Plan for Your Retirement

Monday, September 14, 2009

Your Retirement
You are never too young or too old to plan for retirement.The earlier the better, but it is also better late than never.Nonetheless, it is desirable to inculcate the saving habit at a young age.In fact, saving should be part of your lifestyle.It is wise not to rely solely on your EPF as your retirement fund because you may not have enough in your account to provide you with a comfortable lifestyle.

Young adults normally do not think they are going to retire one day.Retirement is difficult for people of all ages. Even people in their 40s do not want to face the prospect of retirement. They have obligations – there is the house, the children’s education, the parents’ health care, and 1001 things to take care of first.

There is also the fear of the unknown. Not knowing what will happen to you when you are old may sometimes prevent you from taking stock of your financial welfare.You prefer to live for now rather than plan for the future.Perhaps you are afraid of being told that you are not on track when you start to plan for your retirement fund. You know that you have spent too much money, your income earning ability is not improving and you are not able to increase your savings.

If you start saving as soon as possible, you will be in better shape than you think you would be. If you have been regularly saving some money and cultivating saving habits,you will find it empowering for your personal self-worth.

Basics of retirement planning
As in any planning process, you need to know where you are at present:
  • How much savings or assets do you have now?
  • What is your monthly income?
  • What is the percentage of your income contributed to EPF or other retirement plans?
  • What rate of return do you want on your investments?
  • How many years do you have until retirement to earn your money?

After analysing your current assets and liabilities, estimate your spending needs and adjust them for inflation. Then decide when you want to retire – at age 45, 55, 60 or 65?

Calculate the monthly retirement income needed for your desired retirement lifestyle.
Your retirement planning should include debt reduction, budgeting, diversifying investments and, believe it or not, maintaining good health through diet and regular exercise.

The question of health is vital during old age. Health costs can be a major expenditure and a drain on retirement savings. Even if you have medical and life insurance that covers critical illness and disability, this may not include all the procedures and prescriptions that you need to have.Sometimes certain illness are only partially covered or not at all covered under insurance benefits. Therefore, adequate retirement planning has to be done for maintaining and living a healthy life.

A balanced life
While money is necessary in today’s world, it is not everything. Do not make it the sole reason for what you do in your life. Health, family and spiritual wellbeing are
important elements that contribute to happiness. We should also make regular donations and give to the less fortunate to alleviate their hardships and misfortunes. It is very important to create a balance in your life.



By saving early in your adult life, you may find that you have enough to enjoy some of your money even before you actually retire.
source:money sense

Comments

6 Responses to “Plan for Your Retirement”
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Jayce said...

I keep at least 10% salary as retirement saving on top of EPF. Hopefully, can survive after retire. :)

September 26, 2009 at 6:42 AM

Well, Retirement Planning is obviously very important as you have to save money for your later age. Saving 10% of your salary is good idea, but another much better idea will be investing your money in long term investment schemes.

August 16, 2010 at 11:23 PM
Unknown said...

No matter what we think of it, Retirement Planning has an important role in every retiree's life. Like what Financial Planning said, it would be a lot better if a retiree could invest his money in long term investment schemes. This would possibly be secure his retirement.

Ashley

Los Angeles Life Insurance

November 4, 2010 at 3:12 AM

i want to know that is it possible for people to secure the post retirement life my investing little bit each month if one don't have much earning.

September 25, 2011 at 9:35 PM
Raizu said...

Life insurance is not only care about your family but it is also a wise planning of your future, your family can be self financed proudly by such a wise decision. I found aswers of most of my question about life insurance pros aand cons at the Life insurance Oklahoma . They guided me to have an very suitable life insurance plane I think actually, which might be good life plan in for us.

March 29, 2012 at 6:02 AM
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