At a time when your career is reaching a peak and you are looking ahead to your own retirement, you may find yourself in the position of having to help your children with college expenses while at the same time looking after the needs of your aging parents. Squeezed in the middle, you’ve joined the ranks of the “sandwich generation.” What challenges will you face? Your parents faced some of the same challenges that you may be facing now: adjusting to a new life as empty nesters and getting reacquainted with each other as a couple. However, life has grown even more complicated in recent years. Here are some of the things you can expect to face as a member of the sandwich generation today: Your parents may need assistance as they become older. Higher living standards mean an increased life expectancy, and you may need to help your...
Continue readingThe Traits of a Good Investor and How Women Can Make the Most of Them
Women are increasingly taking responsibility for managing their own money. That includes those who in the past may have left investing to a spouse because they were busy raising a family or had no interest in the subject, but who have since found that divorce, a spouse’s death, or the need to help a parent have forced them to learn some investment basics. However, many women, including high-level professionals who are experts in their field, may not feel confident about their investing abilities.If you’re one of them, you may have more going for you than you think. Traits such as patience, willingness to confront and deal with mistakes, and recognizing when help is needed can benefit portfolio returns, particularly for a long-term investor. Even risk aversion, sometimes a problem for women who are concerned about their investing abilities, can be an advantage if it’s applied wisely. Feel you aren’t as...
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Social Security: What Should You Do at Age 62?
Is 62 your lucky number? If you’re eligible, that’s the earliest age you can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits. If you decide to start collecting benefits before your full retirement age, you’ll have company. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), approximately 74% of Americans elect to receive their Social Security benefits early. (Source: SSA Annual Statistical Supplement, 2012)Although collecting early retirement benefits makes sense for some people, there’s a major drawback to consider: if you start collecting benefits early, your monthly retirement benefit will be permanently reduced. So before you put down the tools of your trade and pick up your first Social Security check, there are some factors you’ll need to weigh before deciding whether to start collecting benefits early. What will your retirement benefit be? Your Social Security retirement benefit is based on the number of years you’ve been working and the amount you’ve earned. Your...
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The Retirement Income Gender Gap – Dealing with a Shortfall
When you determine your retirement income needs, you make your projections based on the type of lifestyle you plan to have and the desired timing of your retirement. However, you may find that reality is not in sync with your projections, and it looks like your retirement income will be insufficient to meet your estimated expenses during retirement. This is called a projected income shortfall. There are many reasons why women, on average, are more likely than men to face a retirement income shortfall. Because women’s careers are often interrupted to care for children or elderly parents, they may spend less time in the workforce. When they’re working, women tend to earn less than men in similar jobs, and they’re more likely to work part-time. As a result, their retirement plan balances and Social Security benefits are often smaller. Compounding the problem is the fact that women often start saving...
Continue readingA Woman’s Guide to Health Care in Retirement
At any age, health care is a priority. But when you retire, you should probably focus more on health care than ever before. This is especially true for women. Women live longer, develop certain chronic conditions (e.g., osteoporosis) at a higher rate than men, and are more apt to experience medical limitations that directly affect their daily activities.1 That’s why it’s particularly important for women to factor in the cost of health care, including long-term care, as part of their retirement plan. How much you’ll spend on health care during retirement generally depends on a number of variables including when you retire, how long you live, your relative health, and the cost of medical care in your area. Another important factor to consider is the availability of Medicare. Generally, you’ll be eligible for Medicare when you reach age 65. But what if you retire at a younger age? You’ll...
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