3 Frequently Asked Questions About Preparing For Retirement

1. How Much Do I Need to Save?

The answer to this question depends on various factors, including:

• How much you’ll spend
• What tax rates will be
• What your return on investments will be
• What types of medical expenses you’ll experience
• How long you’ll live

Your monthly pension will differ from what you were used to in your employment days. Retirement includes living on a fixed income, and this means that you need to save enough to support a comfortable lifestyle. Create an estimate of how much you currently spend in a month as a guideline towards how much you need to save, be sure to analyze miscellaneous items like hobbies, dining out, and travel.

2. How Should I Take My Pension?

When it comes to retirement planning for federal employees, many pensions offer either a monthly payment or a lump sum, based on the beneficiary’s single life or presence of survivors. Too many retirees decide on one option without carefully analyzing the outcomes of that particular choice.

If you have a survivor, then you need to consider their life after your death. In this case, the annuity option based on joint-and-survivor may be a much better choice than a lump sum. This option may lead to a reduction in the amount of payment but doesn’t end if you predecease your survivor. Pre-retirement planning calls for thoughtful consideration of the available options concerning your entire financial situation.

3. What About Medical Expenses?

Retirees often underestimate how much they’ll need for medical expenses. Hospital and specialist bills have the potential to become a typical cost, so you will need to have a plan that will address those arising needs. Many individuals believe that healthcare is free for retirees older than 65, but this is not always the case.

Only Medicare Part A is free for most federal employees but will just cover 50% of your total health care expenses. You would still be expected to pay out-of-pocket costs for dental care, eye care, and hearing. Medicare Parts B, C, D, Medigap, and long-term care insurance come at a premium. Generally, medical expenses vary from one place to another, but the fact remains, you don’t want health-care costs to ruin your retirement.