Business Frame Blog - Retirement Calculator

Introduction

Retirement is leaving an active working life either by choice or involuntarily for the rest of your life. This is an exciting time for many people to get to do some things they always wished to do but couldn't due to being actively engaged in their careers. The retirement years are commonly referred to as your golden years. If you took the time to plan for your retirement and saved up enough from your working years, these are likely to be the best years of your life.

It is essential to plan and save for retirement as soon as you start working. Many younger people who enter the workforce think that retirement is far away and tend to ignore retirement planning only to find out years later that time flew by. If you are already working and haven’t started, the next best time is now.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American retires at the age of 62. Half of the retirees leave the workforce earlier than planned, mostly involuntarily due to health problems and disabilities or to care for a spouse. The average retirement length is 18 years. However, people are living much longer than before, often meaning that many of them don't have adequate retirement savings to see them through. In short, their savings outlive them rather than them outliving their retirement savings, which is the ideal situation.

A retirement calculator is the best and most effective way to plan the financial aspects of your retirement. Using a calculator you can ensure that you are on the right track for the type of retirement that you want. Or, learn how much more you need to save to reach your target objective.

Retirement can get confusing with all the jargon that is thrown around. This guide is meant to help you understand all about retirement. It will take you through all the questions that people ask about retirement and much more.

When to Retire?

In America, there is no official retirement age. You get to decide when to retire. The average retirement age is 62 years. Retiring before 60 years is typically considered early retirement. 65 is deemed to be the standard retirement age, while 70 and beyond is definitely a late retirement. The Internal Revenue Service will penalize retirement withdrawals from your IRA and other retirement schemes before the age of 59 ½.

You can claim Social Security benefits at 62, but these will be 75% of the full amount. To get the full amount, you'll have to wait until you are 66. If you wait till 70, you boost your Social Security benefits significantly.

Deciding when to retire is a complex decision that you need to seriously think about. There are other issues to consider in addition to the factors to do with defined ages to access your savings and Social Security.

One of the factors is whether you have enough savings to see you through retirement. Nowadays, we are seeing that many people get to retirement age without adequate savings, thus finding themselves working well past the standard retirement age.

Another factor is health problems. Some health problems can physically prevent us from working again. Mental health is also a significant factor influencing retirement. Before retiring on health grounds, it is important to note that you'll become eligible for Medicare once you get to 65. Health care costs can significantly affect your retirement savings if you are paying out of pocket.

How you will spend your retirement years will also heavily influence the timing of your retirement. When to retire is a personal choice based on your unique needs and circumstances. The key takeaway here is to adequately prepare for retirement.

Saving Towards Retirement

Determining the amount of money from your current income to save towards retirement is not an easy thing. There are many 'Rules of Thumb' out there and many theories about the amount and percentages of our annual income we should be saving. You have probably heard of the 10% rule, the 80% rule, and the 4% rule. All these are useful benchmarks that help us determine what we should aim to save for our retirement.

There is also the other school of thought that says you should save as much as you can. This is actually good advice. Saving as much as you can should be the goal. However, as we'll see in the next chapter, it's not just about saving but investing the savings as well so that they can earn some interest. You can then enjoy the magic of compounding. The various rules of thumb offer a good benchmark, which you should gauge yourself against.

However, a retirement calculator that takes care of the numerous variables will help you greatly in determining how much money you should be saving. Factors such as your age, inflation, future income, social security benefits, and other important variables play a role.

Types of Retirement Plans

Now that you have decided to start saving for retirement, where do you put your money? In America, there are many places where people save and invest their retirement funds. The best places are those retirement accounts that enjoy a tax deferral status where any money saved from your income to these accounts is not subject to income tax. The funds are only taxed much later when you withdraw the money in retirement. This helps protect your money and grow your retirement savings over the years, which is very important. Let us look at these retirement accounts in greater detail.

401(k), 403(b), and 457

These are very popular retirement plans mostly offered by employers. They are set up by the employer and hence vary from employer to employer. They are almost similar plans only that 403(b) is offered by tax-exempt or not-for-profit organizations. 457 plans are offered by state and local governments as well as some not-for-profit organizations.

Many employers match a dollar for every dollar that the employee saves up to a certain percentage of your income. It is highly advisable to contribute as much as your employer matches as this is free money you are getting. Money from both the employee and the employer are taken pretax. You only get to pay income tax when withdrawing money for these types of accounts during retirement. The advantage of this is that withdrawals during retirement, known as distributions, will attract a lower tax rate. Additionally, your retirement savings will have grown and compounded tax-free.

For the average person, and to the extent that your employer offers this type of plan, then this will be a sufficient and easiest retirement plan. Most employers will manage the account for you and decide where to invest the funds in the plans. If they don't, it will be your responsibility to decide where the funds in the accounts should be invested in.

For solo entrepreneurs or independent contractors, you can set up a solo 401(k). A solo 401(k) is similar to the ones offered by employers, the only difference being that you set it up and manage it on your own. You can make contributions as both the employer and the employee to a maximum of $57,000 per year.

The contributions limit for 401(k) in 2020 is $19,500. Since this is a defined contribution plan and the employer can contribute to your retirement savings,both the employee and employer contributions are capped at a maximum of $57,000. There is a provision for people aged 50 years and older to contribute $6,500 more through a Catch-up contribution.

The main advantage of 401(k) and 403(b) are:

Tax-advantaged status
Employer matching contributions
Some employers manage the funds on behalf of the employees
High contribution limits

IRA and Roth IRA

These are other popular retirement savings accounts. The acronym stands for Individual Retirement Account. The IRA is also known as Traditional IRA to differentiate it from the Roth IRA. They enjoy tax shield just like the 401(k)s but differently.

The traditional IRA and the Roth IRA differ in terms of when they are taxed. In traditional IRA, just like in a 401k, money is taken pretax and then taxed upon distribution or withdrawal. For Roth IRA, the money out is already taxed, and hence withdrawals are not taxed.

The limit for both the IRA and Roth IRA is $6,000 per year and an additional catch up of $1,000 per year for those above 50.

Pension plans

In previous times, pension plans were very popular. Civil servants working for the government and other employers would offer a pension as an employee benefit. It was enough for a person to retire on a pension and live comfortably. Once retired, the employee could choose between a lump sum payment or fixed payouts from the common pool. Nowadays, pension plans are not as common.

Investments

As we have seen with the three retirement plans we have talked about, there are limits set out in law or by your employer as to the maximum amount you can save and get upon retirement. Some people may want or have the ability to save more than these limits. This is where investment funds come in. They include index funds, mutual funds, stocks, real estate, bonds, certificates of deposits, and commodities. These investments are a great way to grow wealth while securing your financial future.

These investments offer a different rate of returns and variable risk. It is better to involve a financial adviser to help you spread out your investments across different levels of risk and reward.

Savings account

Personal savings accounts are a great way to accumulate money. They help you save even small bits of extra disposable money over an extended period of time. However, one big disadvantage with savings accounts is the low level of interest offered by the banks. In some cases, the interest is not enough to beat inflation; hence you may end up losing wealth over the long term. On the other hand, it is good to have money in your savings account to take care of any emergencies. This helps you not raid your retirement accounts.

Real estate

Owning a piece of real estate is a common retirement plan. Upon retirement, you can liquidate your ownership to get an income. It is common to hear of reverse mortgages. This is where you start getting paid as you live in your house for a fixed period of time until ownership changes. Another option for retirees is to downsize their home and move into a smaller home. They sell their previous home and buy a smaller often cheaper one to live in and use the extra money for their retirement expenses.

If your financial or personal situation is complex, do not hesitate to contact a professional to help and guide you.
Always look for opportunities to save more. Having a budget and sticking to it is a good place to start. Saving any extra disposable money from your budget and any bonus payments or raise you get from your employer will go a long way to boosting your savings.
Take control of your debts and have a plan in place to repay them. Debts are the number one reason people are unable to save enough for retirement. Debt is expensive and weighs you down. Limit your exposure to debt as much as you can.

The Social Security program is like an insurance program or a financial safety net run by the government to provide some earnings to people upon retirement or disability. Even though the monthly payouts are nowhere near enough to rely on as retirement income, it is still an important revenue stream.

Social Security planning is part and parcel of your overall retirement planning. That's why we have dedicated a chapter to it in this guide. Social Security retirement benefits are your hard-earned money, which you contributed over your working years.

You must work for at least ten years to be eligible for benefits. The longer you work, the better. If you work for 35 years, your Social Security monthly payment is likely to be higher, since the average of your 35 highest-earning years are taken into consideration with a cap of $137,700 per year for 2020. If you worked for less than 35 years, the missing years would be substituted with a $0 drastically bringing down your average.

The amount of monthly payout you receive will depend on your earned income before retirement, the age you start claiming the benefits, and the number of years worked. The amount you receive is adjusted for inflation regularly.

The maximum monthly payment you can get for Social Security is currently set at $3,790, making it $45,480 per year. However, not many people get to receive the maximum payout.

Once you apply for benefits, these past earnings are taken into account, adjusted for past inflation, then your primary insurance amount PIA is calculated. PIA is also known as the full monthly benefit. This is the amount of money you are set to receive each month if you claim at the full retirement age. If you claim earlier than this age, the PIA is reduced accordingly. If you claim later, it is increased by 8% each year until 70.

The full retirement age will depend on when you were born. For those born between 1943-1954, the full retirement age is 66 years. For each subsequent year, the full retirement goes up by two months up to 1960 and later when the age is 67.

You can only claim benefits when you are at least 62 years old. However, this will result in lower monthly payouts over your lifetime. You will receive 25% less your PIA or full monthly benefit. Delaying collecting the benefits until you are 70 increases the possible amount you can receive. Waiting past 70 doesn't increase your benefits. This is better illustrated with an example:

For someone born in 1954, the full retirement age is 66 years. Let's give them a PIA or full monthly benefit of $2,000. If they were to claim at 66 years, they would receive the whole amount of $2,000. If they were to claim at 62 years, they would receive 25% less, which is $1,500. If they were to wait till 70, they would receive $2,640. Remember, all these amounts are periodically adjusted for inflation.

The advantage of claiming early is that you get to claim for a longer period of time. Claiming late means you get a significantly higher monthly payout.

The best age to claim your Social Security benefits will depend on your personal circumstances. The main factor is how long you expect to live. If people in your family generally live long, then it would be better to wait until you are 70.

Best States to Retire by Retirement Taxes

The state you retire in will significantly impact your retirement income. Tax rates across different states differ. That's why you often hear retirees heading to some states, but is it advisable to relocate to another state for tax reasons? Before we answer this question, let's first look at a short background to understand why this matters.

Retirement income is mainly derived from several sources. The main ones are Social Security monthly payouts, distribution from IRAs, 401(k)s and other retirement plans, pension schemes, investments, savings accounts, and real estate.

Some taxes will tax some or most of this income, while others will not subject it to tax. Relocating and living in a tax-friendly state may be the key to ensuring that you outlive your retirement savings while still enjoying a high quality of life. It can also ensure that whatever you leave behind for your dependents is not gobbled up by high taxes.

Moving to a state that is retirement-friendly is a good choice. Federal law prohibits states from levying taxes on retirement income earned from another state.

According to research by Kiplinger, the breakdown of retirement tax friendliness is as follows:

The 10 most tax-friendly states for retirees:

1. Wyoming
2. Nevada
3. Delaware
4. Alabama
5. South Carolina
6. Tennessee
7. Mississippi
8. Florida
9. Georgia
10. Arizona

The 10 least tax-friendly states for retirees:

1. Nebraska
2. Connecticut
3. Kansas
4. Wisconsin
5. Minnesota
6. Vermont
7. Rhode Island
8. New Jersey
9. Illinois
10. New York

Tips for Saving more for Retirement

Start saving as early as you get your first paycheck. If you haven't already, the next best time is now
If your employer offers a dollar-for-dollar match, contribute as much as they are matching
Even if you are in a 401(k), consider opening an IRA
If you are 50 years plus, take advantage of the catch-up contributions offered to both 401(k) and IRA accounts
If your employer doesn't deduct your retirement savings from the payroll or you are self-employed, automate your retirement savings

Making the decision to relocate is a difficult one for many retirees. Being close to family and other support systems is increasingly important at this age. Other factors such as the weather, access to social amenities, and efficient infrastructure will heavily weigh on your decision. However, sometimes, you have to relocate to avoid high taxation. The key here is to balance between financial security and quality of life.

Retirement Planning for Gig Economy Workers

The gig economy has grown tremendously over the last decade. More and more Americans are either working in the gig economy on a part-time or full-time basis. The gig economy includes self-employed people, independent contractors, freelancers, consultants, etc.

The flexibility of work and other benefits that gig economy workers face come with great responsibility. One of these is retirement planning. They have to plan their retirement and set up a plan where they'll save for their retirement. Unfortunately, a considerable percentage of gig economy workers do not have a retirement plan.

Most of them are simply not aware of the various options available to them. The downside to this is that time is not on their side. The earlier one starts saving for retirement, the better.

Some of the retirement plans we had looked at earlier are still available to gig economy workers:

Traditional IRA
Roth IRA
SEP IRA
Simple IRA
Solo 401(k)

Whichever plan fits your circumstance, always remember that retirement saving is not and should not be an afterthought. It should be an integral part of your financial plan.

Different Types Of Retirement Calculators

There are different types of calculators that you can use depending on your objectives and the information that you need. You can use calculators that determine:

How much you need to retire
The best potential savings plan for your needs
How much you can withdraw after retirement
How long your money will last

What Information Do You Need For A Retirement Calculator?

The information required for a retirement calculator will depend on the source that you use. Some require a more comprehensive level of information which means that the calculation provided will be more accurate to your specific needs. Some examples include:

Your current age
Planned retirement age
Life expectancy
Expected work pension
Any income after retirement
Investment return
Inflation rates
Current income

Each variable will have an impact on how much you need to save. For instance, if you are older when you start saving for retirement then you will always need to save more each year. This is why you should aim to begin saving as quickly as possible.

Your planned retirement age will also have an impact. If you want to retire earlier than the standard retirement age then you will need to save more on an annual basis. In contrast, if you are happier working for longer before you retire, then you can save left.

Some people will also have passive incomes that will continue after they retire. This includes long-term investments. These investments will help boost your retirement income and ensure that you need to save less now.

Other factors will also mean that you need to save less annually for your retirement. For instance, you may have a shorter life expectancy due to a chronic health condition. If that’s the case, then you will not need to save as much as someone who is expected to live past eighty.

These variables differ depending on the calculator that you choose to use and the results that you are looking for.

How Are The Figures Calculated?

The figures provided by a retirement calculator are not personalized recommendations. Instead, the results may be less or more for you depending on circumstances that are not taken into account during the calculations.

The basic costs include everything from bills to council tax, household insurance, travel costs and more. The figure is based on the notion that people who retire should be able to cover their bills, pay for food and buy alcohol. It does not take into account internet access, cigarettes, or the cost of running a car.

Some retirement calculators also base results on the 10% rule 80% rule and 4% rule. The 10% rule suggests that an individual saves at least 10% of their pre-tax income through their working years. The 80% rule suggests that a worker should have at least 70% of their pre-retirement income for a comfortable retirement. Finally, the 4% rule suggests that once you know how much you need for retirement, you can divide this number by 4 to determine the total cost of the nest egg.

Ultimately, it’s important to note that any figure provided by a retirement calculator is only a guide. The reason for this is that everyone’s idea of what they need for a comfortable retirement is different. An online calculator is not capable of taking into account all the variables necessary to provide a 100% accurate result. However, it can provide a baseline figure for savings that you should be aiming for.

Other points to consider

When exploring different retirement calculators, make sure that you check whether the results have been updated to match the levels of inflation. Currently, inflation rates are rising at an exponential pace. A high rate of inflation will mean that you need to save more for both basic costs in retirement as well as luxury options such as holidays and evenings out. A retirement calculator should be updated on an annual or even monthly basis to accommodate for changes like this.

How To Use A Retirement Calculator

To gain the best results from a retirement calculator, you should gather as much information about your finances as you can. You will also need to consider the type of retirement that you want. Some people are happy with a more basic retirement while others want to travel the world. Once you have this information, you can choose one of the retirement calculators available online. Get results from a few calculators online and then workout an average. This will ensure that you get the most accurate figure.

Other Ways To Explore The Finances Needed For Retirement

A retirement calculator is one of the options that you can explore to determine how much you need to save to retire. However, there are alternatives to explore that may provide a more accurate figure. For instance, you can consider arranging a consultation with a financial planner. A financial planner will assess your current income and investments as well as real-time variables to determine whether you are on the right path. They can also explore and recommend additional investment solutions that may be right based on your needs and your current objectives. A financial planner will provide a more personalized assessment of your finances. Due to this, the service can be more beneficial than a typical retirement calculator.

Retirement FAQs

1. When should I retire?

This is a common question, and we see it becoming quite an issue as many people get to retirement age without enough savings. When choosing to retire, you should determine the income you will collect from the various sources and figure out if you can comfortably live with it. These sources will vary from person to person but generally are: pensions, retirement accounts, savings, Social Security, and home equity. Weigh these against retirement expenses that are unique to your circumstance. Note that medical expenses in retirement are significantly higher.

2. Should I keep working in retirement?

If you are worried that your retirement savings are not enough to last you the rest of your life, then working in retirement is a good option. However, at this age, it is possible that you may have health problems that make it difficult to continue working. Working part-time is a good option if you are able to. Other than the financial incentives, it offers mental, physical, and emotional benefits. However, if for any reason or no reason at all, you don't want to work in retirement, it's perfectly fine. It's your time to enjoy your golden years having worked during your younger years.

3. Is Social Security enough to cover my retirement expenses?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. Social Security will only cover a small fraction of your retirement expenses. It is a wrong and even dangerous strategy to expect to live off Social Security.

4. When am I eligible for Medicare benefits?

You qualify for Medicare benefits once you get to 65 and have accumulated 40 credits. Keep in mind that Medicare may not cover all your medical expenses. You may need to supplement it with the so-called Medi-Gap policies or pay from your pocket.

5. Should I relocate to save my retirement savings from high taxes?

This is a dilemma that many retirees often have to contend with. On the one hand, you are anxious if your retirement savings will be enough to last your lifetime. Paying high taxes will only reduce these savings. On the other hand, you do not want to move far away from family, friends, community, and other support systems you have around you.

Thus it becomes a balancing act. Relocating is sometimes the better option. If you decide to go for it, don't be afraid of leaving behind your familiar surroundings. You'll often find that in cities with favorable retirement taxes, numerous retirement communities are welcoming.

The key to getting this right is thinking about it before retiring and deciding where to live in retirement early enough.