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Investment advisory services are offered through Agemy Wealth Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor and fiduciary to its clients. Agemy Financial Strategies, Inc. is a franchisee of Retirement Income Source®, LLC. Agemy Financial Strategies, Inc. and Agemy Wealth Advisors, LLC are associated entities. Agemy Financial Strategies, Inc. and Agemy Wealth Advisors, LLC entities are not associated with Retirement Income Source®, LLC.
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Toll-Free: 800.725.7616
Office: 203.738.0026
Office: 303.524.2293
Fax: 203.738.0029
Connecticut Office Address: 1570 Boston Post Road, Suite 400, Guilford, CT 06437
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Email: office@agemy.com
Investment advisory services are offered through Agemy Wealth Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor and fiduciary to its clients. Agemy Financial Strategies, Inc. is a franchisee of Retirement Income Source®, LLC. Agemy Financial Strategies, Inc. and Agemy Wealth Advisors, LLC are associated entities. Agemy Financial Strategies, Inc. and Agemy Wealth Advisors, LLC entities are not associated with Retirement Income Source®, LLC.
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Important Tasks & Decisions for Each Phase of Retirement Planning
NewsRetirement planning is a process that maintains your finances throughout the course of your post-career years. This process essentially has 5 steps, knowing where to start, seeing how much money you’ll need, setting your priorities, choosing accounts and choosing investments.
The retirement process begins ideally when you’re young, and when you can invest as aggressively as your budget allows. Over the course of time – as you get older – you dial back to a mix of investments.
We know this process can be stressful and often overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together a road map for you. Read on to learn five key steps that will help you stay on track as you approach retirement.
When Can You Retire?
This boils down to when you want to retire, and when you’ll have enough saved to do so. The earliest age you can begin claiming social security benefits is 62 and full retirement age is recognized at 67.
Most people choose to retire early either because they can afford to do so or because they might have to. This generally applies for people who decide to retire later in life. Many people have found that it’s ideal to ease into retirement and opt for a phased retirement, which is also an option you can discuss with your financial advisor. Ultimately, it all comes down to what makes the most sense for you, as there is no one size fits all plan.
Step 1: Knowing When to Begin Retirement Planning
When you first enter the workforce you’re most likely to be in your early twenties. This is when you want to start your retirement planning. The earlier you begin, the more time your money has to grow and the more risks you can take with those investments
That being said, it’s never too late to start planning for retirement. Even if you haven’t given much thought to how old you’ll be when you retire or what kind of lifestyle you want for yourself at that point, now is the time to start thinking about it—and taking action! Every dollar that goes into a retirement account now will be much appreciated when that day comes.
Step 2: Figure out How Much Money You Need to Retire
To determine how much money you’ll need to retire, you need to consider two factors: your current income and expenses, and how those expenses will change once you’re retired.
The typical advice is that retirees should expect to replace 70% to 90% of their annual pre-retirement income through savings and Social Security. For example, a retiree who earns an average of $63,000 per year before retirement should plan for $44,000 to $57,000 per year in retirement.
Step 3: Prioritize Your Financial Goals
Your needs will likely change depending where you fall in this roadmap. If you’re just getting started on saving for retirement, it can be tempting to focus your efforts on the short term. However, if you’re nearing retirement, retirement is not your only savings goal. Many people have financial goals they feel are more pressing, such as paying down various forms of debt, or building up an emergency fund.
Generally, you should aim to save for retirement at the same time you’re building your emergency fund — especially if you have an employer retirement plan that matches any portion of your contributions.
Step 4: Choose a Retirement Plan Catered to You
Retirement planning is equal parts how much money you save, and where you save it. If you have a 401k or employer retirement plan, start by utilizing the company matching policy. If you don’t have a workplace plan in place, you can open your own.
There is no single best retirement plan, but there is likely a good combination of retirement accounts for you. In general, the best plans provide tax advantages, and, if available, an additional savings incentive, such as matching contributions. That’s why, in many cases, a 401(k) with an employer match is the best place to start for many people.
Here are some examples of retirement plans that might work for you:
Step 5: Choose Your Retirement Investments
Retirement is a time for celebration and reflection, but it’s also a time when you’ll have to make some big decisions about your investments. The two most important questions to ask yourself are:
Again, depending where you find yourself on this road map, you will have different choices to make in terms of investing strategies. If you’re young and have a long way to go until retirement, you can afford to invest aggressively. This is because there’s plenty of time for those assets to recover if the market goes down. However, as you get older, your retirement savings begin to account for a larger part of your total net worth, so even small losses could be devastating. In that case, it’s wise to review your investment portfolio and sit down with a fiduciary advisor to discuss all of your investment options.
As you move through life and gain more experience managing your finances, it’s important that your investments evolve alongside you—especially as you start thinking about what kind of lifestyle you want after retirement. This means making sure that when the time comes for drawing down on those savings you’re able to live comfortably without having to constantly make compromises.
Work With Agemy Financial Strategies
At Agemy Financial Strategies, we value the opportunity to get to know you and your situation so that we can create a plan specifically tailored to you. Our purpose is to educate our clients – whether that be planning for retirement, legacy planning, wealth management, or being by your side when it’s time to leap into retirement.
We want you to know that we’re here to help you navigate any questions you have regarding investments, retirement and anything else that comes up during your retirement process. As Fiduciary advisors, it’s our duty to act on your behalf in finding the right solutions for your individual wants and needs.
For more information on our investing, retirement and financial planning services, contact us here today.
Fall Financial Checklist for 2022
NewsWith the final hot snap of summer in the rearview mirror, it’s time to get your finances ready for the last few months of 2022.
Having a fall financial checklist in place will allow you to make fall a financially productive season. It’s a great time to start thinking about what you can do to save some money, prepare for the following months, and improve your life.
There are a number of financial moves you can make in the final months of the year to ensure you are set up for success come January and throughout the new year. Agemy Financial Strategies has put together a fall financial checklist to help you get your financial house in order.
The tasks on this fall financial checklist will help you to remember to sign up for health insurance, beef up your retirement savings, reviewing your estate plan and more!
Health Insurance
This is the time of year where we should get our health insurance information together. Open enrollment for 2022 through the Health Insurance Marketplace (HealthCare.gov) starts on Monday, November 1 and you have to enroll by December 15, 2022 for coverage that starts January 1, 2023. Some states have their own ACA exchanges which in turn have different date ranges for open enrollment. Colorado and Connecticut fall under this category.
If you have private health insurance or health insurance through your employer, you will want to find out what important dates you need to sign up for or get information from them, so that you do not miss out.
By doing as much research as you can now, you will ensure that you will have the best health insurance plan for you and your family. Holidays typically sneak up on us; you will probably be quite busy. By taking care of this now you can avoid many headaches in the future.
If you are nearing retirement, this is an especially important step to protect your nest egg. Did you know that health care continues to be one of the largest expenses in retirement? To help fill a gap in saving for health care expenses, consider increasing contributions to your tax-advantaged accounts, especially HSAs (if you have one), which enable tax-free spending on health care in retirement.
Max Out Your Retirement Savings
Saving for retirement is one of the best financial strategies you can take part in. Everyone will hopefully retire at some point in their lifetime. Saving early on in life for your golden years will help prevent you from running out of money. Whether you’re on track for retirement or need to catch up, a Fiduciary financial advisor can help prepare you for your later years. Here are a couple ways you can max out your savings:
It’s important to look at your retirement plan and see if any of our tips could maximize your savings. If you’re like most people, qualified-retirement plans, Social Security, personal savings and investments are expected to play a role. Once you have estimated the amount of money you may need for relocating in retirement, a sound approach involves taking a close look at your potential retirement-income sources.
Tax Return Extension
If you received an extension on your tax return, make sure you complete and file it by October 17, 2022. You can get an automatic extension of time to file your federal income tax return by filing Form 4868. This gets you from April 18, 2022, to October 17, 2022, to file without incurring any penalties.
However, getting an extension doesn’t give you more time to pay, it only gives you more time to file your return. Anything you owe after the deadline is subject to interest and a late-payment penalty–even if you get an extension. Fortunately, you may be able to catch a break on the late-payment penalty if you’ve paid at least 90% of your actual tax liability by the deadline.
Tax-Loss Harvesting
Tax-loss harvesting may be able to help you reduce taxes now and in the future.
Tax-loss harvesting allows you to sell investments that are down, replace them with reasonably similar investments, and then offset realized investment gains with those losses. The end result is that less of your money goes to taxes and more may stay invested and working for you.
If you have more capital losses than gains, you may be able to use up to $3,000 a year to offset ordinary income on federal income taxes, and carry over the rest to future years.
Rebalance if Needed
Rebalancing refers to the process of returning the values of a portfolio’s asset allocations to the levels defined by an investment plan. Those levels are intended to match an investor’s tolerance for risk and desire for reward.
This sound investment strategy involves cashing in some profits on your better-performing assets and reinvesting the proceeds into your laggards. Rebalancing assumes you own a mix of investments and have a target for how to allocate them, holding certain percentages in stocks, bonds, cash and so on, including subcategories such as small or international stocks. It also assumes that hot investments will cool off, and laggards will perk up, eventually.
Review Your Estate Plan
Benjamin Franklin said it: “Nothing in this world can be said to be certain but death and taxes.” Perhaps once a year, you should verify that you have listed the right people to take over your wealth should the time come.
Once you’ve created your estate plan, it may be tempting to put it on a shelf and forget about it. However, factors that affect your estate plan can quickly change, resulting in a need to update your plan so that it continues to match your goals and minimize taxes.
Budget for the Holiday Season
The holidays are right around the corner. With Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and many other holidays, the holiday season can be expensive. If you haven’t yet, creating a holiday budget can help you save in the long run. Start saving money for the holidays if you haven’t done so already, and find ways to make extra cash if you think your budget is cutting it close.
A great way to start is by creating a list of all of your expected expenses. For example:
Final Thoughts
As we head towards the holidays, it’s important to know where your financial assets stand so you can avoid any missteps when it comes to managing your money. It’s always important to meet with your Financial Advisor to get the facts from the source. Preferably a Fiduciary. “Fiduciary” means trust, and a person with a fiduciary duty has a legal obligation to maintain that trust.
Be sure to provide them with updates on your financial situation, including your expected retirement date, income needs, and any other family situations that may affect your financial plan.
However you’re spending the holidays this year, the team at Agemy Financial Strategies are always on-hand to help guide you through your financial planning journey. Contact us here today to get started.
Relocating for Retirement? Connecticut Tax Laws You Should Know
NewsSeptember 06, 2022
Connecticut is a state with a lot to offer. As you near retirement, your mind may wander to fulfilling your life’s dreams; and for many, that involves relocating. Here’s what you need to know about taxes if you’re moving to the Nutmeg State.
Connecticut is a small state in the New England region in the northeastern part of the United States. Although a part of New England, it is considered a part of the ‘Tristate area’ along with New York and New Jersey because of its proximity to both. The state is known for its rustic beauty, brilliant history, amazing landscape, and of course, Yale University. When the time to retire comes, many people consider retiring in Connecticut with the dilemma of whether to stay in their current city or move somewhere new.
There are many factors to consider when deciding where to retire, including the cost of living, climate, access to healthcare, and recreation. Depending on where you currently reside, you may need to pay a little more if living in Connecticut. But is it worth it? If you’re looking for reasons to retire in this state, you should become aware of its tax laws. With our office HQ residing in Guilford, CT, we know a thing or two about what you’ll need to retire here. Here’s what you should know.
Connecticut Income Tax
Connecticut’s state income tax structure is graduated, meaning that the amount people are taxed increases as their earned income increases. This is similar to the federal government’s income tax system and differs from states that use a flat tax rate.
Additionally, while Connecticut has a higher sales tax rate than the national average, there are no local sales taxes charged, which produces a balancing effect for the net amount of taxes collected.
While the state doesn’t have a standard deduction, the personal exemption is $15,000 for single taxpayers and $24,000 for married couples.
Connecticut Sales Tax
The State of Connecticut has a single, statewide sales tax. Because there are no additional sales taxes imposed by local jurisdictions in Connecticut, the rate of 6.35% applies to the retail sale, lease, or rental of most goods and taxable services.
However, there are exceptions:
Connecticut Property Tax
Connecticut homeowners pay the fourth highest property taxes in the U.S., with an average effective rate of 2.14%. The state’s average effective property tax rate is double the national average, which is 1.07%.
The state is unusual in that counties are not responsible for administering property taxes. Instead, cities and towns set rates and collect the taxes.
Connecticut Inheritance and Estate Tax
Connecticut does not have an inheritance tax, but that doesn’t mean you can avoid paying state-level taxes on the property you inherit. If your grantor lived in a state that has an inheritance tax, it will probably apply to you as well.
This is especially true if your grantor lived in Kentucky, where all in-state property is subject to inheritance tax even if the inheritor lives out-of-state. If someone who lives out-of-state leaves you something, make sure to check the local laws in your grantor’s state to see if you owe inheritance tax.
If you’re looking to relocate to Connecticut for retirement, check out our guide for tips on estate and inheritance taxes.
Last Thoughts
If you’re interested in starting your retirement in Connecticut, check out our pros and cons series here. It’s important to look at your retirement plan and see if retiring here would benefit you.
Once you have estimated the amount of money you may need for relocating in retirement, a sound approach involves taking a close look at your potential retirement-income sources and seeing how far they will stretch in your chosen state.
At Agemy Financial Strategies, we want you to know we’re here to help you navigate retirement and any questions that come up during your retirement process, including relocation opportunities. As Fiduciary advisors, it’s our duty to act on your behalf in finding the right solutions for your individual wants and needs.
For more information on our retirement and financial planning services, contact us here today.
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NewsAugust 30, 2022
The unique benefits of retiring in Colorado are never ending. If you’re planning on spending your golden years in this stunning state, here’s what you need to know about the tax benefits.
If you’re planning on retiring in Colorado, the Centennial State has a lot to offer. Colorado is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, with mountains and plains stretching as far as the eye can see. And if you’d like to live at or near those majestic peaks, Colorado is a tax-friendly place to do it.
Colorado’s rate income tax is one of the lowest in the nation, and property taxes are also on the low end, with a median rate that ranks among the lowest in the country. Gas taxes are also low, which means your day-to-day travel will be easier on your savings than it might be elsewhere.
Before we start, it’s worth noting that even though taxes are better in Colorado, you may notice a bump in the cost of living. Depending on where you currently reside, you may need to pay a little more for some things. Here’s a look at Colorado tax laws you should know about.
Colorado Income Tax
Colorado has a flat income tax rate of 4.5% for the 2021 fiscal year, which started in July of 2020 and will end in June of 2021. The rate was lowered from 4.55% to 4.5% because of a high fiscal year revenue growth rate. The rate for 2022 is 4.55% and has proved it will be able to maintain this low tax rate throughout the remainder of the year.
In Colorado, federal Social Security benefits are fully taxable. However, up to $24,000 of Social Security benefits are excluded from your federal income tax. Additionally, up to $20,000 of retirement income is also excluded from your Colorado income tax.
In 2022, the cap on federally taxable Social Security benefits will be removed for all taxpayers 65 and over. This change will effectively make all federally taxed Social Security income deductible for taxpayers 65 and over.
Colorado Sales Tax
According to the Tax Foundation, the state levy in Colorado is 2.9%. Localities can add as much as 8.3%, and the average combined rate is 7.77%. Here are a couple other items that are taxed and tax exempt:
Colorado also includes a tax on items such as beer, wine, and liquor. These items are known as “sin-taxes”. Here is a list of some of those items and the tax that comes along with them:
Overall, Colorado has one of the lowest sales tax rates in the U.S. With a 2.90 percent state sales tax rate, a max local sales tax rate of 8.30 percent, and an average combined state and local sales tax rate of 7.77 percent.
Colorado Real Property Tax
According to the Colorado Division of Property Taxation, in Colorado, the median property tax rate is $505 per $100,000 of assessed home value. This is great news for Colorado residents 65 and older who may be eligible for a property tax exemption on their primary residence. The first $200,000 of the actual value of the home is exempt, and applicants must have owned and lived in the property for at least ten years.
For those who don’t qualify for this exemption, an income tax credit of up to $1,000 is available for those age 65 or older with a federal adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less who don’t claim the property tax exemption. Senior citizens may also qualify for a deferral of their property tax payments that can be paid off when they sell or otherwise transfer their property.
Full-year Colorado residents age 65 or older may qualify for the Property Tax/Rent/Heat Rebate if they are single with an income less than $15,831 or married with a combined income less than $21,381 for 2021 (income limits are updated every year).
Please visit Tax.Colorado.gov/PTC-rebate-forms to learn more.
Individuals who do not have a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) may still be eligible for the PTC rebate. These individuals can use the Application for Alternate Identification Number (DR 0019) to apply for an alternate ID.
Colorado Inheritance and Estate Tax
Even though there is no estate tax in Colorado, you may still owe the federal estate tax. The exemption for that tax is $11.70 million for deaths in 2021 and $12.06 million in 2022. This tax is portable for married couples. That means that if the right legal steps are taken, a married couple can protect up to $24.12 million when both spouses die.
Planning an estate, in Colorado or elsewhere, isn’t easy. If you’re beginning this process – or in the midst of it – you might want to consider getting professional advice in the form of a financial advisor. You’ll want to make sure, though, that the financial advisor you are using is the right one for you.
Final Thoughts
Colorado is consistently named one of the best places to retire when it comes to taxes, financial opportunity, and health.
As you can see, colorful Colorado has a lot to offer when it comes to taxes. If you’re interested in starting your retirement in Colorado, check out our pros and cons series here. It’s important to look at your retirement plan and see if retiring here would benefit you. Once you have estimated the amount of money you may need for relocating in retirement, a sound approach involves taking a close look at your potential retirement-income sources and seeing how far they will stretch in your chosen state.
At Agemy Financial Strategies, we want you to know we’re here to help you navigate retirement and any questions that come up during your retirement process, including relocation opportunities. As Fiduciary advisors, it’s our duty to act on your behalf in finding the right solutions for your individual wants and needs.
For more information on our retirement and financial planning services, contact us here today.
Women’s Equality Day: Women and Retirement Planning
NewsAugust 17, 2022
Happy Women’s Equality Day! In the 100 years since the ratification of the 19th Amendment, women have made substantial gains in educational attainment, employment, and earnings. However, the gender gaps persist — especially when it comes to retirement.
On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote. One hundred years later, women still strive for equality in many areas, and retirement planning is one of them.
Women are less prepared for retirement and often have fewer resources available to them. This can mean a lower standard of living during the retirement years. There are many reasons why women fall behind on planning. A prominent reason is that they are more likely than men to pause their careers to raise children or care for aging parents. This pause often results in lost work time and lower income levels. Women also live longer than men, so they need more savings for a longer retirement period.
As for financial know-how, researchers found that on average, women correctly answered 45% of financial-related questions, compared with 55% among men, according to a survey conducted earlier this year by the TIAA Institute and the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center (GFLEC) at the George Washington University School of Business. While baby boomer women correctly answered 51%, that share is 41% and 38% among millennials and Gen Z women, respectively.
Here, Agemy Financial Strategies has put together some helpful steps for women to help them better prepare for retirement.
Work Longer
If you are falling behind on saving for retirement, the first question to ask yourself is “how can I make up for shortfalls”. The obvious answer here is to keep on working.
Abundant job opportunities may help women rejoin the workforce or find better-paying opportunities. Available job openings hit a record 11.55 million in March, according to the latest government data. If you are still in the workforce, consider a phased retirement. A phased retirement is just like it sounds – a path towards retirement where you slowly begin taking more vacations, working fewer hours and essentially becoming part-time on your own time.
During phased retirement, workers can still collect a paycheck, just for less money. They can supplement their pay with withdrawals from company-sponsored retirement plans if necessary.
Part Time Work Counts, Too
If you want more stability and a steady income stream, part time work can help bring in some cash. When you’re planning your retirement, it’s important to remember that Social Security benefits are calculated based on the 35 highest-earning years in your career. That means that if you worked part time in any of those years, those years will be counted as zero income. This has two effects: there are zero quarters for eligibility and zero income counted toward the benefit. Part-time work – like a phased retirement – can provide quarters for Social Security eligibility and some income, which is better than none at all.
Spousal IRA Contributions
As you get older your needs and wants change. Earlier in life perhaps you got married and had kids. And as you near retirement, you’ll have grandkids with whom you want to spend time with. You know that staying at home with your grandkids is no vacation. It’s work—important and essential work—which means you should have a retirement savings plan that goes with it.
A spousal IRA is a type of individual retirement account that allows a working spouse to contribute to a nonworking spouse’s retirement savings. A Spousal IRA creates an exception to the provision that an individual must have earned income to contribute to an IRA. Spouses with some earned income, but not enough to fund an IRA fully, can also qualify for the Spousal IRA.
To qualify, the couple must file a joint tax return. Spousal IRAs can be either traditional or Roth IRAs, and are subject to the same annual contribution limits, income limits and catch-up contribution provisions as traditional and Roth IRAs. While IRAs cannot be held jointly in both spouse’s names, spouses can share their account distributions in retirement.
Play Catch-Up
If you’re 50 or older, you can take advantage of additional contributions to your retirement accounts.
Workers who are younger than age 50 can contribute a maximum of $20,500 to a 401(k) in 2022. That’s up $1,000 from the limit of $19,500 in 2021. If you’re age 50 and older, you can add an extra $6,500 per year in “catch-up” contributions, bringing your total 401(k) contributions for 2022 to $27,000.
Catch-up provisions are especially helpful for women who entered the workforce late, have a checkered job history, or delayed saving for retirement to pay for the kids’ braces or college tuition.
Plan NOW for the Future
Many women are saving for retirement, but they have not yet started engaging in financial planning with a professional. About 28% of women never talk about retirement, versus 17% of men, according to Transamerica. Moreover, just 17% of women frequently discuss saving, investing and retirement planning, compared to 28% of men. Women who aren’t afraid to ask questions and seek the advice of financial advisors tend to thrive in their journey to financial independence.
No matter at what stage of life you may be, you can start looking for the best professionals to help you with financial planning for women. There are plenty of sources for help and advice. You can do some research online, talk to industry experts, and make the right decision for investment.
With a commitment to financial literacy and the ensuing confidence that stems from increased knowledge about money through an experienced financial advisor, women can make significant strides to increasing their retirement savings and planning for life events that could place stress on the money they do have saved.
Why Agemy Financial Strategies
Women deserve to retire comfortably. So, let’s make that happen!
Women’s Equality Day is a great time to remind yourself and others of the importance of planning for retirement. Women are often less prepared for retirement than men are, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here at Agemy Financial Strategies, we know how important it is for women to plan now for a comfortable retirement that they deserve and will enjoy. As Fiduciary advisors, it’s our duty to act on your behalf in finding the right solutions for your individual wants and needs.
For more information on our retirement and financial planning services, contact us here today.
how-to-save-more-money-for-retirement
NewsAugust 08, 2022
We all know it’s important to save for retirement. So why is it that when it comes to saving, most Americans fall short? If you’re worried about your retirement savings game, this blog is for you.
Retirement can be a time of great joy, but it can also be a time of great stress. Many people spend their whole adult lives anticipating the independence of retirement, but saying goodbye to one’s constant source of income may be frightening when the time comes. According to the Federal Reserve, about a quarter of Americans have no retirement savings at all, and almost two-thirds of non-retired adults are concerned about being able to meet their retirement savings goals.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lifestyle shift that is having an immediate effect on finances and planning. In addition, if you’re retired, market declines and economic uncertainty may induce concern as you assess your financial situation.
While there are many factors that affect your overall financial health, it is important to consider how your retirement plans may change in light of recent circumstances. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind as the ticking clock to retirement nears.
Set Your Retirement Savings Goal
Retirement planning is a big, intimidating goal—but it doesn’t have to be. There are so many variables to consider. How much will you need for vacations? Could you end up facing big medical expenses? What age will you stop working entirely? How long will you actually live? Research has found that those who have written goals and a written plan for achieving those goals are 1.2–1.4 more likely to succeed. Other studies have shown that having a plan can double your savings rate.
If you start saving early, with small amounts of your income, you’ll be able to fund a comfortable retirement and still enjoy life along the way. The more time your money has to grow, the more money you’ll have when it’s time to stop working.
Here are some ways you can help your nest egg grow:
If you’re trying to catch up on a previously set goal, your money moves and savings rate need to be more aggressive. Use our free online calculators to get a good estimate of how much you need to save in order to alleviate the stress of living on a fixed income.
In addition to being aggressive with how much you save, you’ll want to be fairly aggressive in how you invest those savings. You should meet with your financial advisor to discuss riskier investments in order to compound at higher rates of return over an extended period of time.
Plan for Social Security
Social Security is a great tool for retirees. It’s important to understand how to get the most out of your benefits, though.
You can start taking Social Security as early as age 62. But you’ll receive a smaller check each month than you will if you wait until your full retirement age. If you wait until after your full retirement age, your Social Security income will increase up to 8% for every year you delay, up to age 70. After age 70, there’s no further increase for delaying. If you want to maximize your benefits, it’s important to know when to start taking them and how much they’ll be worth if you do so.
Consider Tax Strategies Early On
One of the most important things to consider while you’re still saving for retirement, is how to minimize taxes down the road. While tax laws and rates are likely to change, there are ways to plan for these unknowns and set yourself up for a potentially better tax outcome.
One way that many people do this is by using an IRA or Roth IRA. An IRA is a tax-deferred account, which means that your money grows without being taxed until you withdraw it in retirement. Withdrawals from an IRA are also taxed as income, so it’s important to consider whether or not you’ll need some of your money before retirement and make sure that you’re taking withdrawals accordingly (you may need to pay penalties if you take withdrawals before age 59 1/2).
A Roth IRA works in reverse: contributions are made with after-tax dollars, but any growth within the account is tax free when it’s withdrawn in retirement. This can be a great option for those who expect their tax rate will be higher during retirement than it was when they were working full time.
Spreading your savings across a diverse selection of accounts with a variety of tax strategies is another way to grow your retirement savings. Consider an appropriate mix of tax-deferred Roth accounts based on your tax bracket. For example, if you’re in a high tax bracket (32%-39%), you would want to consider diversifying your accounts, i.g. 401(k), 403(b), and others.
Use the Backdoor Roth IRA to Increase Savings
For 2022, the AGI phase-out contribution range for Roth IRAs for married couples filing jointly is $204,000 to $214,000 and for single taxpayers and heads of households is $129,000 to $144,000. If your current income is too high and makes you ineligible to contribute to a Roth IRA, there’s another way in. First, contribute to a traditional IRA. There is no income ceiling for contributions to a non-deductible traditional IRA, although there is a limit to what can be contributed.
The IRS caps the contribution limit to $6,000 or $7,000 if you are 50 or over. After the funds clear, convert the traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. That way the funds can compound for the future and be withdrawn tax-free, as long as you meet the withdrawal guidelines.
Don’t Forget HSAs
With healthcare costs growing and the proliferation of high-deductible health plans (HDHP), the health savings account (HSA) is a golden retirement planning opportunity. This tool can not only be used to pay for healthcare expenses but can also be used to squirrel away additional funds for retirement.
Regularly Review and Increase Savings
While many start off saving 15% of their income for retirement, you may not be able get there right away. Or you could be living a little “too” comfortably and decide you’re ready to stash away more.
For the former scenario, you can start small to take advantage of the crucial role that time plays in compounding your investment returns. Try increasing the amount you contribute to your retirement accounts by 1% every year until you reach at least 15% of your salary. For those who are ready to up their savings game, instead of upgrading to a larger home or purchasing a new car with your extra cash, try to make do with what you have to minimize your expenses and funnel your extra cash to your savings.
To Summarize
Remember: Retirement isn’t an age. It’s a financial number. Keep that goal in mind and remember that saving for the future is a marathon—not a sprint. The name of the game when it comes to saving money for retirement is starting early.
It’s important to look at your finances and see if any of the above strategies could help you in the long run. If you’re like most people, qualified-retirement plans, Social Security, personal savings and investments are expected to play a role in growing your retirement nest egg. Once you have estimated the amount of money you may need for retirement, a sound approach involves taking a close look at your potential retirement-income sources and making amendments where needed.
At Agemy Financial Strategies, we want you to know we’re here to help you navigate retirement and answer any questions that come up during your retirement process. As Fiduciary advisors, it’s our duty to act on your behalf in finding the right solutions for your individual wants and needs.
For more information on our retirement and financial planning services, contact us here today.