Saturday, January 31, 2015

Important Steps On How To Retire Comfortably And Happy

By Ines Flores


When it comes to your retirement, you must realize from the outset that you, and only you, are responsible for your financial future. If you want to know how to retire comfortably and happy, start by using the things available to you. If your company has a retirement savings plan, like a 401(k), it would be wise for you to contribute to it, especially if they offer a match. Doing this could make your taxes lower. It also gives you the benefit of saving by automatic deductions to make things easier.

If you are worried that you will not have enough money in retirement or that you will be bored once you stop working, you may want to consider continuing work in some form. You can shift from working full-time to part-time, which gives you more time to yourself and some income as well. It also will help to keep your mind sharp as you continue to engage in intellectual activities and interact with others.

If retirement seems like a big leap for you, then you can always ease into it gradually. Some financial planners recommend people take mini-retirements to get used to not working. This could involve taking an extended vacation or a sabbatical from work for a couple of months to travel, pursue new activities, or just relax from the routine of everyday life.

It is also helpful if you can stay in good health after you stop working. This is important because you do not want to dwindle your nest egg paying for health expenses that may have been avoidable. Make sure you eat healthy and get regular exercise. Staying healthy will allow you to do the things you enjoy, such as travel and volunteer at different places, now that you are not confined to a job.

When planning for retirement, remember to beware of the effects of inflation. Make sure you know the difference between various types of investments, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Learn about what your options are and ask lots of questions.

If you are behind in your savings goals, or you currently have a lot of debt, do not worry. Start saving small amounts and increase this with each pay raise you receive. The sooner you begin to save, the more time you are giving your money to grow with compound interest.

Also, do not touch your savings when you build it up. Withdrawing from your savings can cause you to lose principal and the benefits of compound interest. You might also lose the tax benefits or have to pay a penalty for withdrawing early. Do not cash out your 401(k) or pension account if you leave your job. It is wiser to leave the funds invested there or roll the money over to an IRA or a pension account at your new job.

Remember that the key to a good retirement is planning ahead. Find out as much information as you can by reading books on retirement and setting up a meeting with your financial planner. Speak to the personnel manager at your company about any pension benefits you may be entitled to. Contact your bank or a well-known investment firm about setting up a 401(k) or an IRA account. Use these as tools for your financial success.




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