At age 60–69, consider a moderate portfolio (60% stock, 35% bonds, 5% cash/cash investments); 70–79, moderately conservative (40% stock, 50% bonds, 10% cash/cash investments); 80 and above, conservative (20% stock, 50% bonds, 30% cash/cash investments).
“Considering factors like inflation, the potential for a recession and today's longer life expectancies, it's recommended to have at least 10 to 12 times your current income saved for retirement,” said Kami Adams, a retirement income specialist with Creative Legacy Group.
A typical 65-year-old might invest 60% of their investment fund in a diversified mix of stocks and 30% in a similarly diversified selection of bonds with the remainder in high-yield savings, certificates of deposit or other forms of cash.
Since higher earners will get a smaller portion of their income in retirement from Social Security, they generally need more assets in relation to their income. We estimated that most people looking to retire around age 65 should aim for assets totaling between 7½ and 13½ times their preretirement gross income.
Just 16% of retirees say they have more than $1 million saved, including all personal savings and assets, according to the recent CNBC Your Money retirement survey conducted with SurveyMonkey. In fact, among those currently saving for retirement, 57% say the amount they're hoping to save is less than $1 million.
Charles Schwab recommends an allocation of 60% stocks, 35% bonds and 5% in cash for investors ages 60-69.
Of course, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. While a five-year recovery may seem alarming, keep in mind that many retirees do not have all their investments in the stock market. At retirement, we suggest taking a more balanced approach, with an allocation of 40% to 60% in stocks.
Seeking to reduce your stock exposure: As you get closer to retirement, it's smart to gradually reduce your portfolio's stock holdings in favor of safer investments such as bonds. One popular rule of thumb is to subtract your age from 110 to determine the percentage of your portfolio that should be invested in stocks.
The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.
If you have $300,000 and withdraw 4% per year, that number could last you roughly 25 years. That's $12,000, which is not enough to live on its own unless you have additional income like Social Security and own your own place. Luckily, that $300,000 can go up if you invest it.
The IRS allows no specific tax exemptions for senior citizens, either when it comes to income or capital gains. The closest you can come is contributing to a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) with after-tax dollars, allowing you to make qualified withdrawals on a tax-free basis.
100 minus your current age strategy
One commonly recommended strategy is to determine the percentage of your portfolio that should be allocated to stocks by subtracting your age from 100. For instance, if you are 30 years old, this strategy suggests investing 70% of your portfolio in stocks.
The 10,5,3 rule will assist you in determining your investment's average rate of return. Though mutual funds offer no guarantees, according to this law, long-term equity investments should yield 10% returns, whereas debt instruments should yield 5%. And the average rate of return on savings bank accounts is around 3%.
Using our portfolio of $400,000 and the 4% withdrawal rate, you could withdraw $16,000 annually from your retirement accounts and expect your money to last for at least 30 years. If, say, your Social Security checks are $2,000 monthly, you'd have a combined annual income in retirement of $40,000.
AbbVie, Coca-Cola, and Southern Company are three stocks that offer high dividends for retirees. They have been increasing their payouts for years, at rates that should offset the effects of inflation. Their low beta values suggest they can be good, low-volatility investments to hang on to for the long haul.
For most retirees, having 1 to 2 years of expenses in cash is a prudent guideline, offering greater financial security and flexibility during retirement.
Treasuries are safe investments because they are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the US federal government. The US government has never defaulted on a debt obligation. One special category of treasury securities is Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). TIPS interest rates are indexed to inflation.
Rich retirees: In the 90th percentile, with net worth starting at $1.9 million, this group has much more financial freedom and is able to afford luxuries and legacy planning.
Not factoring in additional income from other sources or taking taxes into account, if you retire at 65 and plan to spread $400,000 across 15 years up to a life expectancy of 85, you'll receive, at minimum, $34,000 annually. This is if you factor in 2% inflation and an annual yield of 6%.
Your net worth is what you own minus what you owe. It's the total value of all your assets—including your house, cars, investments and cash—minus your liabilities (things like credit card debt, student loans, and what you still owe on your mortgage).