There are some interesting facts to know about us, Americans, from the research of Northwestern Mutual with regards to our readiness to face retirement. Here we go!
- There are no retirement savings for one American out of five
- One in three Americans have less than $25,000 saved, especially those who are nearing retirement shortly
- The percentage of Americans who are somewhat concerned about affording retirement is about 78%
These facts reveal the sad state of our fellow citizens who are almost ready to retire and teach us valuable lessons. It also imposes an important question at us. How much should we save so as to live comfortably in our retirement? The solution is definitely going to be different for each of the citizen and will vary widely depending on the state that we live in.
But, there are general points of tolerance in this planning needed for retirement and we can assess how we can meet them.
State-wise Variations
The amount needed for a comfortable living in retirement depends on the state where you intend to live in after you retire. Places like New York and California need more and have high living expenses compared to other regions of the country. Let’s say that you have saved $1 million as your retirement savings, here’s an example to help you understand how long that amount can enable your living in the concerned state. This data has been received by Go Banking Rates and they have collated this information based on the average total expenditures of the American citizens who are 65 years or older. On the gathered data of citizens, The cost of living index has been applied to adjust the differences between each state.
Longest lasting of the retirement amount of $1 million in states is as follows:
- Mississippi: 25 years, 11 months, 30 days.
- Oklahoma: 24 years, 8 months, 24 days.
- Michigan: 24 years, 7 months, 14 days.
- Arkansas: 24 years, 7 months, 4 days.
- Alabama: 24 years, 7 months, 4 days.
The shortest amount of time that the $1 million would last is in the states listed below:
- Hawaii: 11 years, 8 months, 20 days.
- California: 15 years, 5 months, 27 days.
- New York: 16 years, 3 months, 22 days.
- Alaska: 16 years, 8 months, 6 days.
- Maryland: 16 years, 8 months, 29 days.
Being in California, This news can be intimidating and inconclusive too! Though you are now sure that the cost of living in California is quite high, you are still unaware as to how much is needed to live comfortably after you retire.
Retirement needs – Estimate and Save
Several agencies or financial services firms or organizations provide different methodologies to calculate how much amount is needed to be saved for retirement. Let’s review a few here:
- Fidelity, One of the financial services firm, recommends that at least one of the salary is saved by an American before he turns 30. It will gradually need to increase as 3x of his salary by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60 and 10x by 67
- 4% rule indicates that all of your retirement expenses need to be met by withdrawing 4% of your total retirement funds.
- Some advisers recommend saving retirement amount to an extent that it is capable of generating 70-80% of annual pre-retirement income each year. This income-replacement rate can help you get an estimate of what will be the savings fund needed for your retirement.
These are only guiding principles and there is no hard & fast rule to follow these in similar lines. As stated above, your expenses will vary with the state, and the personal circumstances according to you. The best way to work on this savings plan will be to consult a financial adviser. Recovery Law Group has specialized professionals who can understand your needs and suggest a strategy for your retirement savings. They operate in Los Angeles, California, and Dallas, Texas.
How to Save?
It is never too late and even if you are close to retirement, There are plans that can assist you to catch up on your retirement savings
- Excluding paying down high-interest debts first from your retirement can help you save the initial funds for retirement.
- Tax-favored retirement accounts like 401(k) and IRA are available for the citizens to contribute for the savings need. If you are aged under 50 years, Then the limits are $18,500 for 401(k) and $5,500 for IRA. If you are 50 years and more, then the limits are $24,500 and $6,500 respectively.
- Retiring late, if a viable option, can give you some extra time to save more for your retirement. Delayed retirement credits, issued by the Social Security Administration, are eligible to you in case you delay claiming Social Security benefits beyond the age of your full retirement
- Working on a second job can help with more funds to be put into your retirement savings
- Post-retirement, a part-time job can supplement your savings amount
As stated earlier, it is never too late to start saving. Do proper research and check on all feasible options. Reach out to professionals in this space for any relevant guidance needed! The team at Recovery Law Group are ready to co-work with you – they will strategize the move, plan and execute according to your personal needs and also considering the cost of living of the state that you live in.