5 Smart Money Moves Before You Retire

After years of service, months of planning, and days upon days of hard work, you’ve finally made it: you’re almost ready to retire.

You’ve likely already got a lot on your plate right now – training your successors, handing off projects and assignments, and handling the administrative paperwork.

Amid all the preparation, have you started thinking about your financial situation for retirement? Getting your finances ready for “life after work” is a vital step for anyone about to leave the workforce – and it’s definitely not something to leave until the last minute. In fact, the sooner you start making some smart money moves, the better. It could mean the difference between living comfortably well into your senior years, or unexpectedly struggling with bills and expenses.

Not sure where to start? Here are 5 financial preparations you should be taking, as you get ready to retire:

1. Consider Your Housing

For most retirees, any children have grown up and left the nest by now, leaving their parents with more space than they really need. There’s the added need to assess your living space more thoroughly as you get up in years – including whether you’ll be able to handle things like stairs as you get older. Tack on the potential issue of not having paid off your mortgage before retirement, and your home’s costs could become an unwelcome burden.

If this rings true for you, consider rightsizing your living situation. This doesn’t necessarily mean moving into a bigger or smaller home, but rather one that’s better suited to your needs. Plus, you can gain a bit of extra cash if you hold a yard sale, to get rid of any belongings that you don’t need any longer.

If you’re set on staying put in your current home, focus on paying off your mortgage completely before retirement, or use a reverse mortgage loan. That way, you’re not dealing with making big payments on a fixed-income, post-work budget.

2. Pay Off Your Debts

Get to work on paying off any lingering debt you may have accrued throughout the years. If you’re not going to have a steady paycheck coming in, you won’t be well-equipped to continuously pay off your debts – even just the minimum payment. Before you know it, you could be up to your ears in accumulated interest (particularly if you have credit cards with high interest rates).

If you’re five to ten years away from retirement, start putting aside part of your monthly earnings to go towards your outstanding debt – be it credit card, line of credit, mortgage, or other forms of debt.

On the flip side, if you do still need to take on additional debt, make sure you’re getting the lowest interest rates possible. MoneySense recommends that as you get close to retirement, you should only borrow for “productive” reasons (i.e. assets that appreciate in value). Stay alert for scammers, frauds, and terrible investments cloaked as “once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.” Remember, even the lowest rate doesn’t turn a bad investment into a good one. Your focus should always be on paying off your debt as soon as you can – not simply managing it.

3. Make a Budget

It’s pretty straightforward to calculate, yet it’s surprising how many Americans don’t have a personal budget. When you’re approaching retirement, it becomes critical to have a sense of where your money’s going, and what your biggest expenditures are. This gives you a better picture of what’s necessary and where you can cut back.

Since your budget informs how much money you’ll need in retirement, it’s important to be honest when making calculations and estimations. You can give yourself some leeway for unexpected costs, but be sure to have a backup plan so your monthly budget isn’t completely thrown off. 

Even if you’re positive you’ll have enough money set aside to stick to your budget, WiseBread suggests doing a “trial run.” Attempt to adhere to your post-retirement budget for a few months. This gives you the chance to smooth out any difficulty before retirement begins – and to make sure you didn’t underestimate your costs of living.

4. Work on Your Savings

Speaking of that backup plan – how’s the health of your savings account right now? If you weren’t putting aside significant contributions to your retirement fund early in your career, you might be a little panicked at the state of your savings. It may even turn out that it’s not financially viable for you to retire when you want to.

Fortunately, you’ve got options to help you catch up. After you’ve turned 50, for instance, you can make contributions to your retirement plan of up to $6,000 per year. Also, if you’re over 50 and contributing $24,000 per year, it opens up tax benefits that you can take advantage of to earn more money on your savings. It’s worth doing some research to see if you qualify for any additional government benefits, and applying for them as soon as possible.

5. Check Your Insurance

As with housing, your insurance needs will likely be changing as you get older. You could be looking at shifting your life insurance policy, or you might want to assess the state of your health and change your plan accordingly. You might not need as much life insurance coverage if you have less debt and fewer dependants – but, you may want to put more money towards long-term care insurance, in the event of health problems down the line. Insurance costs can factor big into your post-retirement budget, so get your plans and needs sorted out before you leave the workforce.
Don’t Put It Off

As you look forward to retirement, it’s inevitable that you’ll have a lot on your plate. As much as you’re working to pull off a smooth transition out of your job, and leave your successors in good shape – don’t neglect to ensure that you (and your spouse) will be in good shape, too. It’s one thing to work towards the day you retire; it’s another thing to make sure all your days after that point will be secure and stable.

Putting off retirement savings and financial planning only hurts you in the long run. Be proactive and begin to take a serious look at your budget, your spending, and your projected future needs. You want to spend your golden years comfortably – not stressing over money.

Have you already started putting money away for retirement? Do you have concrete plans in place for your retirement years? Tell us in the comments.

This article is for educational purposes only. Consult professional tax, insurance, and/or financial advisors before making retirement decisions.

Contributed By: Mehran Aram, a graduate from the University of San Diego School of Business in 1984, founded Aramco Mortgage in 1998 after spending almost five years in the industry. Today, Mehran Aram is President and CEO of The Aramco Group, and has recently been honored with the distinction of CRMP(Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional) a certification held by less than 50 brokers nationwide. Mr. Aram currently heralds the title of “Mortgage Analyst” on San Diego radio stations: AM 600 KOGO, AM 760 KFMB, AM 1170 KCBQ, AM 1210 KPRZ, FM 98.1, and Fox News Monterey’s AM 1460. Garnering endorsements across the state of California, including from radio personalities, Roger Hedgecock, George Chamberlin, Mark Larson, and Ladona Harvey, Mehran Aram along with his nearly 20 years of industry experience has effectively become California’s Mortgage Expert in reverse mortgages, refinances and purchase loans, among many other loan products.

How FD Calculator Helps to Invest In Fixed Deposit?

Making investments have always been a way of life for Indians, thanks to the habit of savings inculcated in us from a very young age. In fact, the first thing that is thought through after a person starts earning is the level of investment he/she can make with the earnings.

In this scenario, we come across a lot of investment avenues around us all of which promise a greater return on the amount invested. But obviously not all these investment decisions can turn out to be good.

Arenas like real estate or mutual funds can seem very enticing, but they tend to go off track in case of an economic emergency or a vulnerable situation in the market. But this is not the case with the conventional investment avenue like a fixed deposit, it has been proved time and again that this is one of the most profitable and safe option available to us. 

In India, fixed deposits are primarily offered by two kinds of institutions i.e Banks and NBFCs (Non Banking Financial Company)

Even though the banks were preferred choice to make deposits for a long time, these days, the NBFCs have started gaining foothold and are outdoing the banks in terms of popularity.

Let us now take a look into some of the facts about the company fixed deposit rates in India, that will help you understand the concept better:

● Duration: Usually in case of corporate fixed deposits, the rate of interest is decided on the basis of the duration for which the deposit is made. Some leading NBFC offers interest rate as high as 8.25%. The range of tenure can be anywhere from 12 months to 60 months.

● Payout Options: Unlike banks, most of the companies offer flexible payout options at intervals like monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly etc. Pick the one that suits you the most when it comes to managing your financial requirements.

● Varied Benefits: NBFCs offer higher rate of returns for senior citizens and employees that maintain a FD account with them. In some cases, the rate can also be extended to a member in the family of the said employee.

Tax-Saving Fixed Deposit

One of the major advantage of choosing a NBFC over a bank is that the tax saving hack works better in case of a corporate fixed deposit.

If the imminent goal of your investment is to save tax on your earnings—then without any slightest hesitation pick a corporate deposit—as the TDS is charged only when the interest income exceeds Rs 5000.

Fixed Deposit Calculator

For this plan to work out well, you need to foresee the interest receivable well in advance.

Make use of the FD interest rate calculator to design an effective portfolio that in turn aimed at fetching maximum returns.

Investments play a very important role in ensuring a secure future. Don’t let bad investment ruin all your retirement plans. Make a wise and go for a FD programme in a company rather than a bank. We are sure this data will help you make informed decisions.

4 Home Improvements to Help You Save Money on Your Energy Bills

According to the US Department of Energy, the energy usage of each person in the United States costs them over $3,000 each year.

One-third of that bill is energy usage in the home, meaning that the yearly home energy expenditure of a family of four is about $4,000. Since much of that expenditure comprises home heating and cooling costs, taking steps to lower those costs can help your family save big during the summer and winter.

However, other home appliances can run up your energy bills even further, especially if they are old or damaged.

What can you do to save on your energy bills? Read on to learn about four home improvements that can reduce both your home heating and air-conditioning bills and save you energy in additional ways.

1. Invest in those Energy Efficient New Home Windows

You likely have windows in virtually every room of your home, and if they are old and drafty, then replacing them can be one of the best ways to save on home energy.

How much energy will you save after replacing your home windows? That varies depending on what type of windows you currently have and how drafty they are.

If you have single-pane windows with metal frames, then upgrading two double- or triple-pane windows with frames that seal more tightly, such as vinyl frames, can help reduce your home energy bills.

While it is important to choose the right windows, it is also important to choose the right installation expert. Proper installation is important to fully reap the benefits of those new windows.

2. Replace or Repair your Home Heating and Cooling Ducts

The cool air your air conditioner creates in the summer and the warm air your heater creates in the winter travel through your home duct system to reach every room in your home.

If those ducts are old and you haven't had them inspected lately, then they could have holes and/or cracks that are causing your energy bills to rise.

The EPA reports that the average homeowner loses about one-fifth of their heated and cooled air due to air duct leakage. However, you could be losing even more. Pure air duct cleaning is the perfect way to ensure your ducts are not leaking and are working energy efficiently.

Having your duct system inspected and repaired is an easy way to save home energy.

3. Have a Heat Pump Installed

Heat pumps use much less energy to heat your home in the winter than traditional home heating systems. There are four types of heat pumps: geothermal, air-to-air, absorption, and water-source pumps.

While they all differ in how they heat your home, they all have one thing in common: they shift existing heat into your home instead of creating heat. This makes them very energy efficient.

Air-source heat pumps are the most popular heat pumps today, and some models can even cool your home in the summer. They can act as the sole source of heat in milder climates, but in areas of the country with very cold winters, they can supplement your existing home-heating system and lower your energy bills drastically.

4. Replace That Old Water Heater

Along with home heating and air conditioning, your home water heater can be a big waste of energy if it is old and lacks proper insulation.

The average family spends about $270 each year on energy used by their home water heater, but if yours is old and improperly insulated, you may be spending much more. Of course, if you have a large family who takes lots of hot showers, your energy needs also naturally increase.

According to High Point Plumbing, a company of plumbers in Utah County, having a professional replace your old, uninsulated water heater with a new, energy-efficient model is the best way to stop paying more money than you have to for your hot water. 

Also, having your hot water heater wrapped in heat-proof insulation can help reduce energy wasted by an old hot water tank.

If your home energy bills are higher than you would like them to be, then there are many steps you can take to reduce your home energy bills. These four home improvements can help you begin saving energy immediately. 

If you perform all four, you may be surprised at how much energy was just going to waste and how quickly the small investments in the home improvements pay for themselves many times over.

Looking Ahead: 3 Crucial Factors When Planning Your Retirement Finances and Healthcare

Planning your retirement is a process that is going to take decades of hard work, and no one wants to find themselves struggling with financial problems or health complications that could have been avoided. 

Whether you have just graduated college or been working at the same company for years, here are a few factors that you must take into consideration when planning for your retirement.

Savings Accounts

Every extra penny that you invest while you are younger can have a major impact on your retirement. Those who begin setting up their investment accounts early can produce exponentially more wealth than those who wait until they are further along in their careers. 

As soon as you are hired by a company that offers retirement accounts, you should immediately begin investing. This is especially important if your company offers to match some or all of your contributions. 

Most of these accounts also have incentives that will reduce how much you pay in taxes once you begin withdrawing money instead of investing it. 

While government programs such as Social Security can be useful, retirees should not rely on them exclusively. As the senior demographic continues to grow, many of these programs have been pushed to their limits. 

At the very least, employees should try to invest some of their income into a diverse portfolio as an emergency fund.

Living Accommodations

Older adults tend to have much fewer expenses once they are no longer working or providing for a larger family. 

One of the biggest expenses for retirees is their living accommodations, and this factor should be taken into consideration well before you leave your job. Even if you own a home that you plan on living in for a short period of time, there may come a point when you need to start looking at additional living arrangements such as a retirement community. 

Many of these communities, like Sunshine Retirement Living where seniors have fun living in Texas, offer an incredible amount of freedom and are often designed specifically for retirees who would like to remain as active as possible.

Making a plan to transition to one of these communities will also allow you to use your home as an incredible asset after you retire. 

As soon as the market becomes favorable, you can sell your home as quickly as possible and seamlessly move to a community that you have already been in contact with. 

Your community will also provide you with access to ongoing support to keep you healthy, motivated, and socially active.

Insurance Policies

In addition to your living accommodations, your insurance policies will be another major expense that must be taken into consideration. 

Much like your retirement accounts, you should take full advantage of your company's insurance while you are still working. Unfortunately, you will most likely lose all of your coverage once you no longer work for that company. 

As an alternative, you should begin to look at government subsidies to help you cover some or all of the costs including your premiums and deductibles. Many of these programs are designed specifically for retirees who have different needs than younger individuals.

Life insurance is also an important aspect to keep in mind for future finances. Not only does this form of insurance protect your family's finances after you pass away, but it can also be used as one more layer of financial protection while you are still alive. 

Insurance providers often bundle life insurance policies with long-term care and disability coverage.

Your retirement will most likely be one of the biggest lifestyle changes you ever experience, and it is important that you continue to plan accordingly while you are still able to make and invest money.