Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.
Instead of amassing $1 million in savings to prepare for golden years, clients should consider asking themselves if they are prepared financially for a 100-year retirement horizon, writes a Forbes contributor. People are expected to live longer, "[s]o, it’s important to think about a longevity portfolio that can outpace the rate of inflation," writes the expert. "There isn’t any one particular age to plan to. But the question--How long do you expect to live?—is a good place to start."
A retired couple has decided to move to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, because of its excellent climate, cultural offerings, quality of life, as well as low cost of living, according to this article on The Wall Street Journal. However, inflation offsets the savings they make from their daily expenses. "We pay income tax to Uncle Sam, but none in Mexico, though we do pay local property tax, which, at less than $1,000, pales compared with what we paid in New Jersey....," writes the wife. "As registered residentes permanentes, we have a visa that permits us to travel in and out of Mexico anytime, as well as a capital-gains tax advantage when selling property."
Social Security offers two forms of disability insurance, the Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income, according to this article on Motley Fool. To qualify, workers should pass the "duration of work" test and they are unable to work because of disability. Social Security calculates disability benefits based on the workers' average taxed earnings, which can be slightly lower than their full retirement benefits.
Although a 64-year-old woman has $1 million in savings, she is still concerned that the amount will not be enough to cover her needs in retirement, according to this article on Washington Post. “I’m not surprised she was shaking,” says a a certified financial planner. “If she’s in really good health and lives in a high-cost area, then $1 million might not be enough.”
Investing in stocks and real estate is one way for clients to protect themselves from inflation after they retire, according to this article on U.S. News & World Report. Clients should also include bonds and annuities in their portfolio and create income stream from pension plans and Social Security. Moving to a smaller house or a location with lower taxes and scaling back their lifestyle can also help clients cope with rising prices in retirement.
