5 RETIREMENT MYTHS BUSTED

Urban legends, urban myths, and the latest that’s on everyone’s lips–fake news. Whatever you call it, in our age of information, claims of dubious repute can go viral in minutes.  Anyone with a computer can start a blog and offer up opinions on just about any subject, whether he or she is an authority or not. Sources? Who needs sources?
 
Alright, please excuse the sarcasm, but hopefully you know where we're going.
 
When it comes to retirement, there are plenty of misleading thoughts, opinions and fake news floating around out there. With that in mind, we'd like to clear up some misconceptions that surround the retirement years.
 
Myth #1: I’ll never see a penny of the money I put into Social Security.
If we had a nickel for every time we've heard someone utter that phrase, we'd have a lot of nickels. Sadly, if a 40-something says he is confident he will receive monthly checks, he sets himself up for ridicule among his contemporaries.
 
We wouldn’t disagree with the hypothesis that young people getting started in the workforce will receive a low return on contributions into Social Security, but this is a completely different argument.
 
Contrary to popular assertions, Social Security is not on the verge of bankruptcy, and we fully believe even those who are many years from retirement will be collecting monthly benefits when it’s their turn.
 
According to the 2017 annual report from the Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees, Social Security “has collected roughly $19.9 trillion and paid out $17.1 trillion,” in its storied 82-year history, “leaving asset reserves of more than $2.8 trillion at the end of 2016 in its two trust funds.”
 
As an ever-larger number of baby boomers continue to retire and collect benefits, the trustees expect the trust funds to be depleted by 2034.
 
Thereafter, expected-tax-income receipts are projected to be sufficient to pay about three-quarters of scheduled benefits. Put another way, recipients of Social Security would receive about a 25% cut in benefits, if no changes are made to the current structure.
 
Of course, these are simply projections and much will depend on economic growth, job creation, and wages. Yet, it’s a far cry from, “I won’t see a penny of Social Security.”
 
We suspect that politicians will eventually settle on some type of compromise that will extend the life of the current system, but it may take a catalyst event that would generate enough political pressure for this to happen.
 
That said, we recognize that timing and strategies that can be implemented for Social Security may be complex. If you have questions, please give us a call or shoot us an email. We would be happy to discuss your options with you.

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Myth #2: The stock market is too risky.
There’s no question about it, the bear markets that followed the dot.com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis were unprecedented in that we saw two steep declines in less than 10 years.
 
Made fearful by what they see as too much risk, millennials have shied away from stocks, according to a Bankrate survey. There has always been a degree of risk in stocks, even with a fully diversified portfolio. Yet, a well-diversified portfolio is akin to a stake in the U.S. and global economy. Moreover, the U.S. and global economy has been expanding for many decades and history tells us it will likely be bigger in 10 or 20 years.
 
When it comes to investing in stocks, the only resistance we typically come across is from folks who haven’t seriously entertained the idea before. We listen to their concerns, and answer with an array of factual data that’s not designed to win an argument, but simply to educate. When you have all the facts, then you can make an educated decision about what's best for you.
 
Myth #3: Medicare will handle all my health care needs in retirement. 
If only Medicare did cover everything. But then, the cost to finance it would be much higher.
 
Medicare doesn’t cover the full cost of skilled nursing or rehabilitative care, according to AARP. Yes, the first 20 days of a stay in a nursing home is covered, but you’ll pay over $160 per day for days 21 through 100. And Medicare doesn’t cover stays past 100 days.
 
You may be paying out of pocket for personal care assistance, too. The same holds true for miscellaneous hospital costs, routine eye exams, hearing, foot and dental care.
 
Myth #4: Why save today when you can start tomorrow—there’s plenty of time.
This section is designed for millennials and those who are just beginning their journey in the workforce. There’s no better day to begin saving than today and we can’t stress this enough!
 
Here's a simple example:

• Susan invests $5,000 annually between the age of 25 and 35 and earns 7% annually. She puts away a total of $50,000.
• Bill invests $5,000 annually between the age of 35 and 65 and earns 7% annually. He saves a total of $150,000.
• When Susan reaches 65, she will have amassed $602,070, while Bill will have $540,741.

 
Source: JP Morgan Asset Management
This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific investment. Your results may vary.
 
In other words, Susan begins 10 years earlier than Bill, saves 20 years less than Bill, and saves $100,000 less than Bill, but winds up with $61,329 more. 
 
For every parent or grandparent reading this, we encourage you to forward this powerful example to your kids and grandkids that are near or have already entered the workforce. It's a teachable opportunity with a simple lesson: The sooner you begin; the better off you may be as you approach retirement.
 
Take full advantage of your company’s retirement program. If your company doesn’t have a savings plan, there are many simple ways that you can get started. Feel free to reach out to us and we can assist.
 
Myth #5: Retirement is easy.
Many look forward to the day when they will no longer prepare for Monday mornings at the office. For those who face the work challenges that crop up daily, retirement may seem like a welcome oasis in the distance.
 
But that oasis sometimes turns out to be a mirage. Often, the transition from decades of working to retirement isn’t so simple.
 
For a better retirement, set goals, and not simply financial ones. Can you transition to part-time in your job? Consider part-time employment or consulting. It will ease the transition, keep you busy, and extend your savings.
 
Volunteer with your local church or local community organizations. Look for groups with similar interests. You’ll not only derive an enormous amount of satisfaction from helping others, but you’ll meet like-minded folks and make new friends.
 
Try something new. Keep up any exercise routines—and it's never too late to start a new one.  Check with your doctor, who will be happy to prescribe a fitness plan that’s suited to you.
 
Have you ever considered taking a class? How about writing a book or mentoring someone young? Expanding your knowledge or sharing your ideas can be quite fulfilling. We've heard of retirees writing books and personal autobiographies for their kids – talk about a legacy!
 
The most important thing you can do to make retirement enjoyable is to stay active and keep your mind and body sharp.

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This research material has been prepared by Horsesmouth

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

​There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk. International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors.