The Dangers of Ignoring Financial Planning When You're in a Couple

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®

In an ideal world, a committed couple would be on the same page about most of the important things in life, especially about their financial future. Not only would they be on the same page, but they would equally participate in the planning process — all the way through the process. So, what happens when one partner is not engaged in the planning process — whether it be lack of interest in the process at all, or lack of engagement and/or follow-through once a plan has been completed? And what can be done, if anything, to make sure the couple and their plan are successful?

If both partners have been involved in going through at least an initial planning process, this is a good first step. This means that the couple has worked through the steps of establishing common goals, gathered their common financial information, and worked with a financial planner to review the analysis regarding how the assets and income they have may work to fulfill their specific goals, both now and in the future. These couples likely worked with the planner to establish at least an initial set of action steps to start working towards meeting their short- and long-term goals in the key areas of their financial plan.

Why One Partner May Be Unengaged:

Here is where there is usually a disconnect — where the less engaged spouse likely becomes unengaged. Once the initial financial plan is complete and the action steps are in place, the less engaged spouse may check out for various reasons:

• They may decide they don’t see the full value of the financial plan;

• They may get too busy with “life” and not make the financial plan a priority; or

• They may not see themselves in the “financial” lead role in the relationship and be simply delegating the action items to their more financially savvy spouse (whether or not this makes sense remains to be seen.)

If one of the partners is not involved in the planning process at all, this can be an even harder situation to address. When one partner is not engaged in the process at all, it is hard to discuss, set, and include common goals in the planning process. If one partner goes ahead with a plan, it can be one-sided or incomplete if done without the unengaged partner. The plan will lack input from one partner and may, in fact, be missing important information about assets, employment benefits, and/or future income resources if the participating spouse isn’t privy to all of the couple’s collective financial resources. Not having a financial plan that both partners have participated in putting together will be one that is lacking in some way — whether it be a lack of information or resources or a lack of input or agreement on current or future goals.

Why You Should Move Ahead Anyway:

Why might someone decide to move ahead with the financial planning process even if their partner is hesitant to participate in the process? In my experience, there are clients who have wanted to do planning for years and haven’t been able to get their partner on board. They may finally decide that they need to move forward, with or without their partner, for fear that they will end up without a plan and completely unprepared for the future. In addition, they may have had an experience as a caregiver for an older adult parent or watched someone they are close to go through the process of becoming a widow or widower and decide they want to be prepared if either of these major life transitions ever happens to them. For these clients, the personal experience of seeing others go through major life transitions without proper planning may compel them to want to plan more urgently than their partner.

What are some actions that a couple can take if one is more engaged than the other in the financial planning process so that their plan can be successful?

1. Come to a base agreement that a financial plan is needed. If you can come to a common agreement that a financial plan is needed, even if one of you is more enthusiastic about it than the other, that can be okay. If you can come to an agreement about who will take charge of scheduling a meeting with an advisor, collecting and organizing the information, scheduling appointments, etc., that is the first step. It is best if both partners will agree to participate in the full process, even if one takes the lead. This is the best way to ensure that you agree to and set common goals.

2. Set a regular “date” with your partner to discuss and review your finances. This blocks out time on your common schedules to concentrate on just your plan when you are working on preparing for the initial financial plan, and then can be helpful when you are working on the action items following your plan. This helps with the issues related to partners who get busy with life and can’t seem to make finances a priority.

3. Find a financial advisor that you feel you can trust and can delegate to. For those who have trouble with follow-through, or again, for those who have trouble carving out time, having a trusted professional to whom they can delegate to make sure that the plan gets carried out fully can be valuable and worth the cost.

As with many things in a relationship, partners aren’t always 100% on the same page or always rowing in the same direction all of the time. Finances are one of the most important issues a couple faces, and being in lock-step as much as possible is important. If a couple can find a way to work together in some way to complete and follow through on the financial planning process, even if one of the two takes the lead, but both participate, the process can still be a successful one.

Sandra Adams, CFP®, is a Partner and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® and holds a CeFT™ designation. She specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and serves as a trusted source for national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine, and Journal of Financial Planning.

The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete. It is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Sandra D. Adams and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Center for Financial Planning, Inc® Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

When to Use Your Emergency Fund

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®

Who actually has an emergency fund? “For those age 50 and up, it’s typically those who work with a financial advisor”, says Sandy Adams, CFP®. “The general population is bad at this. It’s particularly important to have an emergency fund as you get closer to retirement”, she says.

Read the full AARP article HERE!

Sandra Adams, CFP®, is a Partner and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® and holds a CeFT™ designation. She specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and serves as a trusted source for national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine, and Journal of Financial Planning.

Any opinions are those of Sandy Adams, CFP® and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc.

Raymond James is not affiliated with AARP.

Impending Social Security Shortfall?

Contributed by: Josh Bitel, CFP®

About 1 in 4 married couples, and almost half of unmarried folks, rely on Social Security for a whopping 90% (!) of their retirement income needs. While the Social Security Administration recommends that no more than 40% of your retirement paycheck come from Social Security, the reality is that many Americans depend heavily on this benefit. The majority of Social Security funds come from existing workers paying their regular payroll taxes; however, when payroll is not enough to cover all claimants, we must then dip into the trust fund to make up the difference. According to the 2023 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports, the 'trust fund' that helps supply retirees with their monthly benefits is projected to run out of money by 2033. This estimate has many folks understandably worried, but experts have proposed several potential solutions that could help boost solvency.

One popular solution is to raise the age at which retirees are permitted to file for benefits. Currently, a claimant's full retirement age (the age at which you receive 100% of the benefits shown on a statement) is between 66 and 67. Studies published by the Congressional Budget Office show that raising by just two months per year for workers born between 1962 and 1978 (maxing out at age 70) could save billions of dollars annually in Social Security payments, thus helping cushion the trust fund by a substantial amount.

Another hotly debated solution is reducing annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for claimants. As it currently stands, your Social Security benefit gets a bump each year to keep up with inflation (the most recent adjustment was 8.7% for 2023). This number is based on the consumer price index report and is a tool used to help retirees retain their purchasing power. Recent studies from the SSA show that if we reduced COLA by 0.5%, we could eliminate 40% of the impending shortfall. This goes up to 78% if we assume a 1.0% reduction in COLA. Neither of these solutions completely solves the shortfall, but a combination of COLA reductions and changes to FRA, as shown above, would go a long way toward solving this issue.

These are just a few of the several solutions debated by experts each year. It is important to note that even if no changes are made, current beneficiaries will continue to receive their payments. However, estimates show that if the trust fund ran completely dry, payments may be reduced by as much as 25%. While this is not an insignificant haircut, it is certainly better than cutting payments altogether.

The point is that Social Security is a crucial part of many retirees' livelihoods. It would be safe to assume that Congress would act and make changes before any major benefit cuts are required. These are several options to consider that would have varying impacts on not only solvency but also benefits themselves. If you are concerned about the role of Social Security in your personal retirement plan, discuss with your advisor how these changes may impact you.

Josh Bitel, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® He conducts financial planning analysis for clients and has a special interest in retirement income analysis.

This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Josh Bitel, CFP® and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct.

The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Center for Financial Planning, Inc. is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

Most Americans Want To ‘Age in Place’ At Home. Here’s How to Plan Your Support Systems

“None of us knows when that event might happen that will cause us to suddenly need help.” - Sandy Adams, CFP®

Read the full CNBC article HERE!

Any opinions are those of Sandy Adams, CFP® and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc.

Raymond James is not affiliated with CNBC.

Widowed Too Soon

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®

When we hear the term widow or widower, we picture someone older – someone deep into their retirement years. The reality is, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average age of a widow or widower in the U.S. is currently 59-years-old. In my recent experience with clients, I have seen the statistics become reality. Clients becoming widowed well before their retirement years has, unfortunately, become increasingly common. The issues involved with this major, and often unexpected, life transition are not simple and are hard to go through alone.

If you are one that is left behind, there are several action steps that should be taken to get back on your feet and feel financially confident. In most cases, this is the woman (according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 32% of women over age 65 are widowed compared to 11% of men). There is no timetable for when these steps should be taken – everyone grieves in their own time and everyone is ready in their own time to move on and make sound financial decisions at different times. No one should be pushed into making financial decisions for their new normal until they are ready.

The first step is identifying sources of income. For young widows or widowers, you may still be working, but may have lost a source of income when your spouse passed away. Looking at where income might come from now and into the future is important. For young widows, life insurance is likely the source of the replacement for lost income. If you are closer to retirement, you may also have Veteran’s benefits, employer pension benefits, savings plans, home equity, income from investments, and Social Security.

The second step is to get your financial plan organized. Get all of your documents and statements put together and review your estate documents (update them, if needed). A big part of this is to update your expenses and budget. This may take some time, as your life without your spouse may not look exactly the same as it did with him/her. Determining what your new normal looks like and what it will cost may take some time to figure out. And it won’t be half the cost (even if you don’t have children), but it won’t be 100% or more either – it will likely be somewhere in between. Figuring out how much it costs you to live goes a long way toward knowing what you will need and how you will make it all work going forward. Your financial planner can be a huge help in this area.

The third step is to evaluate your insurances (health and long-term care). These costs can be significant as you get older, and it is important to make sure you have good coverage. For younger widows, those that are still working may have health insurance from their employer. If not, it is important to make sure you work with an agent to get counseling on the best coverage for you through the exchange until you are eligible for Medicare at age 65. And for long-term care, if you haven’t already worked with a financial planner to plan coverage and are now widowed – now is the time. Single folks are even more likely to need long-term care insurance than those with a partner.

The fourth step is to work on planning your future retirement income. Many widows don’t think enough about planning for their own financial future. What kinds of things should you be talking to your adviser about?

• Income needs going into retirement

• The things you would like to do in retirement/their retirement goals (travel/hobbies, etc.)

• What financial resources you have now (assets, income sources, etc.)

• Risk tolerance

• Charitable goals, family gifting goals, etc.

You can work with the adviser to design a tax-efficient retirement income plan to meet your goals with appropriate tools based on tax considerations and risk tolerances, etc.

And the fifth step is to evaluate housing options. We often tell new widows not to make big decisions, like changing homes, within the first year or two. However, many decide that they want or need to move because the house they are in is too big or they just need to make a move. Housing is roughly 40 – 45% of the average household budget – decisions need to be made with care.

For all widows, going it alone can be difficult with a lot of decisions and time spent alone. For many, it is going through the process of redesigning retirement all over again, now alone, when it was meant to be with your long-time partner. And learning to live a new normal and planning the next phase of life that looks entirely different than the one you had planned. With the help of a professional financial adviser, the financial side of things can be easier – the living part just takes time.

Sandra Adams, CFP®, is a Partner and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® and holds a CeFT™ designation. She specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and serves as a trusted source for national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine, and Journal of Financial Planning.

Raymond James and its advisers do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Any opinions are those of Sandra D. Adams and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Center for Financial Planning, Inc., is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

The information contained in this blog has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

Plan Now for Your 100+ Life

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®

Between 1900 and 2020, the average life expectancy in the United States rose by more than 30 years. This was due, in part, to improvements in multiple health measures and medical advances such as vaccines and antibiotics. As of 2021, there were 89,739 centenarians living in the U.S., nearly twice as many as there were 20 years ago, according to data from the Population Division of the United Nations. According to research by Dr. Michael Roizen, emeritus chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic and Al Ratner, former CEO and chairman of Forest City Enterprises, as published in their book: “The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code to Be Younger Today and Even Tomorrow,” there are promising medical breakthroughs happening now that could prolong life even more in the near future. According to Dr. Roizen, there is a point in the near future when “90 will be the new 40” in which people will live to be 150 and retire at age 75!

Whether you WANT to live to 100+ may be irrelevant — it may be happening whether you desire to live that long or not. If we will truly be living to age 100+, how should we begin to plan for this? Not only from a financial perspective, but from a personal, psychological and emotional standpoint so that we can have meaningful and valuable long lives? Most of us need to make some changes to prepare for a longer life.

Change Your Mindset About Work

We need to start by changing our mindset about working. Retirement needs to be thought of as more than just the end of your first career/working life at the age of 65 and moving into a life of leisure. If we plan to live to 100+, most of us will need to work past age 65 in some capacity. But can that allow us to work in the same career with a more flexible schedule, or start a business, or do something completely different — something we have always wanted to do, but didn’t feel we could take the risk when we were younger? This is the time to make our next phase of life your best phase of life, starting with making your work meaningful and challenging. For some, this may be by finding our purpose and passion and putting it to work first by finding a way to continue to support us financially a little longer than we originally planned; by doing this, we put ourselves in a better position to be financially independent for the full extent of our long lifespan. For others, this may mean putting our time and talent to work volunteering for causes that mean the most to us and giving back to our communities.

Change Your Mindset About Health

Making a priority of health and well-being is another change we must make if we are to thrive in our quest to live the 100+ life. In order to maintain overall well-being, the following are important steps you need to follow:

• See your doctor(s) regularly for check-ups and proactive testing and vaccinations.

• Maintain a healthy diet (learn to cook or purchase healthy meals if you don’t now).

• Drink plenty of water.

• Avoid unhealthy habits (smoking, drinking too heavily, etc.)

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Maintain a regular sleep schedule (6 – 8 hours of sleep nightly is recommended).

• Maintain social engagement; avoid social isolation.

• Keep your mind active (continuous learning).

• Maintain a safe living environment.

• Get regular exercise, including cardio, weight training and stretching.

• Get fresh air as much as possible.

• Use stress reduction exercises, including meditation.

• Maintain good mental health; seek a therapist, if needed.

• Seek resources for care assistance, when/if needed.

Change Your Routine and Pursue Your Passions

Determine now what you will do in your next phase of life. When and if you do stop working (some of us will work in some capacity forever), what will you do that means something to you? What are the goals you want to accomplish during your lifetime that are meaningful, personally satisfying, and psychologically rich? All of these components need to exist in your mix of goals and it is important to have a good balance. To fill your life of 30+ years of retirement, you will need to come up with a long list of goals and activities to fill your years. Start now to think of the things you might want to accomplish and the timeframes in which you might want to accomplish them. List anything that you’d like to make happen - getting these wishes down on paper makes them that much more likely to happen! Your “wish list” may include:

• Travel to a particular destination.

• Writing that novel that you always said you’d write.

• Starting a non-profit or working for one that supports a cause that matters to you.

• Taking a mission trip.

• Taking a ride in a hot air balloon.

• Going back to school and getting your college degree.

• Visiting the town where your great grandmother was born in another country and starting to put together your family history.

There are so many possibilities! And the goals that are meaningful to you will be different than those that are meaningful to someone else. The sooner you get started, the better. None of us know our future health trajectory — so get working on those goals and make them happen while you can. The good news is, for many of us, the longer we stay mentally engaged, healthy, and active, the better chance we have to keep going strong!

Change Your Social Engagement

It seems that who we engage with as we age is important. First, stay engaged — with SOMEONE! Staying engaged with people from different generations is a key to staying active and healthy in your next phase of life. This engagement may come in the way of activities with the many generations of your family. Or it may come by being intentionally engaged with other generations — by where you choose to live, how and where you choose to volunteer, engage socially, etc.

Start now!

The 100+ life is truly something most of us should be thinking about, anticipating and planning for. How can we start planning now in order to have to have the most engaging, meaningful and healthy long life possible? One in which we thrive during our entire life, give back to ourselves and our communities in a meaningful way, and are able to support ourselves financially for our entire lifespans? Only by starting the planning process now and anticipating a long life can we be prepared. Work with your professional planning team to start designing your Longevity Plan now. Be prepared for your 100+ Life!

Sandra Adams, CFP®, is a Partner and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® and holds a CeFT™ designation. She specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and serves as a trusted source for national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine, and Journal of Financial Planning.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Center for Financial Planning, Inc., is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

Any opinions are those of Sandra D. Adams, and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

How Can I Estimate Retirement Income Needs?

Contributed by: Josh Bitel, CFP®

Planning for retirement is on everyone's mind at some point in their career. But figuring out where to begin to project how much income will be needed can be a tall task. Sure, there are rules of thumb to follow, but cookie-cutter approaches may only work for some. When estimating your retirement needs, here is a quick guide to get you started.

Use Your Current Income as a Starting Point

One popular approach is to use a percentage of your current working income. Industry professionals disagree on what percentage to use; it could be anywhere from 60% to 90% or even more. The appeal of this approach lies in its simplicity and the fact that there is a fairly common-sense analysis underlying it. Your current income sustains your present lifestyle, so taking that income and reducing it by a specific percentage to reflect that there will be certain expenses you will no longer have is a good way to sustain a comfortable retirement.

The problem with this approach is that it does not account for your unique situation. For example, if you intend to travel more in retirement, you might need 100% (or more) of your current income to accomplish your goals. 

Estimate Retirement Expenses

Another challenging piece of the equation is figuring out what your retirement expenses may look like. After all, a plan will only be successful if it accounts for the basic minimum needs. Remember that the cost of living will go up over time. And keep in mind that your retirement expenses may change from year to year. For example, paying off a mortgage would decrease your expenses, while healthcare costs as we age will have the opposite effect on your budget.

Understand How Retirement Age Can Change the Calculation

In a nutshell, the earlier you retire, the more money you will need to rely on to support your lifestyle. I recently wrote a blog simplifying this topic: click here to see more.

Account For Your Life Expectancy

Of course, when you stop working is only one piece of the pie to determine how long of a retirement you will experience. The other, harder to estimate, piece is your life expectancy. It is important to understand that the average life expectancy of your peers can play into the equation. Many factors play into this, such as location, race, income level, etc., so getting a handle on your specific situation is key. There are many tables that can be found online to assist with this; however, I always encourage people to err on the side of caution and assume a longer-than-average life expectancy to reduce the possibility of running out of money.

Identify Your Sources of Retirement Income

So you have an idea of how much you spend to support your lifestyle and how long your retirement may last, next is understanding where the money comes from. A good place to start for most Americans is Social Security. Check out http://www.ssa.gov to see your current benefit estimate. Other fixed income sources may include a pension or annuity. Beyond that, we normally rely on investments such as a 401k plan at work or other retirement plans.

Address Any Income Shortfalls

In a perfect world, we have added up our retirement lifestyle and compared it with our sources of retirement income, and found that we have plenty set aside to support a comfortable retirement. However, this is not always the case. If you have gone through this exercise and come to the conclusion of an income shortfall, here are a few ideas to help bridge that gap:

• Consider delaying your retirement for a few years

• Try to cut current expenses so you will have more money to save for retirement

• Work part-time during retirement for extra income

As always, an advisor can help with this calculation and inspire confidence in your path to financial independence. Reach out to us today if you are thinking about that light at the end of the tunnel!

Josh Bitel, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® He conducts financial planning analysis for clients and has a special interest in retirement income analysis.

This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. Any opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Rebalancing a non-retirement account could be a taxable event that may increase your tax liability. Conversions from IRA to Roth may be subject to its own five-year holding period. Unless certain criteria are met, Roth IRA owners must be 59½ or older and have held the IRA for five years before tax-free withdrawals of contributions along with any earnings are permitted. Converting a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA has tax implications. Investors should consult a tax advisor before deciding to do a conversion. Matching contributions from your employer may be subject to a vesting schedule. Please consult with your financial advisor for more information. 401(k) plans are long-term retirement savings vehicles. Withdrawal of pre-tax contributions and/or earnings will be subject to ordinary income tax and, if taken prior to age 59 1/2, may be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty. Contributions to a Roth 401(k) are never tax deductible, but if certain conditions are met, distributions will be completely income tax free. Unlike Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k) participants are subject to required minimum distributions at age 72.

The Challenges of Living Alone in Retirement

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®

Recently, an article in The New York Times titled "As Gen X and Boomers Age, They Confront Living Alone" has gained widespread attention. As a financial adviser, I have noticed a trend of more clients entering and living in retirement alone over the past five to ten years. This is a topic worth considering, as the number of people living alone in retirement is increasing.

The statistics speak for themselves. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 36% of American households are currently occupied by single individuals aged 50 and older, a total of nearly 26 million people. This group has traditionally been more likely to live alone, and now that age group, including baby boomers and Gen Xers, makes up a larger share of the population than ever before. Additionally, changing attitudes towards gender and marriage have caused individuals aged 50 and older to be more likely to be divorced, separated, or never married. One in six Americans aged 55 and older do not have children, and because women tend to live longer than men, over 60% of older adults living alone are female.

The challenges of living alone in retirement are real. Here are the top 5 challenges and how to plan for them:

1. Living alone can lead to social isolation

According to the Census Bureau, a higher proportion of older women live alone in retirement. However, men are more vulnerable to the negative effects of solitary living, such as social isolation, which can increase the risk of health issues and a higher mortality rate. Those living alone and not engaging socially may be at risk for general, mental, and cognitive health problems. 

To combat the challenges of social isolation that come with living alone, it is important to make intentional plans. This is especially crucial for those who may not have children or many family members. Finding social groups to be a part of, whether in the community, through hobbies or volunteering, or with current or former colleagues, can keep you connected and engaged with the outside world.

2. Managing the home can become a challenge over time

According to a 2021 AARP study, over 90% of older adults want to continue living in their own homes during retirement. While this desire for comfort and privacy is entirely understandable, managing a home can be financially and physically overwhelming for single individuals as they age. If the home is not designed for "aging in place," it may become difficult to manage if the individual experiences health or mobility issues. To address these challenges, many single individuals may choose to:·

• Pay off their home before retirement. 

• Make home modifications in advance to accommodate future needs. 

• Build flexibility into their financial plan to pay for help with managing their home once they are unable to do so themselves.

3. Single retirees living alone have no built-in partner to be their advocate for estate planning purposes

Deciding on a power of attorney for financial affairs, patient advocate, successor trustee for a trust, and executor for a will can be difficult for single older adults, especially those with no children or family. Those with no family or close friends to ask for these roles may struggle with the decision. 

There are now professional advocates who can fill these roles, such as attorneys for financial power of attorney and successor trustee (or third-party financial and bank Trust departments that can serve as successor trustees), attorneys or geriatric care managers/social workers as patient advocates, and attorneys as executors. However, it is important to note that hiring professionals to serve in these roles requires advanced planning and incurs a cost.

4. Single retirees living alone have no built-in partner to care for them

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, someone turning 65 today has nearly a 70% chance of needing such long-term care in their remaining years. On average, women need care longer (3.7 years) than men (2.2 years). 

For those older adults who are part of a couple, they can avoid paying for professional care longer by caring for each other for some time. Single individuals living alone will likely need to pay for care needs from day one of their needs. One way to address this challenge is to prepare well in advance for this potential need by planning for long-term care needs. 

While you are still working, make sure that you have long-term disability insurance that covers the expense of potential care needs. For the costs that may occur in your retirement years, consider long-term care insurance and/or carve out a portion of your retirement savings earmarked for long-term care expenses. Have a plan for what you will do if you ever have a long-term care event, and have your plan in written form for your advocates. If you aren't able to live in your own home due to your future health, have a plan for where you might consider going and how that will be paid for.

5. From a financial aspect, single retirees rely only on one set of resources and assets

Single individuals living alone are in a unique financial situation. They have only themselves to rely on for the remainder of their lives. There is no spousal Social Security or pension to be a backstop on the income side. It is only their savings and assets that they have to rely on — no one else has anything to leave them. 

Financial planning needs to be very intentional to ensure they can support themselves for the remainder of their lives first and foremost. Planning for the goals of what they want to do and accomplish during their retirement years and for their potential long-term care needs is crucial.

Living single and alone in retirement is a choice, not without challenges. It is especially important for single individuals approaching retirement to work with the appropriate professionals to plan for their second stage in life. With proper planning, living alone and single and alone in retirement can be done successfully.

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A rising number of senior citizens live alone. Sandra Adams, CFP® offers ways to cope with the social and financial aspects of solo living. Watch the video version of the blog HERE!

Sandra Adams, CFP®, is a Partner and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® and holds a CeFT™ designation. She specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and serves as a trusted source for national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine, and Journal of Financial Planning.

Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Karen Kurson or Retirement Daily.

The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Sandra D. Adams and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. 24800 Denso Drive, Ste 300 // Southfield, MI 48033 // (248) 948-7900

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

How Much Does It Actually Take to Retire Early?

Contributed by: Josh Bitel, CFP®

Like most people, you have probably thought of the possibility of an early retirement, enjoying your remaining years doing whatever brings you joy and being financially independent. Whether you have your eyes set on traveling, lowering your golf score, spending more time with your family, or any other hobbies to take up your time, you may wonder… How much money does it actually take to retire at age 55?

If you have thought about retirement, you are likely familiar with the famous “4% rule”. This rule of thumb states that if you withdraw 4% of your investment portfolio or less each year, you will more than likely experience a ‘safe’ retirement, sheltered from the ebbs and flows of the stock market as best you can. However, some may not know that this rule assumes a 30-year retirement, which is typical for most retirees. If we want to stretch that number to 40 years, the withdrawal rate is slightly lower. For this blog, we will assume a 3.5% withdrawal rate; some professionals have argued that 3% is the better number, but I will split the difference.

A key component of a retiree’s paycheck is Social Security. The average working family has a household Social Security benefit of just under $3,000/month. For our calculations, we will assume $35,424/year for a married couple retiring at age 65. For a couple retiring ten years sooner, however, this benefit will be reduced to compensate for the lost wages. The 55-year-old couple will collect $27,420/year starting as soon as they are able to collect (age 62).

For simplicity’s sake, we will assume a retirement ‘need’ of $10,000/month in retirement from all sources. A $120,000/year budget is fairly typical for an affluent family in retirement nowadays, especially for those with the means to retire early. Of course, we get to deduct our Social Security benefit from our budget to determine how much is needed from our portfolio to support our lifestyle in retirement. (Note that we are assuming no additional income sources like pensions or annuities for this example). As the 4% (or 3.5%) safe withdrawal rule already accounts for future inflation, we can apply this rule to determine an approximate retirement fund ‘need.’ See the following table for the results:

As you can see, over $500,000 in additional assets would be needed to retire ten years earlier. These rules can be applied to larger or smaller retirement budgets as well. While this exercise was heavily predicated on a rule of thumb, it is worth noting that no rule is perfect. Your experience could differ considerably from the assumptions listed above.

This exercise was your author’s best attempt to simplify an otherwise exceptionally complex life transition. This is merely scratching the surface on what it takes to retire comfortably. To increase your financial plan’s success rate, many other factors must be considered, such as tax treatment of distributions, asset allocation of your investments, life expectancy, etc. If you are interested in fine-tuning your own plan to try to retire earlier, it is best to consult an expert.

Josh Bitel, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® He conducts financial planning analysis for clients and has a special interest in retirement income analysis.

The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of Raymond James. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Examples used are for illustrative purposes only.

How Doing Your Retirement Planning Can Put You in the Driver’s Seat

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®

I have had some fascinating conversations in meetings with prospective clients over the last several months. Most of these clients have never previously worked with a financial planner, choosing the DIY (“Do It Yourself”) route until now. And for most, now that they are within a few years of retirement, knowing if they truly have the assets and income resources to be able to retire and support themselves throughout their life expectancies is something they do not want to leave to chance.

Going through the in-depth retirement planning process with the assistance of a financial planning professional can help answer the many questions that so many clients have trouble answering on their own or can only guess without accurate analysis. Things like:

• When should I take Social Security (or when should each of us take Social Security if we are a married couple)?;

• When is the best time to draw pensions and/or should I take the lifetime income benefit (if I choose this option, do I take a straight life payout vs. a payout with a spousal benefit if I am married) vs. the lump sum payout from my pension benefit?;

• If I have an annuity(ies), should I use them for income during retirement, and when?;

• What accounts do I draw from, and when do I draw from them to pay the least amount of taxes during retirement?

• How will I pay for Long Term Care if I do not have Long Term Care insurance?

• And most importantly, will I be able to financially support the lifestyle I desire for as long as I may live without running out of money?

Many potential clients I have met recently have come in assuming they will need to work until they are at least 70 (the age of their maximum Social Security age). While they may value their work, in many cases, it has seemed apparent that there was a fair amount of stress involved with the work they are doing. Knowing whether the client could retire earlier than 70 and giving them the CHOICE about when they could retire would undoubtedly put them in the driver’s seat. Knowledge is power!

Doing your retirement planning earlier than later allows you to make the choices you want to make when you want to make them. Knowing where you stand financially, now and into the future, allows you to decide what you want to do and when you want to do it — you are the driver, and you choose the route to your retirement destination!

Sandra Adams, CFP®, is a Partner and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® and holds a CeFT™ designation. She specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and serves as a trusted source for national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine, and Journal of Financial Planning.

Opinions expressed in the attached article are those of Sandra D. Adams, CFP® and are not necessarily those of Raymond James. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.