Discover the Key to a Financially Secure Retirement
Here’s a warning for all the retirees and near-retirees out there: don’t put your finances on autopilot after you retire! After decades of hard work and planning, it can be tempting to take a break from strategizing, but if you want all of that planning and work to properly manifest, then it’s imperative that you’re just as active in your finances post-retirement as you were when you were working. Not only should you have a solid understanding of how you’ll manage your finances in retirement, but it’s also incredibly important to have a well-structured plan for how you’ll navigate investing after retirement.
If you’ve been planning for retirement without much thought as to how you’ll navigate investing once you leave the workforce, below you’ll find some reasons why a post-retirement investment strategy is essential, along with valuable tips on how to get started crafting yours.
The Importance of Having a Strategy for Investing After Retirement
There are many reasons why having a post-retirement investment strategy in place is so important, but some of the main reasons are:
- Maintain Financial Independence: One of the primary reasons for having a strategy for investing after retirement is to maintain financial independence. As a retiree, you’ll no longer receive a steady paycheck, and relying solely on savings may not be sufficient to cover expenses for decades in retirement. A well-planned investment strategy can generate a reliable stream of income, helping you maintain your financial independence and quality of life.
- Combat Inflation: As we know, inflation erodes the purchasing power of money over time. Even low inflation rates can significantly impact a fixed income. A strategic investment portfolio can help you beat inflation by providing you with returns that outpace the rising cost of living. For example, stocks have historically provided better inflation-adjusted returns compared to traditional savings accounts or bonds.
- Supplement Retirement Income: Retirement often comes with reduced income compared to your working years. However, dividends from stocks, interest from bonds, and capital appreciation from both asset classes can provide additional financial support during retirement. By having an investment strategy tailored to your specific needs and risk tolerance, you can supplement your retirement income.
SEE ALSO: The Importance of Rebalancing: Why You Shouldn’t ‘Set-and-Forget’ Your Portfolio
- Legacy Planning: Many retirees have a desire to leave a legacy for their loved ones or use their assets to support charitable causes once they’re gone. Having a smart strategy for investing after retirement can help you grow your wealth, ensuring that you’ll be able to pass on assets or contribute to your chosen charitable organizations.
- Weather Financial Storms: If there’s anything we’ve learned in the aftermath of COVID-19, it’s that life can be unpredictable and unexpected expenses or emergencies can arise during retirement with little to no notice. However, if you have a diversified investment portfolio, it can act as a financial safety net, allowing you to tap into your investments when needed, rather than being forced to deplete your savings or rely on loans.
Tips for Successful Investing After Retirement
Now that we’ve covered the importance of having a strategy for investing after retirement, let’s explore some practical tips to help you get started:
- Assess Your Financial Situation: Begin by calculating your projected retirement expenses. This should include essential living costs and discretionary spending. You’ll also want to determine your expected sources of retirement income, such as Social Security, pensions, and any other benefits. Having a clear understanding of your financial needs and available resources is a critical first step.
- Define Your Goals, Risk Tolerance, and Risk Capacity: Once you have a solid understanding of your financial landscape, you’ll want to clearly define your financial goals for retirement. Do you aim for financial security, wealth preservation, or legacy planning? Consider your risk tolerance, risk capacity, and investment timeline. Generally, retirees should adopt a more conservative approach than younger investors, but the right balance will depend on your specific circumstances.
- Diversify Your Portfolio: As in your working years, diversification remains the key to managing risk. So be sure to spread your investments across various asset classes, including stocks, bonds, cash, and possibly alternative investments like dividend-paying stocks, depending on your financial situation. Diversification can help protect your portfolio from market volatility, while potentially providing you with higher returns.
- Consult with a Registered Investment Advisor: Investing is complex, and in retirement, there is extra pressure to get it right. Seeking advice from a qualified RIA can help you optimize your strategy – and your retirement income. An experienced professional can help you create a customized investment strategy tailored to your unique goals and risk tolerance. They can also create an appropriate asset allocation model, tax planning strategy, and active portfolio management. (If you’re looking for a Registered Investment Advisor in Central or South Texas, give us a call!)
SEE ALSO: Investing After Retirement: Tips to Extend the Life of Your Nest Egg
- Consider Income-Generating Investments: As you plan out your investment strategy for retirement, you may want to focus on income-generating investments to ensure a reliable cash flow during retirement. Some of the more popular options are dividend-paying stocks and bonds. These are assets that can provide you with a consistent stream of income while still preserving your capital.
- Monitor and Adjust: Just like before you retired, your strategy for investing after retirement should not be static. Be sure to regularly review your portfolio’s performance and asset allocation. Rebalancing your portfolio and reallocating assets can help you stay on track and ensure you remain financially supported throughout retirement. If this process seems daunting, then an RIA can take this process off your plate to allow you to enjoy your well-earned retirement.
- Tax-Efficient Strategies: Taxes are one of the biggest threats to retirees’ financial security. The need to be mindful of the tax implications of your investment decisions cannot be overstated. Doing the work to make your investment strategy tax-efficient, such as investing in tax-friendly accounts such as IRAs, 401(k)s, or Roth IRAs, will give you the opportunity to minimize your tax liability in retirement.
Investing After Retirement for Long-Lasting Financial Security
A well-structured strategy for investing after retirement is a vital component of a secure and fulfilling retirement. It provides financial independence, helps combat inflation, supplements retirement income, and allows for legacy planning, too. As you’re thinking about your own investment strategy for retirement, remember that every individual’s circumstances are unique, so it’s crucial to tailor your investment strategy to meet your specific needs and objectives.
Would you like professional active asset management of your investments after retirement? At Davidson Capital Management, our team of Registered Investment Advisors is dedicated to helping our clients develop and maintain an investment strategy and then actively manage that strategy to support them for the entirety of their retirement. Contact us today to schedule a personalized consultation with our expert advisors and let’s begin to build a retirement plan that gives you greater financial independence and peace of mind for your golden years.
