retirement planning

There are many formulas for figuring out how much money you need to retire. Almost all of them can end up being wrong for a variety of reasons.

In the modern world, it’s probably fair to say that most of us like to get what we want quickly. We like fast food, same-day delivery, on-demand entertainment and fast passes at the theme park. And sure, it would be great to “get rich quick” in the stock market too.

Living a debt-free life is a dream for many Americans. Sadly, it’s becoming an increasingly harder dream for many to realize. As a nation, we’re virtually drowning in debt, and it can have serious consequences. It can mean struggling to get married, have children or start a family or business.

Think you know how much you’ll need to retire comfortably? You might want to think again. According to the Schroders Global Investor Study 2018, which surveyed more than 22,000 investors from 30 countries, 15% of retirees lacked sufficient income to support a comfortable retirement.

Saving for a secure retirement can often seem like a daunting task. But when you have even loftier goals it can feel near impossible. What would it take to become a millionaire, or even a multimillionaire? Would you need a big inheritance, some luck when playing the lottery? Do you need to spearhead a super-successful tech start up? Or become a doctor or a lawyer?

Vying for a promotion, meeting tight deadlines, navigating office politics and job insecurity. Work stress can arise from these and many other circumstances. And while some bouts may be temporary, others can have more lasting effects. Chronic stress can eventually start taking a toll on an your productivity, health and well-being.

It’s rarely the plan, but it happens — you’re faced with a financial crisis and have to find extra funds fast. The need may arise from many circumstances including a medical emergency, costly home repairs, job loss or escalating credit card debt.

Credit card debt left unchecked can significantly hamper your efforts toward securing a comfortable retirement. Instead of contributing to your 401(k), you end up forking out precious dollars toward interest payments on revolving credit lines each month. Having an actionable debt pay-down plan can make the difference between a relaxing retirement and feeling the pinch.

It’s rarely the plan, but it happens — you’re faced with a financial crisis and have to find extra funds fast. The need may arise from many circumstances including a medical emergency, costly home repairs, job loss or escalating credit card debt.

If you thought that retirement started at 65 for most Americans, think again — according to a recent Gallup poll, the average reported retirement age for currently retired Americans is 61. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a person who has made it to their early 60s can, on average, expect to live another 23.3 years.