When people speak about the increasing age expectancies, they generally do so with positive connotation. This author agrees-there's nothing wrong with living longer, especially if we can sustain our quality of life at each period throughout our lifespan. The problem, then, is not that we are living longer-it's that we are not planning for it.
When our social security system first began making payments in 1940, the average length of collection was 8 years. The present average collection period is 18 years. Furthermore, in the 1950s, there were more than 10 workers for each retiree. Within the next decade, that ratio will drop to 2:1, which will be mathematically unsustainable under our current system. Social security was never designed to be a pension. Its intention was to provide insurance against poverty for the elderly. And yet, the current average retirement age is 'coincidentally' the same age that we may first begin receiving social security-age 62. Seems like we're using it the wrong way!
A Scenario: Healthy male, age 50, loves his job and wants to work until 75. He confidently feels he will live to 100, and he may! What does he need to do to maintain his current lifestyle throughout his 25 years of retirement?
Well, if he presently spends $40,000/year, at 3% inflation he'll need $83,000/year at age 75 and $175,000/year by the time he reaches age 100. In total, he'll spend about $3 million during the course of his 25 year retirement.
To accomplish this without risk to principal, he'll need about $1.8 million by the time he reaches retirement, and to do that, assuming he has yet to start saving, he would need to invest, at 9% net interest, $21,250 per year for the next 25 years.
Had he started saving when he was 30, his annual required savings would have been $3,422, a difference of over 600%. So the question is, have you started saving?
? 2005 Matthew S. Clement, All rights reserved
Matthew S. Clement is a financial planner and investment advisor representative with Financial Network Investment Corporation, member SIPC. He provides holistic wealth management and retirement planning to individuals and businesses. He can be reached in New York at (845) 942-8578, or by email: clementm@financialnetwork.com
Brownsville wedding limousine .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAs a parent you are bound to face a few... Read More
One of the biggest challenges facing black RELATIONSHIPS today are... Read More
Women have a love/hate relationship with money. Most of us... Read More
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to... Read More
People haven't always written checks to buy goods and services.... Read More
If you want money you need to learn how to... Read More
Doesn't it seem like the only impressive numbers we've seen... Read More
It doesn't take much for you to get behind on... Read More
My personal opinion is that in today's new economy, it... Read More
Good money management needn't be difficult. In fact, there a... Read More
The Check 21 Law is the new federal law for... Read More
With almost two thirds of university entrants from England and... Read More
Traditional checks probably won't disappear anytime soon, but processing checks... Read More
For me, the most terrible time of each month is... Read More
Millions of people have a checking account and many people... Read More
Vacations Made Easy: Buying a Florida Investment PropertyA relaxing beach... Read More
It is crucial as an individual who is striving for... Read More
The Prudential has dubbed those who refuse to leave home... Read More
If you've developed a household budget to get your spending... Read More
The judge had to ask the question, and we had... Read More
Are your financial muscles well toned and healthy or flabby... Read More
To save on food, be an opportunist. Buy what you... Read More
Many don't realize that our basic utility bills provide the... Read More
Do you struggle from week to week trying to make... Read More
During the last twenty years, banks have offered a number... Read More
Culver prom limousines ..Do you have a 401(k) retirement account? Are you vested... Read More
Have you seen the recent article on a new "green"... Read More
Your boss has just informed you that your department is... Read More
Here are ten steps you can follow to help improve... Read More
The British government at the beginning of this year officially... Read More
Our global society has had a wake up call in... Read More
Recent findings from the Educational Policy Institute indicated that the... Read More
Are you interested in saving money off your grocery bills?... Read More
Millions of people give a lot of thought to financial... Read More
1) HOW TO LOOK FOR A JOBA) The Chronological Curriculum:1.... Read More
For me, the most terrible time of each month is... Read More
Can you really afford a house? If so, how much... Read More
While 40% to 50% of us make New Year's resolutions... Read More
Developing and living by a household budget is by far... Read More
The Check 21 Law is the new federal law for... Read More
I have to admit, I do it too. I complain.... Read More
Did you have a piggy bank when you were a... Read More
Confused about whether you can contribute to a Roth IRA?... Read More
People haven't always written checks to buy goods and services.... Read More
With a traditional Investment Retirement Account (IRA) you pay taxes... Read More
Many don't realize that our basic utility bills provide the... Read More
Whatever your reason for having a tight budget, the truth... Read More
At a time when the entire world's attention is focused... Read More
Finding a stable and secure income that will come year... Read More
We all know that money doesn't grow on trees, but... Read More
Personal Finance |