“Happily ever after” is typically the ending of a fairy tale.
But it’s more than that. It’s also the way we want to retire. What does it take to have a long and happy retirement? This has been the subject of study by Ph.D.s in countries around the world. Before I go on, how would you answer? What is it that makes a long and happy retirement? The answer may surprise you.
The research shows people who have guaranteed income for life tend to be happier and live longer. A Wall Street Journal article once said if you don’t have a pension, then buy yourself a guaranteed income with an annuity. The WSJ continued to state that concern over regular income is likely to create stress; instead, outsource your income concerns and invest your time in friends and relationships. Imagine not having to worry about income and being able to spend time with friends makes people happy! Who would have guessed?
You don’t have to take my word for it. Who are the happiest retired people, you know? Is it the ones watching their portfolio every day? Stressed out with market gyrations? Worried about market losses? Spending as little as they can so they don’t run out of money before they run out of life? Glued to a computer screen every day, watching their portfolio go up and down.
Or is it the people with pensions? You know, teachers, postal workers, government employees, and so on? The ones who get a check each month and are not worried about having a reliable income?
Financial security, and your happiness, are largely based on having guaranteed income for life.
The other day I spoke with a 74-year-old man living off of invested assets and Social Security. He’s been taking a little over 6% a year from his IRA for the last few years. What do you think he was worried about? The first words out of his mouth were, ‘I know I’m taking too much.’ He’s worried about running out of money and not having the income he needs. He has good reason to worry.
It’s been said the market always wins long term. Perhaps that’s true, but you need to win during your retirement. The SP 500 peaked slightly over 1,500 around July 2000, then lost nearly 50%. It recovered by July 2007 and then lost over 50%. Can you afford to have volatility with your important retirement funds?
This is why guaranteed income is so important in retirement. You’re not tied to results that you cannot control. There’s a significant difference between guaranteed income and statement wealth. During the last three market corrections, many people stopped even opening their IRA statements. Many retirees went back to work or attempted to do so.
Retirees with guaranteed income went on vacation, visited family and friends, and spent time with their grandchildren. Take the time to analyze your income needs in retirement. Get at least your basic needs covered with the income you cannot outlive. Having income, you don’t have to worry about means you are free to do what you want. Build your retirement so you know you have the income you need. So when your children and grandchildren are talking about you, they will say. ‘
They retired and lived happily ever after.
Many people have learned about the power of using the Safe Money approach to reduce volatility. Our Safe Money Guide is in its 20th edition and is available for free.
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