Often we find that clients set a retirement goal years ago, and they haven’t thought much about retirement since. Then, as their expected retirement date looms closer, they experience a bit of a panic. After watching their parents and grandparents retire effortlessly, it can be a bit of a shock to realize that we’re living in a different world now!
Hopefully your retirement will go just as smoothly for you, but it’s important to stay on top of current issues affecting retirement so that you can continue to adjust your plans. As you work toward your expected retirement date, keep in mind that these changes loom on the horizon for all of us.
Changes to Social Security. The Social Security system is huge and confusing, and lawmakers continue to make adjustments to the rules. These changes are meant to improve things for all of us, of course, but it’s still a lot of information to learn and re-learn! It’s important to stay updated on the status of the Social Security program as you eye your retirement date, because things can and do change.
Healthcare is getting more expensive. As you’ve probably heard from news reports, the cost of healthcare continues to rise each year. Hopefully things will level off soon, but for now, we should all remember to leave some room in our budgets. This is especially true for those who will be living on a fixed income in retirement, because Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs can change over the years.
Life spans are longer. The average life expectancy is increasing, which is great news. But it also means your retirement years will last longer, and your income needs to last too. Some of us will spend two or three decades in retirement! Since inflation can be a huge factor in eroding your spending power, it’s important to plan for a secure income that accounts for rising prices.
These are just some of the changes on the retirement horizon, and your situation may vary from the norm. Remember that we’re here to answer your questions about retirement, Medicare plans, and more issues that you will face. Give us a call, and we’ll be happy to help.