RETIRING WITH A CASH RESERVE
Many people want to enter retirement with a) investments that may have benefited from years of growth and compounding, b) a manageable debt position, and c) a cash reserve for emergencies. Just how large should that cash reserve be? There is no simple answer to that question because the answer is different for each retiree.
As pre-retirees save and invest, in pursuit of their retirement objectives, they are commonly encouraged to create a portfolio and accept some market risk. After all, keeping too much money out of the financial markets could carry an opportunity cost (lost yields, lost tax benefits). Retirees, however, may wish to maintain a cash reserve to deal with the unexpected. A health emergency may come with significant out-of-pocket costs. An air conditioner or water heater may break down, a storm may damage a roof or cause flooding – and a retiree household may face sudden home repair costs. In these situations, monthly cashflow may be disrupted and having a cash reserve can certainly help.1
Golf TIP
Your address position might be affecting your putting
If your putts often come up short, the way you address the ball might be the culprit. Your stance over a putt should allow the putter to strike the ball when the putter is either level to the ground or about a quarter-inch above the ground at the moment of impact.
Source: GolfInfluence.com
THE MEANING OF “RETIREMENT”
Americans across different age groups seem to share a common vision of what their retirements will be like, a new whitepaper from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies suggests.
The Center surveyed baby boomers, Gen Xers, and millennials to assess their feelings and perceptions about their futures. All three generations saw retirement as a period of increased free time, yet 55% of all respondents felt their retirements would include some work. The top nouns and adjectives associated with retirement were “freedom,” “stress-free,” and “enjoyment.” Some of the findings are definitely intriguing. Just 39% of millennials indicated they were worried about the future of Social Security, compared to 49% of boomers and 48% of Gen Xers. Only 40% of all respondents indicated that they were prioritizing keeping their job skills up to date, a factor which could help them continue their careers longer. While 74% were concerned about maintaining their health in retirement, just 22% said that they took their long-range health into account when making lifestyle decisions.2
DID YOU KNOW?
Ben Franklin was (street)wise
Franklin was regarded as one of the great minds of his time, yet his formal education ended at age 10. He went to work for his older brother’s printing business at age 12.3
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
Eighty-two percent of the retirees surveyed for the 2019 edition of the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s (EBRI) annual Retirement Confidence Survey said that they felt confident they had enough savings to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.4
BRAIN TEASER
You saw me where I never was and where I could not be. And yet within that very place, my face you often see. What am I?
STUMPED? CALL 814-777-4847 FOR THE ANSWER!
This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. 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 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.
CITATIONS.
1 – kiplinger.com/article/retirement/T047-C032-S014-how-much-cash-should-retirees-hold.html [6/18/18]
2 – foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/retirement-baby-boomers-gen-x-millennials [5/3/19]
3 – history.com/topics/american-revolution/benjamin-franklin [1/18/19]
4 – ebri.org/docs/default-source/rcs/2019-rcs/2019-rcs-short-report.pdf?sfvrsn=85543f2f_4 [6/18/18]