Figuring Out How Much You Need In Retirement

Published Thursday, June 5, 2014 at: 7:00 AM EDT

At some point, almost everyone asks this question: How much do I have to save for retirement? Of course, there's no easy answer, but what may be even more disconcerting is the possibility that this may be the wrong question. It might be more beneficial to figure out how much income you will need annually in retirement than it is to pinpoint the amount you should try to set aside.

Start by Changing Your Mindset

You are who you are and that isn't likely to shift 180 degrees in retirement. Sure, you'll have more time to travel or pursue other activities, but you'll still be the same person with the same basic values, interests, and inclinations. Armed with this knowledge, you may want to shift from the notion of accumulating a specific amount for your retirement to figuring out what your expenses will be on a year-to-year basis.

Once you understand your financial liabilities, you'll be better prepared to devise a retirement saving strategy and at the same time eliminate fears that your money won't last long enough. Targeting a "magic number" for the future can be stressful. According to a recent survey, 82% of the respondents who have dependents and are age 44 through 49 were more worried about outliving their money than they were about death. Concentrating more on your personal needs can help alleviate concerns.

Begin this process by calculating your true retirement liability. Rather than asking "How much money do I need to retire?" try to determine "How much money in future dollars will I need each year during retirement?"

Calculate Your Expected Expenses

Where and how will you spend most of your money during retirement? Everyone's situation is different, but recent statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate the typical results, some of which you may find surprising. Here are a few findings to ponder about retirees age 65 and over:

  • They spend 34.2% of their money on housing. If you're already an empty nester, or expect to be one in the near future, you might look to downsize soon to take advantage of the equity built up in your home. In any event, consider working out a plan that lets you live more economically than you could when you were in the middle of a career and raising kids.
  • They spend 16% of their money on transportation. And it's not paying for gasoline that hurts the wallet most; the bulk of these expenditures come from buying new cars. Instead of succumbing to the temptation to rush out and get a new vehicle every three years, consider keeping your existing car or buying a pre-owned model.
  • They spend only 0.5% of their money on education. Just because you're retired doesn't mean you should stop learning. Going back to school on a part-time basis—even if you do it online—could improve your lifestyle and open up new opportunities.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Also consider health care—often a big expense—food, entertainment, and retirement travel. No one knows better than you do where your money will go.

4 Steps to Prepare

It can be challenging to change the way you think about retirement planning, but here are four steps that may help:

  1. Make retirement planning a top priority. It's been said that any plan is better than no plan at all. You're one step ahead of the game if you've already started to focus on the challenges ahead. Ignoring it could be the worst option.
  2. Seek the counsel of others. We would be glad to provide whatever assistance you need in meeting your goals. It is often helpful if an impartial voice can provide guidance on emotional topics such as selling the family home or bypassing luxuries.
  3. Create a range of estimates for what you will spend. Even if you knew with certainty how long you would live and how much you would spend, it still would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to estimate your retirement liability exactly. Make reasonable estimates within a range and review the analysis annually.
  4. Start sooner rather than later. Regardless of your age, it's not too early to begin planning. Your circumstances could change, so you'll need to build some flexibility into the plan. That's far easier at an early age than it is when retirement is knocking on the door.

This article was written by a professional financial journalist for G.W. Sherwold and is not intended as legal or investment advice.

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