The Seven Financial Risks of Retirement

Many Americans spend more time planning a vacation than they do planning for retirement! That

maybe a small exaggeration, but is closer to the truth than most would admit. Retirement is the

biggest purchase you’ll make in your life – bigger than your home and the cost of every vacation

you’ve taken. Retirement will last many years and there are numerous unknowns. For a married

couple both age 65, one is expected to be living at age 90…and reaching 100 or more is no longer

rare. No doubt you’ll face many financials risks. Let’s discuss the seven I think most important.

Number one is outliving your money – this is the greatest fear of most retirees and is called

longevity risk: the risk your retirement money will fall short or be depleted before you’ve run ou t of

time. What can you do if you face this risk?

1. Plan the use of your money and make sure you’re not taking undue risks that might result in

losses – retirees have no way to recover financial losses.

2. If you have equity in your home, find out about reverse mortgages that allow you to cash in

your equity without selling your home and without having to make mortgage payments in your

lifetime. A reverse mortgage is not for everyone and you should not use the money for investing

and speculating but rather for living expenses or to implement an estate planning strategy.

3. Make sure you get your Social Security right – most retirees don’t. Time the start of your SS

benefits to save future taxes and have up to $225,000 more benefits during retirement.

4. Investigate “insuring your longevity risk” by arranging a guaranteed lifetime income from an

insurance company.

5. Control your expenses as best you can, don’t pay taxes if they can be legally avoided and get

the best return you can without risking your principal.

Fighting longevity risk is best done by working with a financial advisor – something that most retirees

don’t do and generally a very costly mistake.

The second financial risk is paying taxes you could have legally avoided. Every dollar paid in

unnecessary taxes is one less dollar you’ll have for retirement. You should learn about tax-deferring

earning if you do not currently need the money for retirement. The longer you postpone paying taxes

the more you’ll have to earn interest. In fact, deferring taxes allows your money to grow faster with

triple compounding: interest on principal, interest on interest and interest from money not paid to the

IRS. Here are some ways to manage your taxes:

1. Use tax-deferred saving places like annuities – safe and convenient but many retirees are not

aware of this safe money place.

2. Investigate converting some of your IRA and other qualified money to tax-free Roth IRAs. You

should do this carefully to make sure you remain in the lowest possible tax bracket.

Again, I recommend working with your financial advisor to minimize your taxes.

The third financial risk is inflation – the constant increase in prices. A retiree’s inflation is not the

same as a working person’s because more medical care and health-related services are needed. While

inflation is largely out of our control, we can nevertheless manage it by opting for predictable, safe

and reliable strategies to maintain your purchasing power. A common mistake is thinking you can

hedge inflation by putting your retirement money in speculative investments that promise to keep

pace with price increases – unfortunately the risk of such strategies might leave you with less money,

not more. Since your major “inflation” risk is “health related and medical” I recommend you establish

an emergency fund for such contingencies. Also, guard your health by exercising, eating right and

refrain from using tobacco. Be aware that what your money buys is just as important as how much

you have.

The fourth financial risk you’ll face in retirement is “the market”. It is virtually impossible to

watch TV, listen to the radio or read a magazine without an ad telling you why your money should be

“in the market”. If you now have market losses you’re told “don’t get out because the market will

come back, you’ll be fine longer term or selling now means turning paper losses into real losses”. Or if

you have a profit, selling means you’ll have to pay taxes and you’ll do better by staying put. These are

myths of Wall Street designed to encourage you to keep your money “ in the market” so fees and

commissions will continue. The market is risky, as is obvious by what’s happened since 2000. Two

major meltdowns and many are currently predicting a third. If you can’t afford the risk, don’t take it –

losing your retirement money means you’ll run out of money before you run out of time. Do not invest

like you did when you were working even if encouraged by your broker. Do what’s financially best for

you, not what’s financially best for your broker. Please realize that “diversified portfolios” of stocks,

bonds and other investments will rise and fall with “the market” and therefore, they too, are risky.

The fifth risk is fraud. We generally think of fraud when someone steals money – Bernie Madoff

comes to mind. But in my mind there is also fraud when Wall Street misleads you into doing

something that is not suitable for your circumstances. Of course, bad advice is not illegal but the

results are the same: you and your money are separated. Always keep in mind that promises of high

returns involve risk – always know this and never let anyone convince you otherwise. Bank CDs are

rock-solid safe and that’s why they’re not earning much today – high dividend stocks and some bond

yields may look attractive but there is risk. The promise of high reward and risk travel together –

where you find one you’ll always find the other. If the promised return is above market, then so is the

risk…always.

The sixth financial risk is the risks associated with reinvesting your earnings. You earn

interest, dividends, profits, collect rent, have investments mature and all must be reinvested. To help

manage reinvestment risks I advocate “laddering” retirement money so that your savings and

investments come due at the time they’re needed. Many retirees have all their money in liquid

accounts that can be “cashed in” at any time whereas the smart retirees spaces maturities so money

comes available when needed. Granted this takes some planning but you’re assured money will be

available when needed. Laddering also facilitates tax-deferred or tax-free growth that means more

money later. Laddering retirement money is best done by working with your financial advisor.

The seventh and last financial risk I want to mention is “sequencing your withdrawals” to

avoid spending down when your investments have losses. Of course, one way to avoid this is to avoid

“the market” except for money you’ll need late in retirement. Other precautions like making sure you

always have emergency money that can be accessed quickly if needed. Also, guaranteed-return places

like annuities that offer principal protection, tax-deferral and conversion to a guaranteed lifetime

income should not be overlooked. Once again, work with your financial advisor.

Of course there are many other risks and hazards you’ll face in retirement, but the ones we’ve talked

about constitute your greatest “financial risks”. I recommended working with a financial advisor. It is

my experience that the three biggest mistakes retirees make with their money are: (1) trying to

manage it themselves without professional help, (2) keeping all their retirement money liquid as if it

will be needed tomorrow and (3) taking unsuitable risk of loss. All of these are avoided by working

with a financial advisor of your choice.

Will you spend less time planning the rest of your retirement than your next travel excursion? I hope

not! Hopefully I’ve given you some help in having a better retirement. I wish for all of you long, and

very happy, years of retirement.

Respectfully submitted,

Orlando Fernandez Senior Retirement Planning & Insurance Advisor

Cell: 954-234-4728

Warren Buffet’s 2 Primary Rules of Investing for a Successful Retirement:

Rule #1 - Never Lose Money Rule #2 - Never Forget Rule #1