Finance
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Are the Best Retirement Tips?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

Retirement is something that most employees must face at some point in their lives. For this reason, engaging in retirement planning is very important. Along with setting aside resources that can be drawn upon in later years, it is also necessary to consider other matters that have to do with managing those resources during the retirement years. Some of the best retirement tips focus on not only how to accumulate wealth for later use, but also how to utilize that wealth during retirement to best effect.

One of the key retirement tips is to not assume it is ever too late to begin saving for retirement. This fact is apparent to many people who saw their pension plans and other investments intended to keep them financially secure lose a great deal of value during the worldwide recession of 2007-2010. Rather than assuming there is no time to rebuild, people nearing retirement age must assess the status of what is left and find ways to begin building those reserves again, using the projected retirement age to aid in that planning.

Since retired individuals work from a fixed budget, they should avoid unnecessary purchases.
Since retired individuals work from a fixed budget, they should avoid unnecessary purchases.

Planning how to draw on sources of income to best advantage is also one of the more important retirement tips. Depending on the strategies employed to build up those nest eggs, disbursements from those accounts may be taxable. Here the goal is to come up with a workable budget that provides an equitable standard of living without creating a significant tax burden. This may mean relying more on resources that do not incur a tax obligation upon withdrawal while reserving those that do for emergency situations.

Creating a budget can prevent unnecessary spending and help save money.
Creating a budget can prevent unnecessary spending and help save money.

Diversification is also among the key retirement tips. When it becomes necessary to roll over the balance in one retirement account to something else, research all possible alternatives. Focus on the ones that will offer the best chances for generating interest and growing that balance while also creating the lowest possible tax burden. The result will be more money remaining on hand to maintain an equitable standard of living, even if a prolonged illness should occur.

Retirement planning involves factors like savings and other sources of income.
Retirement planning involves factors like savings and other sources of income.

Seeking out professional assistance is also one of the more important retirement tips. A professional financial planner will often be aware of ways to arrange finances to best effect so that the maximum amount of returns can be generated from the account balances, while still structuring the disbursements or withdrawals from those accounts in a way that provides adequate financial support without impeding those accounts from providing support over the years. With a little bit of systematic planning, it is possible to make the most of those retirement funds and not spend a lot of time worrying about the future.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...

Discuss this Article

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Since retired individuals work from a fixed budget, they should avoid unnecessary purchases.
      Since retired individuals work from a fixed budget, they should avoid unnecessary purchases.
    • Creating a budget can prevent unnecessary spending and help save money.
      By: benjaminnolte
      Creating a budget can prevent unnecessary spending and help save money.
    • Retirement planning involves factors like savings and other sources of income.
      By: Ken Mellott
      Retirement planning involves factors like savings and other sources of income.
    • Retirees often spend more time with grandchildren.
      By: Noam
      Retirees often spend more time with grandchildren.