More than two-thirds of retirees wish they would have saved more and on a consistent basis — and half wish they hadn't waited so long “to concern themselves with saving and investing for retirement,” according to the researchers.
According to professionals, the most common retirement planning mistakes are time-related, like outliving savings or not understanding how inflation can affect a portfolio over time.
Among the biggest mistakes retirees make is not adjusting their expenses to their new budget in retirement. Those who have worked for many years need to realize that dining out, clothing and entertainment expenses should be reduced because they are no longer earning the same amount of money as they were while working.
The safe withdrawal rule is a classic in retirement planning. It maintains that you can live comfortably on your retirement savings if you withdraw 3% to 4% of the balance you had at retirement each year, adjusted for inflation.
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.
Rule of thumb: "Save 10% to 15% of your income for retirement." The detail most people miss here is that a 10% to 15% savings rate—which includes any match from your employer—makes sense only if you start saving in your mid-20s or early 30s.
For those born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67. 67-70 – During this age range, your Social Security benefit, if you haven't already taken it, will increase by 8% for each year you delay taking it until you turn 70.
Reorientation: Often considered the hardest stage, this is when you're most likely to start re-evaluating your retirement lifestyle. It involves asking the hard questions and relearning what does and doesn't work for you, so you can get the most out of your retirement.
Returns were particularly poor in 1966, 1969, 1973 and 1974. "Notably, after 1982, or about halfway through the 30-year retirement that started in 1966, the markets actually did really well," Pfau observes.
Senior Citizens' Saving Scheme
SCSS is arguably the first choice for most retirees.
1. Florida. Florida ranks as the best state to retire due to its relatively low taxes, including no estate, inheritance or income taxes.
On average, 63 is the ideal age for retirement according to both retirees and pre-retirees. While current retirees are hitting close to that mark with an average actual retirement age of 62, there are signs that future retirees could have more difficulty retiring at their ideal age.
The ideal monthly retirement income for a couple differs for everyone. It depends on your personal preferences, past accomplishments, and retirement plans. Some valuable perspective can be found in the 2022 US Census Bureau's median income for couples 65 and over: $76,490 annually or about $6,374 monthly.
You're Likely to Live Longer If You Retire After 65.
Financial Planning
Review your retirement accounts, social security, pension, etc. and get the most up-to-date projections. Test your plan! Create a retirement budget and, for a couple of months, practice living within this budget.
What Is the Rule of 55? Under the terms of this rule, you can withdraw funds from your current job's 401(k) or 403(b) plan with no 10% tax penalty if you leave that job in or after the year you turn 55. (Qualified public safety workers can start even earlier, at 50.)
By age 35, aim to save one to one-and-a-half times your current salary for retirement. By age 50, that goal is three-and-a-half to six times your salary. By age 60, your retirement savings goal may be six to 11-times your salary. Ranges increase with age to account for a wide variety of incomes and situations.
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.
Reducing expenses: The 80/20 rule for investing can also help you identify the 20% of expenses that are responsible for 80% of your income – money that can be channeled into your retirement savings. By focusing on reducing these expenses, you can free up more money to save.
Data from the Federal Reserve's most recent Survey of Consumer Finances (2022) indicates the median retirement savings account balance for all U.S. families stands at $87,000.