worried about running out of money in retirement?

     Many of us today worry about having enough money for our retirements.  We are living longer and health care costs continue rising, especially long-term care which many of us  will likely need. But there are some things we can do now to help manage our shortfall risk and protect our assets.  Many of us today worry about having enough money for our retirements.  We are living longer and health care costs continue rising, especially long-term care which many of us  will likely need. But there are some things we can do now to help manage our shortfall risk and protect our assets. 
The Role of Specialists

     A retirement specialist can help you determine the best strategy for taking distributions from an IRA, 401(k) and other retirement accounts; the tax implications involved; how to continue to grow your savings; when to start taking Social Security benefits; and how to plan for out-of-pocket medical and long-term care costs. An estate planning attorney can help you shield your family and your assets from probate court interference at incapacity and death, unintended heirs, unnecessary taxes and lawsuits. Other specialists can be brought in as needed, for example when life insurance is used to provide an inheritance for a child who does not work in the family business.

What You Need to Know

     The financial advisor who helped you grow your retirement nest egg may not be the best choice to help you determine how to take your money out. An innocent error by a well-meaning but inexperienced advisor can result in a costly and often irreversible mistake.

Actions to Consider

     Be open to new products and strategies that you may not have considered in the past. For example, consider trusts combined with investments and property to manage the conflicting demands of income, spending, taxes, distributions and transfers.


Explore new long-term care options from insurance companies. These include:

• Asset-based long-term care (a single deposit premium; if not
   needed for long-term care, the benefit amount is paid tax- free to your beneficiary);
  

• Life insurance accelerated death benefit(allows you to access the death benefit before you die for long-term care expenses);

• Home health care doublers (a guaranteed lifetime income contract that doubles your income for up to five years if you need long-term care).

• Delay taking Social Security benefits. If you delay benefits until age 70 and live past age 79, your lifetime income will be more than if you start taking benefits at Full Retirement Age (66-67).

• A revocable living trust will avoid court interference at both incapacity and death. This is why more people prefer a living trust over a will.  Many of us today worry about having enough money for our retirements.  We are living longer and health care costs continue rising, especially long-term care which many of us  will likely need. But there are some things we can do now to help manage our shortfall risk and protect our assets.