Building Wealth
How Long Will My Savings Last?
If only we had access to a reliable crystal ball, how simple saving for retirement could be. Instead, the process can feel more like a Magic 8 Ball® inquiry, finding fresh and fleeting new answers to the familiar question âHow long will my savings last?â
Telling you to concentrate and ask again, that it is uncertain or better not to tell you are a few ways to answer common queries of this childhood toy, but signs point to yes for a breakdown of the many factors that can impact how long your retirement savings have to go.
What Factors Affect My Retirement Savings?
While it isnât always easy to save money in your 20s, when many workers might still be paying off student loan debt, starting to save for retirement sooner than later could mean hundreds of thousands more in accumulated investments when itâs time to retire.
There are a few other variables that can come into play when deciding how long retirement savings might last:
Retirement Plan Type
Whether itâs a defined benefit plan like a pension, or a defined contribution plan like an employer-sponsored 401(k), 403(b), or 457, the kind of account you contribute to will likely have an impact on how much and what method you use to save for retirement:
Pension Plan
With a pension plan, retirement income is usually based on an employeeâs longevity with the company, how much was earned, and their age at the time of retirement. Pensions can be a reliable retirement savings option because they reward long-term employees with a regular payment, typically once per month. One potential downside, however, is that pension plans can be terminated if a company is acquired, goes out of business, or decides to update or suspend its employee benefits offerings.
401(k) Plan
With a 401(k) plan, participants can contribute either a percentage of or a predetermined amount from each paycheck, and it might be matched by their employer up to a certain amount. Unlike a pension plan, the amount of retirement funds the participant saves is based on how much they personally contributed, whether they received an employer match, the rate of return on their investments, and how long they’ve had the plan.
IRA or Roth IRA
An Individual Retirement Account (or sometimes Arrangement), or IRA, is a retirement account thatâs not sponsored by an employer. There are no income limits for a Traditional IRA (outside of tax deductible contributions), so it can be an appealing savings option for people who havenât quite crystallized how high their earnings could go. A Roth IRA, on the other hand, has limits on contributions based on filing status and income level.
Less Common Plans
Other types of retirement plans like Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) and Profit Sharing Plans are less common and have their own unique benefits, drawbacks, and details.
Social Security
Social Security is a federally run program used to pay people aged 65 or older a continuing income. If eligible for the funds, they could be used to supplement or sustain savings in retirement.
Expected Rate of Return On Investments
If a person puts money into a defined contribution plan or makes investments in stocks, bonds, real estate, or other assets, there are a number of return outcomes that could affect their retirement savings.
An investmentâs performance is about more than just appreciation over time. Learning how to calculate the expected rate of return on the investment can help you get a clearer picture of what the payoff will look like when itâs time to retire.
Unexpected Expenses
One never really knows what retired life might bring. Lots of unexpected expenses could arise.
An extensive home repair or renovation or maybe even a costly relocation to another state or country might make an unforeseen dent in retirement funds.
A major medical incident or the factoring in of long-term care can be another unexpected expense, as are caregiver costs if you or a family member need help.
Some seniors are surprised to learn that health care can get costly in retirement and Medicare may not always be free. Many of the services they might need could require out-of-pocket payments that eat into savings
As much as we might not want to imagine such scenarios, there could be the chance of a divorce during retirement, which could cause a redraft of the savings plan.
Creating a budget to estimate expenses is a great way to get ahead of any surprising financial setbacks that could sneak up down the line.
Inflation
Inflation can take a hefty toll on retirement savings. Even average rates of inflation might have a significant impact on how much retirement funds will actually be worth when theyâre withdrawn. For example, $1,500 in January 2000 had the same buying power as $2,293.68 in March of 2020.
Understanding how inflation can affect your retirement savings might ensure you have enough funds padded out to support you for the long haul.
Market Volatility and Investment Losses
Regardless of financial situation or age, checking in on retirement accounts and the climate on Wall Street could help clarify how market swings might affect your retirement savings.
Retirees with defined contribution plans might suffer financial losses if they withdraw invested funds during a volatile market. Not panicking and having enough emergency funds to cover 3-6 months of living expenses can help you weather the storm. Talking to an investment advisor about rebalancing a portfolio to reduce risk is another option for getting ahead of this unexpected savings speedbump.
Ways to Calculate How Much You Might Need to Retire
Are you on track for retirement? Thatâs something that can be calculated in many ways, which vary in efficacy depending on who you ask.
Here are a few formulas and calculations you can use to consider how much to save for retirement:
The Four Percent Rule
The Four Percent Rule, first used by financial planner William Bengen in 1994, assesses how different withdrawal rates can affect a personâs portfolio to ensure they wonât outlive the funds. According to the rule , âassuming a minimum requirement of 30 years of portfolio longevity, a first-year withdrawal of 4 percent, followed by inflation-adjusted withdrawals in subsequent years, should be safe [for retirement].â Bengen has since adjusted the rule to 4.5% for the first yearâs withdrawal.
The jury is out on whether 4% is a safe withdrawal rate in retirement, but many people have used it to weather poorly performing stock markets.
Fidelity also recommends withdrawing 4% to 5% from retirement savings yearly, with adjustments for inflation.
The Multiply by 25 Rule
This one can get a little controversial, but the Multiply by 25 rule, which expanded upon Bengenâs 4% Rule with the 1998 Trinity Study , involves taking a âhoped forâ annual retirement income and multiplying it by 25 to determine how much money would be needed to retire.
For example, if youâd like to bring in $75,000 annually without working, multiply that number by 25, and youâll find you need $1,875,000 to retire. That figure might seem scary, but it doesnât factor in alternate sources of income like Social Security, investments, etc.
This rule has been banked on by many retirees. However, itâs based on a 30-year retirement period. For those hoping to retire before the age of 65, this could mean insufficient funds in the later years of life.
The Replacement Ratio
The Replacement Ratio helps estimate what percentage of someoneâs pre-retirement income theyâll need to keep up with their current lifestyle during retirement.
The typical target in many studies shows 70-85% as the suggested range, but variables like income level, marital status, homeownership, health, and other demographic differences all affect a personâs desired replacement ratio, as do the types of retirement accounts they hold.
Also, the Replacement Ratio is based on how much a person was making pre-retirement, so while an 85% ratio might make sense for a household bringing in $100,000 to $150,000 per year, a household with higher earningsâsay $250,000âmight not actually need $212,000 each year during retirement. A way to supplement this calculation could be to estimate how much of your current spending will stay the same during retirement.
Social Security Benefits Calculator
By entering the date of birth and highest annual work income, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureauâs Social Security Calculator can determine how much money you might receive in estimated Social Security benefits during retirement.
Other Factors To Calculate
Expected Rate of Returns
Determining the rate of return on investments in retirement can help clarify how long your savings could last. An investmentâs expected rate of returns can be calculated by taking the potential return outcomes, multiplying them by the likelihood that theyâll occur, and totaling the results.
Hereâs an example: If an investment has a 50% chance of gaining 30% and a 50% chance of losing 20%, the expected rate of returns would be 50% ⨠30% + 50% ⨠20%, which is an estimated 25% return on the investment.
Home Improvement Costs
If a renovation is looking like it will be necessary down the line, you might calculate how much that home repair project could cost and factor it into your retirement planning.
Inflation
You might also consider using an inflation calculator to uncover what your buying power will really be worth when you retire.
Making Retirement Savings Last Longer
If youâre still wondering how long your savings will last or seeking potential ways to make it last longer, a few of these strategies could help:
Lower Fixed Expenses
Unexpected expenses are likely to creep up regardless of how much you save, but by lowering fixed expenses like mortgage and rent payments, food, insurance, and transportation costs, you might be able to slow the spending of your savings over time. Setting a budget is a solid way to see this in black and white.
Maximize Social Security
While opting into Social Security benefits immediately upon eligibility at 62 might sound appealing, it could significantly reduce the benefit over time. With smaller cost of living adjustments later in life, a lengthy retirement (people are living longer than ever before) could mean less money when you need it the most.
Stay Healthy
Unexpected medical expenses might still occur, but by safeguarding health and wellbeing earlier in life, you could avoid costly chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.
Keep Earning
Whether itâs staying in the full-time workforce for a couple more years or starting a ride-share side hustle during retirement, continuing to bring in money can help you stretch your savings out a little longer.
Get Good Advice
Financial planning can get even more complicated during retirement. Finding someone whoâs smart, qualified, and reliable for advice on the available options is one way to help stay on course with retirement goals and make your retirement savings last as long as possible.
When it comes to planning for retirement, your future doesnât have to be quite so uncertain. By talking to a real, human advisor about the many factors that impact how long your savings will last, you might settle on exactly what you need to set aside to get you there.
SoFi Invest® gives members free access to financial advisors available to talk about your big picture financial goalsâlike saving up for retirement or the path that leads you there.
Learn how SoFi Invest® can help you save for retirement.
SoFi Invest®
The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on an individualâs specific financial needs, goals and risk profile. SoFi canât guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . The umbrella term âSoFi Investâ refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Third Party Brand Mentions: No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.
Disclaimer: The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results.
SOIN20093
The post How Long Will My Savings Last? appeared first on SoFi.
Source: sofi.com