So many people come to our offices for the first time in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, feeling a little or very embarrassed. They think it’s too late; they’ve put off getting their financial house in order for so long, preparing for retirement, having any plan at all. But no matter when someone comes in, the important, magical gift they are giving themselves will pay off. It is not too late.
To your Prosperity!
Aaron Wade, Kasey Claytor, Dawn Lopez, & Kelsey Bartholomew
| One of the things that makes the annual March Madness college basketball tournament so fun to watch is the way so many games go down to the wire. As long as there is time left on the clock, the team that’s behind still has a chance to win. And with the final seconds of the game running out, it’s amazing to see how teams will methodically run their well-rehearsed play to set up the winning shot. When time is short, discipline pays off. This is true for basketball and saving for retirement. Generation X, typically defined as those born between 1965 and 1980, is the next cohort to reach retirement age. Unfortunately, with time running out for building their nest egg, only about 1 in 7 Gen Xers think they have enough saved. Recent research from wealth management firm Schroders reveals that only 14% of Americans aged 44 to 59 believe they’ve saved enough for retirement.1 And when compared to other generations, Gen Xers are more pessimistic about their ability to achieve their dream retirement, and more worried about outliving their retirement savings. The reality is that many (if not most) people in their mid-forties to late fifties have not saved enough for a comfortable retirement. They came of age in a time when “defined benefit” plans like pensions were being replaced by “defined contribution” plans like 401(k)s, but before automated features made early, aggressive saving the default. However, there is hope for this generation. In the past decade, federal legislation has made it easier to prioritize saving and has created special catch-up rules to help people get back on track in the years leading up to retirement. A key finding in the Schroders study is how few of Gen X are seeking professional help. Only about half say they have done any kind of retirement planning. And only about a quarter (27%) are working with an advisor. One of the lessons you’d hope those in their forties and fifties would have learned is that when you believe you have a major problem, get professional help. Then you’ll know the true extent of the issue and can take informed action toward solving it. Both of which reduce your worry about it. When it comes to saving for retirement, your trusted advisor plays a dual role. First, he or she analyzes your current situation (income, debt, and everything that affects your finances), helps you define your goals for retirement, and then creates a flexible plan to reach those goals. Second, he or she provides the encouragement and accountability you need to meet your milestones along the way. As long as you have time, you still have a chance for retirement success. |
| Sources: 1. https://www.benefitnews.com/news/half-of-gen-x-has-no-retirement-planning-schroders-says Disclosure: The views expressed herein are exclusively those of Efficient Advisors, LLC (‘EA’), and are not meant as investment advice and are subject to change. All charts and graphs are presented for informational and analytical purposes only. No chart or graph is intended to be used as a guide to investing. EA portfolios may contain specific securities that have been mentioned herein. EA makes no claim as to the suitability of these securities. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Information contained herein is derived from sources we believe to be reliable, however, we do not represent that this information is complete or accurate and it should not be relied upon as such. All opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. This information is prepared for general information only. It does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and the particular needs of any specific person who may receive this report. You should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any security or investment strategy discussed or recommended in this report and should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. You should note that security values may fluctuate and that each security’s price or value may rise or fall. Accordingly, investors may receive back less than originally invested. Investing in any security involves certain systematic risks including, but not limited to, market risk, interest-rate risk, inflation risk, and event risk. These risks are in addition to any unsystematic risks associated with particular investment styles or strategies. |