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As and investor, you are overwhelmed with advice in newspapers, magazines, and mailings discussing what to invest in for a successful retirement nest egg, when to start saving for retirement and who to invest with. There are millions of people who realize that an investment portfolio for retirement is necessary, but do they really understand the investment instruments and the amount they must invest for tomorrow? The subject of retirement is a fascinating area but it also could be a fuzzy subject without the correct amount of knowledge, understanding and professional guidance. The number one question of concern for individuals facing retirement issues is whether or not they have enough annual income to retire. "In 2001, only 63 % of workers said they felt confident they would have enough money to live comfortably in retirement... just one year later, that figure was 72 %. " (web) With the baby boomer generation nearing retirement in the up coming years there are numerous questions that need to be answered before they can flat out retire. Have they been saving enough for their retirement or will they fall short in the later years of their lives?
The average "baby boomer" must realize that "they will have more time to enjoy the abundance they are accustomed to and they will need the income to do so. According to the Society of Actuaries, baby boomers can expect to live well into their 80, s and many will live well into there 100 's and beyond. That means someone who quits working at 65 may be looking at spending 35 years in retirement. " (web) The worst news about the increase in life expectancy is that people are not saving enough to maintain their high standards of living and they must adjust accordingly. So what are these people supposed to do? First, people must save as much money immediately and let go of the old notion of retirement.
The basic fact is that "Social Security currently makes up about 40 % of a retirees income, it is now up to the individual investor to generate the remaining 60 % in order to maintain the standard of living they are accustomed to. " (Prosser 12) Some of the old rules of saving for retirement still apply, Michael McDonald, vice president of a national brokerage firm says the 60 to 80 percent of current income rule is still a good one. " This total usually comes from individuals Social Security, Pension from an employer, and other saving instruments. The trick to retirement is making the savings and investment part of that formula last as long as you do. "Traditionally, experts have advised you to invest your savings in stocks and bonds, with the ratio of stocks to bonds gradually decreasing as you get older. The rule of thumb was to have 65 % of your investment dollars in bonds by your 65 th birthday. " (aol. sage online. com) This rule of thumb has changed recently in order to take into account the increase in life expectancy. Now that your retirement money has to last longer, the experts are beginning to lean toward investing more of your money in the stock market and keeping it there further into retirement than you normally would.
The most important notion that retirees must learn is that the longer you can go without dipping into your principal, the longer your money will last for you due to the rule of compounding of interest. There are numerous different techniques for people to use in order to retire comfortably and remain comfortable until their deaths. Since deciding how much money you need for retirement is obviously a highly personal calculation, individuals must explore the many different instruments for retirement. So how should people invest today for the future and their retirement? "The most crucial retirement investing advice anyone can give is really quite simple: Start early, max out your 401 (k), and save as much in other accounts as you can. " (web) If people did that much they would be a lot better off then they currently are. Even though you don't have to be a genius I order to create a substantial retirement nest egg, the more you know about investing the better off you will be in the long run. " Whether you are just starting to save or nearing your retirement age, your portfolio needs a mix if investments - stocks, bonds, and cash - to provide the proper balance between risk and growth" (web) This will reduce your exposure to risk I you diversify your portfolio and avoid putting all your eggs in one basket. Individuals must remember that what might be making money for them now, might not be so successful in a few years when they are about to retire.
Some studies show that proper asset allocation can have more of an impact on your returns over time than the individual investments that are chosen. Remember, the number one goal for professional financial planners is to find the perfect mix between risky stocks and other types of investments that are more stable or less volatile. What are these retirement instruments and how can they help me retire with a nest egg that will last longer then me that's comfortable? The following is a description of various ways to save for retirement. 401 (k) A 401 (k) is a retirement plan offered by a company as some incentive for working with the corporation. The 401 (k) gives the employee the opportunity to take their pre-taxed income and invest it in different funds or accounts. The company will match the amount money put into the account by the employee with a percentage somewhere between 25 to 100 % of all withholding's.
There is no better return in the market available then with the 401 (k). Where else are you going to earn 25 to 100 % return the day the money is put into the account. When setting up your 401 (k) plan at your new job, it is important to max out the amount you can put into your plan. The financial idea of compounding interest comes into play here. The amount of money invested in the 401 (k) account receives interest on a tax-free compounding basis. The benefits of compounding are evident in an example.
Suppose you were to invest $ 100 a month in a 401 (k) plan for the past 20 years. You company was matching your investment by 50 %. Today you would have $ 184, 000 (assuming your account increases in value at least as well as the S& P 500). Without a company match and interest, you would have invested only $ 24, 000 (12 months x 20 years x $ 100 = $ 24, 000) of your own pre-taxed dollars. You return for investing in the plan is $ 160, 000 ($ 184, 000 - $ 24, 000 = $ 160, 000), the power of compounding increases as time elapses because you will be earning interest on top of interest and so on.
Some other advantages of a 401 (k) plan are the ability to make early withdraws from the account...
Free research essays on topics related to: baby boomer, social security, number one, life expectancy, 401 k plan
Research essay sample on 401 K Plan Baby Boomer
