A Guide to Retirement Planning for Seniors
Updated Aug 9, 2023
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Planning for retirement can be exhilarating and a bit terrifying. As you prepare to live on a fixed income, putting a detailed retirement plan in place is essential. In this article, we’ll explain essential factors to consider as you approach retirement. You’ll learn how to establish financial stability in the years ahead by creating a budget, evaluating your assets, and maximizing your savings.
Communication between partners and spouses is key. Keri Dogan, senior vice president of retirement income solutions at Fidelity Investments, cautions, “Spouses often don’t have the same vision for retirement.”
Avoid this communication breakdown by talking openly and honestly about your retirement plans. You may dream of traveling across the country in an RV, while your significant other is envisioning staying home and spending more time with family and friends. Work together to map out your life of leisure (and how you’ll pay for it).
As you discuss your ideal retirement lifestyle with your partner, talk through the 10 questions below.
Pro Tip: Stay on track by knowing the important age-related financial milestones in your 50s, 60s, and 70s.
If you’re losing sleep over running out of money or needing to cut spending significantly during your retirement, you’re not alone. The State of Retirement Planning Study by Fidelity Investments reported this as one of the top worries for all generations of adults.
Inside Scoop: Financial security and preparedness come in many forms. Our in-depth guide to finance for seniors can help you learn more!
Dogan at Fidelity shares, “Many people don’t have a good sense of exactly what they’re spending day in and day out.” Because of this, it can be challenging to estimate expenses in retirement. “Our rule of thumb is that we usually expect people to spend somewhere between 55 and 80 percent of their preretirement income,” says Dogan.
Our health care needs evolve as we grow older. Unexpected expenses such as copays, deductibles, and insurance costs can eat away at our hard-earned savings. According to Fidelity’s State of Retirement Planning Study, the average cost of out-of-pocket health care expenses for a couple retiring at age 65 is $295,000. For example, the national average cost for assisted living facilities is about $54,000 per year.
Pro Tip: Keep health care costs in check by maintaining good health, staying on top of medical and dental preventative care, and getting enough physical activity.
As you work through your retirement plan, consider the impact of your future health care needs on your overall retirement savings. Having an idea of the type of health care coverage you’ll have, and the associated costs, will give you a better estimate.
Housing will most likely play a starring role in your retirement budget. Whether you’re considering staying in your current home, downsizing, or moving to a retirement community, retirement housing costs can take up a large percentage of your savings.
Did You Know? Our comprehensive guide on planning for housing in retirement walks you through the different types of senior living options that are available, their costs, and how to choose the right place for you.
There are plenty of great housing options to check out in retirement. For a closer look at your options, view the video below on the different types of senior housing.
Putting your retirement dreams into reality can be overwhelming. No two retirement budgets are alike, so your first step to enjoying your retirement years is to create your own plan. This ensures your budget is customized to your goals, needs, and wants.
Essential items are considered “needs,” such as food, shelter, and clothing. Health care and life insurance also fall under the essential items category.
Discretionary items are your retirement “wants.” These certainly vary from person to person. You may want to live in a beachfront community or travel the world, but do you have a savings plan in place to do so? It’s important to sort out your needs versus wants and determine how you’ll cover these costs.
From the Pros: Worrying about how much is “enough” to save for retirement? Explore these popular methods to calculate how much money you need to retire comfortably.
According to Dogan at Fidelity, “Doing a planning exercise and having a target in terms of what’s spent each year is critically important.” Don’t expect your money to last forever. “The biggest risk is for people who don’t plan and just start spending,” says Dogan. “It’s hard to recover from overspending further in your retirement years,” she advises.
Use the table below to build your budget for essential items.
| Housing costs | Medical costs | Personal expenses | Daily living expenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent or mortgage and property taxes | Medical insurance, including Original Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medigap, and supplemental insurance | Auto payment and auto insurance | Utilities, including electric, gas, and water |
| Home or renter’s insurance | Dental and vision insurance | Outstanding debt | Groceries |
| Home maintenance | Life and long-term care insurance | Federal, state, and local taxes | Cable, phone, and internet service |
| Home modification costs to age in place, such as a stair lift, an adjustable bed, or durable medical equipment | Out-of-pocket expenses | Clothing | Transportation costs |
After you’ve covered the essentials, consider which discretionary items you have room for in your budget.
Retirees often draw income from several areas. A portion of your earnings will most likely come from retirement accounts. It’s vital to keep track of where your money is invested and understand how and when you can draw upon it. Keep all of your retirement account information organized in a file folder. Make sure you have a recent statement that includes the account number, portfolio asset details, designated beneficiaries, and the phone number for customer service.
Common retirement accounts include the following:
Pro Tip: As you review your retirement accounts, now is the perfect time to ensure your beneficiaries are up-to-date and your estate plan is arranged.
You’ve been saving for retirement for years. The way we invest our money isn’t a “set it and forget it” action. Take time to thoroughly review your retirement accounts to evaluate if investments are overly conservative or aggressive.
As many look forward to a retirement lasting 30 years or more, proper investment is key. Dogan at Fidelity notes that it’s important to make sure asset allocations meet your lifestyle, goals, and expected lifespan.
Many people underestimate how much to save for retirement. Only one-quarter of the people surveyed for Fidelity’s State of Retirement Planning Study knew they needed 10 to 12 times their last full year of working income by the time they reached retirement.
If you’re behind on your retirement goals, there’s excellent news for those ages 50 years and over. In addition to your standard retirement contributions, the IRS allows annual catch-up contributions to certain retirement plans.
Dogan at Fidelity encourages people to take advantage of employer-matching retirement plans, which are essentially free money. Another investment priority should be maxing out any tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k), IRA, or HSA.
| Retirement plan type | 2022 catch-up contribution |
|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), SARSEP, and 457(b) | Up to $6,500 |
| SIMPLE IRA or SIMPLE 401(k) | Up to $3,000 |
| IRA | Up to $1,000 |
Part of your retirement plan should include setting a goal to pay down or eliminate debt. Paying off your mortgage, credit cards, or car loan frees up precious retirement funding. If possible, make extra payments now to pay down your debts faster. Tackle any high-interest debt first to make the most of your payoff plan.
Pro Tip: Did you know stretching your savings can be fun? Older adults have access to hundreds of budget-friendly senior discounts. Check out our guide on how to snag the best discounts.
Are you struggling to reduce your debt? Watch the video below to learn why you may not need to worry about old debts.
Knowledge is power throughout your retirement journey! Even the best-laid plans can be undermined if you:
Quick Tip: Make your move in retirement readiness by following our step-by-step guide on setting up a my Social Security account.
Just about everyone dreams of retiring early. However, handing in your notice at work before you’ve reached full retirement age (FRA) can negatively affect your budget and plan in a few ways:
Social Security, and when to claim it, is commonly misunderstood, says Dogan at Fidelity. “A lot of people tend to claim too early, and they don’t necessarily understand the trade-off they’re making in terms of overall lifetime income.”
To learn more about how to maximize your Social Security benefit, watch the video below with our Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Hoyt.
Pro Tip: A trusted financial advisor can help you understand and navigate any tax exemptions and implications.
Your retirement scenario can change despite having a targeted retirement age and solid strategy in place to achieve your goals. It’s important to consider alternative options and understand where your planning and savings fall.
According to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households, 29 percent of retirees indicated that a health problem factored into their decision to retire, and 15 percent said they retired to care for family members. 11 percent said they were forced to retire or that work was not available.1
You’re almost there! Before you take the leap into official retirement, give your budget a test drive. This is a fantastic way to ensure your retirement budget and lifestyle don’t exceed the funding you can draw upon.
Remember: While planning for retirement can feel stressful, it’s also an exciting milestone to celebrate! Check out our list of the best retirement gifts and our favorite retirement quotes.
If there are tweaks to be made, you still have time to adjust accordingly. If the savings you’ll be living on aren’t adding up, there are several ways to modify your plan, including:
Daily living expenses can be costly enough. Not everyone can build up massive savings for health care, housing, and other essential post-retirement expenses. Older adults with limited income have options to ensure they can live out their golden years securely, including:
If you’re a veteran, watch our video below on how to take advantage of Veterans Pension and Aid and Attendance benefits!
Did You Know?Paying for senior living with no money is achievable when you know how to draw from the pool of resources in your state.
As we mentioned earlier, reducing or eliminating debt is an essential part of retirement planning. If you’re dealing with debt, watch our videos below with Attorney Eric Olsen to learn more.
Are you still paying off old student debt? Check out the video below to learn how you can avoid having your Social Security checks taken away to cover student loans.
Did you know you may be protected from lawsuits, garnishments, and debt collectors? View the video below for the top four things all seniors struggling with debt should know.
If you’re dealing with hefty medical bills, watch the video below to learn why you might not need to worry about paying them off.
Federal Reserve. (2021). Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2020 – May 2021.