Here are post-retirement risks you should not ignore

Retirement planning: A well-diversified retirement portfolio can help reduce the impact of market swings.

People who are nearing retirement should also make an effort to pay off all of their debt before they stop working.

Many retirees find themselves in a challenging financial situation because their post-retirement income and expenses don’t match up. They may run out of money in retirement if their investments don’t provide them with the kind of income they need to live comfortably after they stop working.

After retirement, there are many risks, including a sudden illness in a loved one’s family, rising inflation, and a rapid decline in equities markets. However, you can minimise these risks by making a thorough strategy before retiring. People who are nearing retirement should perform the following things to make their golden years worry-free.

Know the risk of inflation

Nearly everyone anticipates a lower income after retirement. On the other hand, most people fail to account for inflation as well as unforeseen circumstances, such as medical catastrophes or abrupt family crises. Many people underestimate or fail to plan for these kinds of hazards.

Further, when it comes to contingency plans, many people have one setup. But how many people have a plan in place that matches their needs? An increase in your medical expenses could put you at greater risk of having to use money from your retirement account. It’s critical to figure out how to get around this.

Creating a passive income stream is one approach to get around this problem. If you no longer have a job that pays a salary, you can turn your investments into passive income by receiving dividends, or you can obtain a profit on your investments every year.

Power of diversification

Diversification is an age-old financial planning principle. A well-diversified retirement portfolio can help reduce the impact of market swings. Depending on your age and stage of life, a qualified wealth manager can help you plan your asset allocation. For example, if you started saving for retirement at 35, you’ll have around 25 years to see your money grow.

If you find yourself in this situation, you should put at least 30%-40% of your savings into your retirement. EPFs and equity mutual funds are excellent tools for combating inflation. As you near retirement, you may want to boost your debt fund holdings to provide additional liquidity.

Cover your needs with Insurance

There are many post-retirement risks that no one can predict, such as long-term diseases, high medical expenditures, or an unexpected change in housing or marital status. These can hit you twice as hard if you don’t have adequate insurance coverage. Consider purchasing insurance as a way to protect your family’s financial well-being against the unforeseen. Unexpected events can have a significant financial impact. In such cases, having adequate insurance coverage might help alleviate some of the financial stress.

Risk of debt

People who are nearing retirement should also make an effort to pay off all of their debt before they stop working. It’s never a good idea to keep paying off your debt once you retire. Before retiring, make sure all of your debts, including any mortgages, are paid off entirely.

Published: October 4, 2021, 18:45 IST
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