Amidst uncertain economic conditions, elevated inflation rates, and ongoing discussions regarding the future of Social Security, both workers, and retirees find themselves pondering how they’ll sustain their livelihoods once a steady career income is no longer present.
Constant news headlines reporting unfavorable market dynamics can exacerbate the unease of contemplating retirement living standards and fulfilling necessities. Fortunately, there exist alternative income strategies that remain less susceptible to the fluctuating currents of the stock market. These strategies offer intelligent and comfortable alternatives as you approach this next phase of life.
Before delving into these strategies, it’s imperative to establish a comprehensive financial plan that considers your objectives, needs, and aspirations. It is important to take the initial step towards securing a comfortable income flow during retirement. If you are unsure how to do so, you should consider consulting a professional advisor and collaboratively constructing a savings plan tailored to your envisioned post-career lifestyle.
The foundational aspects of this plan should target the kind of income you anticipate requiring to cover both fixed and variable expenses. These expenses encompass essentials like housing, food, healthcare, and indulgences such as hobbies, dining out, travel, and accommodations. Depending on your intended retirement timing, this plan should include 20 to 30 years’ worth of expenses.
A financial expert can guide you in devising tailored savings and investment strategies while pinpointing potential obstacles. Yet, even the most robust retirement plans only offer an educated estimate of the funds necessary to sustain your chosen lifestyle post-retirement. Variables such as inflation, market underperformance, and unforeseen life events are challenging to anticipate and can jeopardize your retirement lifestyle aspirations. As retirement draws near, it’s essential to periodically reevaluate your savings strategy and determine if supplementary income will be required to fulfill your needs.
Assessing your financial reality becomes crucial. Be prepared to confront challenging questions such as, “Have I saved enough?” If the answer is no, be willing to adapt your plan to accommodate the adjusted reality. While rectifying decades of inadequate savings within a limited timeframe might be challenging, exploring means of supplementing or optimizing your existing savings is possible.
Supplementary income strategies can complement sources like Social Security or retirement account withdrawal. These strategies might involve allocating your nest egg to financial instruments resistant or insulated from market fluctuations or ones that can leverage increasing interest rates due to inflation.
Four avenues for generating supplementary retirement income while ensuring your funds endure throughout retirement include the following:
- Managed accounts: Constructing a portfolio of stocks, bonds, alternative investments, and cash can provide dividends, interest, and capital appreciation to outpace inflation, supplementing retirement expenses.
- Liquidity management: Investing in liquid assets prevents the need for untimely disinvestment during market downturns. Brokered CDs, U.S. Treasury securities, and short-term bonds enable more effective liquidity management without exhausting the principal.
- Guaranteed income for life: Products like annuities offer guaranteed lifelong income, with immediate or deferred income solutions options. Many of these products adjust for inflation, safeguarding purchasing power over time.
- Cash management: Often overlooked, an emergency fund comprising easily accessible, highly liquid financial instruments is crucial. These instruments generate additional income while ensuring preparedness for unexpected expenses.
Each option presents benefits and risks contingent on your existing retirement plan, available assets, and the timing of supplemental income requirements. Given your unique circumstances, a financial advisor can help evaluate these choices and determine the most suitable path.