As we get older, we start to think (and potentially worry) more and more about where our retirement income will come from. After you leave your job and begin on the journey of retirement, you will rely heavily on guaranteed sources of income. For most people, they assume this will be mainly collecting Social Security. However, there are many other sources that could be the key to living a comfortable retirement lifestyle and finding what works best for you, so that you can help finance your retirement goals. But, also remember that financing them is only one part to the equation, as you have to make certain that you stay focused on your retirement goals.
If you started planning early, you may be able to use your 401(k)s and IRAs to help create a sustainable and dependable source of retirement income. Unfortunately, most Americans have not put enough of their savings into these accounts to rely on them, but there are plenty of other ways to make up the difference and make sure that your bills are paid for with money to spare. One of these ways is with taxable investments. The most important step with investments such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds, is making sure that you diversify your portfolio. How are you dealing with market risk? The benefits of basic diversification can help you to have all of your assets accounted for, while making sure that they all aren’t moving in the same direction all the time.
If you are fortunate to live a long retirement, you also should make sure that your money will last as long as you do. One way to make money in retirement is by selling things you no longer need or renting unused rooms in your home. Renting gives you a steady income each month while selling goods that you no longer need can help clear out clutter and give you some extra cash. You can even expand to online selling platforms such as eBay or Craigslist or sell handmade crafts on a website like Etsy. Lastly, some retirees decide to pick up a part time job. This helps with retirement income, but also can be a great way to spend some time doing what you love. When retirees go back to work part-time, it can be much more relaxing than their full-time positions, thus giving them an opportunity to work in a low stress environment and meet new people.
At Horizon Financial Services, LLC, we believe that a successful retirement first starts off with a solid, customized retirement plan. We’ll work together to go over your financial plan to help discover how to best finance your retirement goals for the long road ahead.
