Don’t fall for these misconceptions.
Provided by Mark K. Lund, Investment Advisor
Financial generalizations are as old as time. Some have been around for decades, while others have only recently joined their ranks. Let’s examine a few.
Retirement means I can stop investing. In the past, retirement was viewed as an “end” in many ways. These days though, retirement is often seen as an opportunity to return to one’s passions or just another of life’s many chapters. That doesn’t mean you should stop investing, however.
My taxes will be lower. That depends on your situation. Some may earn less in retirement, which could lower their tax bracket which may reduce overall taxes. On the other hand, some retirees may end up losing the tax breaks they enjoyed while working. For more insight into your tax situation in retirement, speak with a tax or investment advisor. They can help you manage withdrawals from your qualified retirement accounts.1
I started saving too late, and now retirement is impossible. No matter how far behind you feel you are, don’t lose hope. Remember, you can make larger, catch-up contributions to your Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) after age 50. In fact, if you are 50 or older this year, you can put as much as $25,000 into a 401(k) plan.2
Withdrawals from traditional IRAs and distributions from 401(k) plans are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. Generally, once you reach age 70½, you must begin taking required minimum distributions.
Medicare will take care of me. Unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t cover extended care, if that’s the only care you need. Instead, extended care insurance is often the best choice when preparing for retirement.3
I’ll live on less when I’m retired. Maybe. This one depends on how you approach retirement. In the later phase of retirement, people often choose to live on less. But for many, the first few years of retirement mean traveling and new adventures. In other words, taking a realistic look at where you would like to be in retirement makes all the difference when it comes to retirement costs.
At the end of the day, there is no “one-size-fits-all” retirement strategy. Every individual, couple, or family needs a strategy tailored to their situation, risk tolerance, and financial objectives. With proper preparation and the help of a trusted investment advisor, there’s no reason you can’t create a strategy tailored to whatever life has in store.
If you ever have any questions about your investments or retirement plans, please feel free to give me a call at 801-545-0696.
Regards,
Mark Lund
Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc.
11650 S. State Street, Suite 360
Draper, UT 84020
Citations.
1 – money.usnews.com/money/retirement/iras/articles/2017-04-03/5-new-taxes-to-watch-out-for-in-retirement [4/3/18]
2 – irs.gov/newsroom/401k-contribution-limit-increases-to-19500-for-2020-catch-up-limit-rises-to-6500#:~:text=The%20contribution%20limit%20for%20employees,increased%20from%20%246%2C000%20to%20%246%2C500. [11/6/19]
3 – medicare.gov/coverage/long-term-care [11/4/19]
This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary, Inc., for Mark Lund, Mark is known as a Wealth Advisor, The 401k Advisor, Investor Coach, Financial Advisor, Financial Planner, Investment Advisor and author of The Effective Investor. Mark offers investment advisory services through Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. a fiduciary, independent, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisor firm providing investment and retirement planning for individuals and 401k consulting for small businesses. Mark’s newsletter is called The Fiduciary Report. Cities served in Utah are: Salt Lake County, Park City, Salt Lake City, Murray, West Jordan, Sandy Utah, Draper, South Jordan, Provo, Orem, Lehi, Highland, Alpine, American Fork, and Utah County.
