Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.
A report from the Boston College's Center for Retirement Research indicates that people who want to secure their retirement should save at least 15% of their salary, according to this article on Money. Retirement investors may subtract their age from 110 to determine the desired stock allocation in their portfolio. Clients who reach the age of 45 are advised to multiply their salary by 3.7 to get a good estimate of retirement savings they should have at this age. They may also consider the 4% withdrawal rule when deciding how much they should withdraw from their retirement accounts without outliving their nest egg.
A Harris Poll survey commissioned by NerdWallet has found that 33% of couples are not currently setting aside an amount for retirement, according to this article on Nasdaq. The survey has also found that 39% of participants who are contributing to workplace retirement plans are also saving in a bank savings account even though it offers no tax benefits and limited earning potential compared with tax-advantaged retirement plans. In fact, more couples (31%) are using a bank account for long-term savings than those who contribute to an IRA (25%), the survey found.
Although contributions to a Roth 401(k) are taxable, withdrawals in retirement will not be subject to tax, creating a hedge for future tax increases, according to this article on Forbes. This means that Roth investors can expect bigger after-tax retirement income. Aiming for tax diversification by making contributions to traditional and Roth components of the 401(k) plan can enhance annual returns by up to 2%, which can be substantial over a 30-year period, according to a study by researchers at University of Arizona.
Clients who consider buying an annuity should assess their financial situation and determine whether they need additional guaranteed income aside from Social Security and pension after they retire, according to this article on CNNMoney. They should also determine their spending habits so they will get an annuity that starts making monthly payments at a time when they will need the extra income. Clients need to choose the annuity that will suit their financial goals, as insurers offer different types of these products.
