Future retirement is becoming much more difficult:

[billethkid]

This article paints a not so rosy picture of the situation facing coming of age retirees:

Half of Americans will see their standard of living fall in retirement - MarketWatch (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/half-of-americans-will-see-their-standard-of-living-fall-in-retirement-2015-04-02?dist=lcountdown)

Whenever there is an opportunity to encourage folks still working to save more I do so. I don't even ask how much they have or want. Just point out that the average person facing retirement is not going to have enough egges in their basket to maintain the lifestyle they would like when they retire.

Some very interesting numbers in the article. Especially how many are currently retiring each day....also the precipitous drop in retirement benefits form companies down to almost nothing.

I am glad we came through life during the times that we did. The American dream was alive and doing well. It can still be but more younger folks need to understand they need to be taking actions now to enjoy the lifestyle we do.

They do understand.....they (just like us when we were their age) have other priorities. I feel fortunate that I woke up to the issue at age 50.

[Challenger]

This article paints a not so rosy picture of the situation facing coming of age retirees:

Half of Americans will see their standard of living fall in retirement - MarketWatch (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/half-of-americans-will-see-their-standard-of-living-fall-in-retirement-2015-04-02?dist=lcountdown)

Whenever there is an opportunity to encourage folks still working to save more I do so. I don't even ask how much they have or want. Just point out that the average person facing retirement is not going to have enough egges in their basket to maintain the lifestyle they would like when they retire.

Some very interesting numbers in the article. Especially how many are currently retiring each day....also the precipitous drop in retirement benefits form companies down to almost nothing.

I am glad we came through life during the times that we did. The American dream was alive and doing well. It can still be but more younger folks need to understand they need to be taking actions now to enjoy the lifestyle we do.

They do understand.....they (just like us when we were their age) have other priorities. I feel fortunate that I woke up to the issue at age 50.

Right on. but need not be so . Most of us have far more than we need and the excess could be the basis for a very comfortable retirement.

Most homes= way too big
Investment in electronics excessive
At least two cars - new every few years, and far bigger than needed.
3,4,5 tvs and unused cable add ons
Cigarettes and alcohol( at $8-10) per glass when eating out for the 4th or 5th time each week.
Rip off Gym memberships.
Giant popcorn and soda at movie ($15-20)

For most( but not all) there are adequate funds for a reasonable retirement.
We can't protect folks from their own excesses.

Give me time to put on my Kevlar!!!

[manaboutown]

Well, the game has changed. Few enjoy defined benefit retirement plans any more. I started investing in stocks in 1959 at age 17, kept at that and investing in commercial real estate and am glad I did!

[jnieman]

We have a son who is 38 and I keep stressing to him to max out his 401k. The company matches a portion I think up to 5%. He will not have the benefit of a retirement that my husband and I enjoy. Hubby has a federal retirement. Guaranteed certain amount per month each and every month. Companies just don't offer those types of retirements that often any more.

[rubicon]

My first response is to say no need to worry if you live in The Village because you can live like a millionaire on your retirement savings.......NOT

Many of us understood we needed to depend on ourselves for retirement. Because during our working years corporations began dumping defined pension plans and raising contribution for other benefits. We put away as much as we could and focused on need vis a vis want.

We continue to live that way now and continue to bank income as much as we can in order to maintain our estate for personal and family reasons.

Being a prudent spender we believe is essential when you retire

[2BNTV]

Unfortunately for them, people did not listen to financially savvy people that one should save 10% or more of their salary for their future after all their bills are paid. I don't know what the statistic by AARP is at the moment but many people don't have 25K in savings when they are ready to retire.

It's sad that so many people didn't take advantage of the tax deferred options that companies offer or other investment opportunities. I have heard the sad lament that so many people have said, "I don't have enough in my paycheck to put away, any savings".

Some people have it backwards saying they will save after, (fill in the blank), and realize too late in life they should have saved more.

I always say, "it doesn't pay to be stupid about money".

[Cisco Kid]

I am feeling this pain.
My wife's pension was frozen years ago.
Mine has been trimmed .
My 401K that I have looks good , but knock on wood we don't take any more hits.
Living in IL, every time you turn around you have a new tax.
We live in a under 1500 sq ft house. My truck is a 2002.
I don't do smartphones, or any of the gotta have crap.
My hobby is fishing and my dogs.
To top it off the company I work for is moving out of state.
Good grief.

[Bavarian]

We have a son who is 38 and I keep stressing to him to max out his 401k. The company matches a portion I think up to 5%. He will not have the benefit of a retirement that my husband and I enjoy. Hubby has a federal retirement. Guaranteed certain amount per month each and every month. Companies just don't offer those types of retirements that often any more.

Fellow Fed, great points. People need an IRA also, if they can. Buy good stocks and reinvest the dividents. My main worry is who in the next generation will be able to afford to buy our houses when it comes to downsize or move to assisted living. There's always the Reverse Mortgage.

[justjim]

It's all about the lifestyle you live prior to retirement. My advise to my kids: 1. Get a good education. 2. When you marry don't have more kids than you can afford. 3. Always pay yourself first ----every paycheck---starting with 5% of gross and put it in a Roth IRA and/or a 401k. As you earn more add to the 5%.

If you do this, you will still have a good lifestyle prior to retirement and retirement will take care of itself.

[rjm1cc]

We have a son who is 38 and I keep stressing to him to max out his 401k. The company matches a portion I think up to 5%. He will not have the benefit of a retirement that my husband and I enjoy. Hubby has a federal retirement. Guaranteed certain amount per month each and every month. Companies just don't offer those types of retirements that often any more.

I had a person working for me who maxed out her 401k, no co. match, and had over a million when I retired.

[JGVillages]

High Federal Corporate tax rates and the Fed's plan for wealth re-distribution. Sorry but if we continue on the path of enabiling those who wish to have us pay for their desire to get everything for nothing, the future genrations 5 or 10% contribution to retirement will have to be re-directed to wealth re-distribution.

[Trayderjoe]

Unfortunately for them, people did not listen to financially savvy people that one should save 10% or more of their salary for their future after all their bills are paid. I don't know what the statistic by AARP is at the moment but many people don't have 25K in savings when they are ready to retire.

It's sad that so many people didn't take advantage of the tax deferred options that companies offer or other investment opportunities. I have heard the sad lament that so many people have said, "I don't have enough in my paycheck to put away, any savings".

Some people have it backwards saying they will save after, (fill in the blank), and realize too late in life they should have saved more.

I always say, "it doesn't pay to be stupid about money".

My company started offering financial seminars for free to employees. The seminars were set up for financial planning for those 50 and older and for those under 50. I was in the 50 and over seminar, and was very disappointed to see the responses to the investment counselor asking who has NOT used the pension modeler tool the company had available, and who felt that their pension would cover their retirement expenses. Many people had not seen or knew about the tool (actually not a "biggie" but they could have seen what their projected income would be), and what was worse, there were too many people (1 is actually too many) who thought the company pension would support them. I think that there were quite a few people who realized that retirement might be a distant reality for them-most were in the "I'll save later" scenario you pointed out 2BNTV. I am thankful that my nephew listened to me and began getting money into his 401K early in his career and had his then fiancee do the same-especially since neither will get pensions from their companies.

[manaboutown]

Fellow Fed, great points. People need an IRA also, if they can. Buy good stocks and reinvest the dividents. My main worry is who in the next generation will be able to afford to buy our houses when it comes to downsize or move to assisted living. There's always the Reverse Mortgage.

The baby boom was followed by a baby bust. In the years to come selling a home in a retirement community may be difficult.

Also, over the last several years the stock market has been driven by boomers investing for retirement. As boomers sell off shares to fund their golden years prices (P/Es) may drop.

[asianthree]

Or you can retire and drop dead one week later. There have been four people where I work that have died in the past three months within weeks of retiring. And this week close friend died 3 days before her retirement party. We will be ok, with no structured money from our jobs, that disappeared, when company was sold. We invested and spend wisely. I do not lecture my children, as to their course of life.

[maryanna630]

Has anyone thought of renting in retirement instead of buying? We have just sold our house in Mexico and have cash. We always owned but are not so sure this is still the best thing. Living in Mexico for more than seven years, we have lost the consumerism and learned the joy of living a simple life. I am sure we will experience culture shock when we move to TV.
All opinions would be welcomed.

[asianthree]

Has anyone thought of renting in retirement instead of buying? We have just sold our house in Mexico and have cash. We always owned but are not so sure this is still the best thing. Living in Mexico for more than seven years, we have lost the consumerism and learned the joy of living a simple life. I am sure we will experience culture shock when we move to TV.
All opinions would be welcomed.

I would rent in different areas first. Before you buy. This is such a large place make sure you are where you want to live. It will run you$12,000 and up per year or less if you rent out of the bubble.

[patfla06]

Right on. but need not be so . Most of us have far more than we need and the excess could be the basis for a very comfortable retirement.

Most homes= way too big
Investment in electronics excessive
At least two cars - new every few years, and far bigger than needed.
3,4,5 tvs and unused cable add ons
Cigarettes and alcohol( at $8-10) per glass when eating out for the 4th or 5th time each week.
Rip off Gym memberships.
Giant popcorn and soda at movie ($15-20)

For most( but not all) there are adequate funds for a reasonable retirement.
We can't protect folks from their own excesses.

Give me time to put on my Kevlar!!!

You are absolutely right!
I am guilty of this as everyone.
It took selling our house with 30 plus years of accumulation
to make me want to live a more simplified life.

The biggest lessons I learned from my former life:
1. Not to live in a house that is large and takes a long
time to sell.
2. Define the difference between a NEED and a WANT.
Just because you can "afford" something doesn't mean
you need it or should buy it.
3. No more accumulation of "STUFF."

[Villages PL]

There are 53,364 centenarians in the U.S. today. That's according to the latest Census Bureau figures.

My "agenda" is similar to this thread's agenda. I want people to enjoy the best possible retirement. So, in my opinion, money and health are both essential to a successful retirement. You don't want to live a long life with no money, where's the fun in that? But, on the other hand, you don't want to be wealthy without the health you need to enjoy it. Where's the fun in that?

At 74, I'm saving over 75% of my retirement income because I feel I have many good (happy) years ahead of me. I feel the extra savings is warranted because markets go up and down and taxes may go up to pay for all those who haven't saved.

As far as the other part of the equation (health) I'm eating the best possible diet that I know how to eat. No junk-food is a big part of it and veganism is the ideal that I aspire to, and that's the way I eat most of the time.

[sunnyatlast]

There are 53,364 centenarians in the U.S. today. That's according to the latest Census Bureau figures.

My "agenda" is similar to this thread's agenda. I want people to enjoy the best possible retirement. So, in my opinion, money and health are both essential to a successful retirement. You don't want to live a long life with no money, where's the fun in that? But, on the other hand, you don't want to be wealthy without the health you need to enjoy it. Where's the fun in that?

At 74, I'm saving over 75% of my retirement income because I feel I have many good (happy) years ahead of me. I feel the extra savings is warranted because markets go up and down and taxes may go up to pay for all those who haven't saved.

As far as the other part of the equation (health) I'm eating the best possible diet that I know how to eat. No junk-food is a big part of it and veganism is the ideal that I aspire to, and that's the way I eat most of the time.

The phrase highlighted in yellow is guaranteed and it's not only to pay for those who haven't saved, but for those who are not working and paying taxes before retirement. They've put their full faith and trust in campaign promises. Not a wise way to live.

Your way is wise. (But what others eat is a very personal decision.)

[B767drvr]

There are 53,364 centenarians in the U.S. today. That's according to the latest Census Bureau figures.

My "agenda" is similar to this thread's agenda. I want people to enjoy the best possible retirement. So, in my opinion, money and health are both essential to a successful retirement. You don't want to live a long life with no money, where's the fun in that? But, on the other hand, you don't want to be wealthy without the health you need to enjoy it. Where's the fun in that?

At 74, I'm saving over 75% of my retirement income because I feel I have many good (happy) years ahead of me. I feel the extra savings is warranted because markets go up and down and taxes may go up to pay for all those who haven't saved.

As far as the other part of the equation (health) I'm eating the best possible diet that I know how to eat. No junk-food is a big part of it and veganism is the ideal that I aspire to, and that's the way I eat most of the time.

Great post VPL!

:BigApplause: