to carry you through the later years.
Understand your retirement plan distribution options
Most traditional pension plans pay benefits in the form of an annuity. If you’re married, you generally must choose between a higher retirement benefit paid over your lifetime, or a smaller benefit that continues to your spouse after your death. We can help you with this difficult, but important, decision.
Historically, other employer retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, typically haven’t offered annuities; however, this may change as a result of legislation passed in 2019 that makes it easier for employers to offer such products. If your plan offers an annuity as a distribution option, you may want to consider how it might fit in your long-term plan.
You might also consider whether it makes sense to roll your employer retirement account into a traditional IRA, which typically has flexible withdrawal options. If you decide to work for another employer, you might also be able to transfer assets you’ve accumulated to your new employer’s plan, if allowed.1
Finally, you may also choose to take a lump-sum distribution from your work-based retirement plan; however, this could incur a substantial tax obligation and a possible 10% penalty on the tax-deferred portion of the amount if you are under age 59½, unless an exception applies.
Plan for required distributions
Keep in mind that you must generally begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from employer retirement plans and traditional IRAs after you reach age 72, whether you need them or not.2
If you own a Roth IRA, you aren’t required to take any distributions during your lifetime. Your funds can continue to grow tax deferred, and qualified distributions will be tax free.3 Because of these unique tax benefits, it may make sense to withdraw funds from a Roth IRA last.
Know your Social Security options
You’ll need to decide when to start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits. At normal retirement age (which varies from 66 to 67, depending on the year you were born), you can receive your full Social Security retirement benefit. You can elect to receive your Social Security retirement benefit as early as age 62, but if you begin receiving your benefit before your normal retirement age, your benefit will be reduced. Conversely, if you delay retirement, you can increase your Social Security retirement benefit.
Consider phasing
For many workers, the sudden change from employee to retiree can be a difficult one. Some
employers, especially those in the public sector, have begun offering “phased retirement” plans to address this problem. Phased retirement generally allows you to continue working on a part-time basis — you benefit by having a smoother transition from full-time employment to retirement, and your employer benefits by retaining the services of a talented employee. Some phased retirement plans even allow you to access all or part of your pension benefit while you work part time.
Of course, to the extent you are able to support yourself with a salary, the less you’ll need to dip into your retirement savings. Another advantage of delaying full retirement is that you can continue to build tax-deferred funds in your IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan. As mentioned earlier, however, you generally will be required to start taking RMDs from most employer-sponsored plans and traditional IRAs once you reach age 72, if you want to avoid substantial penalties.2
If you do continue to work, make sure you understand the consequences. Some pension plans base your retirement benefit on your final average pay. If you work part time, your pension benefit may be reduced because your pay has gone down. Remember, too, that income from a job may affect the amount of Social Security retirement benefit you receive if you are under normal retirement age. But once you reach normal retirement age, you can earn as much as you want without affecting your Social Security retirement benefit.
Facing a shortfall
What if you’re nearing retirement and you determine that your retirement income may not be adequate to meet your retirement expenses? If retirement is just around the corner, you may need to drastically change your spending and saving habits. Saving even a little money can really add up if you do it consistently and earn a reasonable rate of return. And by making permanent changes to your spending habits, your savings could last even longer. Start by
preparing a budget to see where your money is going. Here are some suggested ways to stretch your retirement dollars:
• Refinance your home mortgage if interest rates have dropped since you obtained your loan, or reduce your housing expenses by moving to a less expensive home or apartment.
• Access the equity in your home. Use the proceeds from a second mortgage or home equity line of credit to pay off higher-interest-rate debts, or consider a reverse mortgage. (Consider these strategies very carefully before making any final decisions.)
• Sell one of your cars if you have two. When your remaining car needs to be replaced, consider buying a used one.
• Transfer credit card balances from higher-interest cards to a low- or no-interest card, and then cancel the old accounts.
• Ask about insurance discounts and review your insurance needs (e.g., your need for life insurance may have lessened).
• Reduce discretionary expenses such as lunches and dinners out.
By planning carefully, investing wisely, and spending thoughtfully, you can increase the likelihood that your retirement will be a financially comfortable one.
Have a wonderful weekend!
1 When considering a rollover, to either an IRA or to another employer’s retirement plan, you should consider carefully the investment options, fees and expenses, services, ability to make penalty-free withdrawals, degree of creditor protection, and distribution requirements associated with each option.
2 If you are still employed and own no more than 5% of your company, you may be able to delay RMDs from your current employer’s plan until after you actually retire. You will have to take RMDs from IRAs and plans from former employers.
3 To qualify for tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, a Roth IRA must meet a five-year holding requirement and the distribution must take place after age 59½, with certain exceptions.
Source: Broadridge
Golf Tip of the Week
Putt Instead of Chip to Save Strokes
Golfers of all skill levels are always looking for a way to lower their scores. The quickest way to do so is tightening up that short game. Going with a putter instead of the conventional play with a wedge can save you a handful of strokes per round!
PGA professional Johan Kok recommends putting instead of chipping when just off the green.
“I’m going to show you a very easy and simple way to shave some shots off your game,” Kok begins.
From the fringe. While many amateurs reach for a wedge or other lofted iron when on the fringe, Kok says to reach for the putter. There’s not much to it. As he says, “maybe just hit it a hair harder.” Go ahead and make your normal stroke. Putting from the fringe can help you roll the ball closer to the hole, within tap-in distance.
From first cut of rough. Kok says it’s rare to see an amateur use a putter in this situation. But it’s a smart play if you have a good lie and not much rough to go through. Put the ball a little farther back in your stance to encourage a downward blow that makes first contact with the ball. Again, there’s not much else to do other than perhaps striking the putt slightly harder.
“I can guarantee you most of the time that putter is going to be your best option from either of these situations,” Kok concludes.
Tip adapted from golfdiscount.comi
Recipe of the Week
Breakfast Cups
18 Servings
Ingredients
Cooking spray
18 refrigerated biscuits (unbaked)
8 oz. breakfast sausage
7 large eggs
½ cup milk
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup mild Cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 18 muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. Roll out biscuit dough on a lightly floured surface to form 5-inch rounds. Place each round into the prepared muffin cups, pressing into the base and sides to form a dough cup.
3. Cook and stir sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat until brown and cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes; drain fat. Spoon sausage into dough cups.
4. Whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together in a bowl until well-beaten. Pour egg mixture into each dough cup, filling each just below the top of the biscuit dough. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese on top of egg mixture.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until eggs are set and biscuit dough is golden, 15 to 18 minutes.
Recipe adapted from the allrecipes.comii
Health Tip of the Week
8 Things Healthy People Do Every Day
We all know that health is a lifelong work in progress. But even though you can never check wellness off of your list of resolutions, you can accomplish small things every day to feel good and fend off problems. Experts say these day-to-day habits add up.
1. They go to bed by 10.
2. They breathe deeply.
3. They connect with other people.
4. They eat nuts.
5. They’re strategic about sitting.
6. They laugh.
7. They cook.
8. They get outside.
Tip adapted from realsimple.orgiii
Copyright (C) 2021. Ballentine Capital Advisors. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Ballentine Capital Advisors
15 Halton Green Way
Greenville, SC 29607
unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Disclosure:
Securities through Triad Advisors, LLC, Member FINRA / SIPC . Advisory services through Ballentine Capital Advisors, Inc. Triad Advisors, LLC and Ballentine Capital Advisors are not affiliated entities. Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. does not provide investment, tax, legal, or retirement advice or recommendations. The information presented here is not specific to any individual’s personal circumstances. To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances. These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable — we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.
The articles and opinions expressed in this newsletter were gathered from a variety of sources but are reviewed by Ballentine Capital Advisors prior to its dissemination. All sources are believed to be reliable but do not constitute specific investment advice. In all cases, please contact your investment professional before making any investment choices.
Securities through Triad Advisors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through Ballentine Capital Advisors, Inc. Triad Advisors and Ballentine Capital Advisors are not affiliated entities.
i https://www.golfdiscount.com/blog/learning-center/putt-instead-of-chip-to-save-strokes/
ii https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/233747/breakfast-cups/
iii https://www.realsimple.com/health/fitness-exercise/healthy-habits
