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Retirement Insights Tip #7: Effects of withdrawal rates and portfolio allocation

By |2026-02-11T18:53:34+00:00August 8th, 2019|Markets|

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

Higher initial withdrawal rates or overly conservative portfolios can put your retirement at risk. But setting it too low can lead to sacrifices in retirement. You may want to consider a dynamic approach to spending.

Setting an initial withdrawal rate and an appropriate portfolio allocation is necessary to sustain 30+ years of spending in retirement. The chart on the left illustrates the effects of different initial withdrawal rates assuming a 40% equity / 60% bond allocation. The 4% initial withdrawal rate—a general rule of thumb introduced in 1994, which adjusts the initial withdrawal amount for inflation over time to preserve purchasing power—is valid as is 5% but the 6% initial withdrawal rate proves not as successful and may put retirement at risk. The right chart illustrates the 4% withdrawal rate, but assuming various portfolio allocations. The more conservative the investor, the more difficult it may be to sustain the 4% rule over long periods of time. Consider a more dynamic approach to ensure that you efficiently use your savings to support your lifestyle while ensuring that you don’t run out of assets too quickly.

Want to talk about a distribution strategy? Give us a call!

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Video series: What’s the upside of risk?

By |2019-08-13T15:21:28+00:00August 7th, 2019|DFA, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Markets, Video|

In this short video, Nobel laureate Eugene Fama discusses how financial markets work, what fuels innovation, and the upside and downside of risk.

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July Performance Dashboard

By |2019-08-02T15:02:04+00:00August 2nd, 2019|Markets|

After a record June, U.S. equities continued to post gains, thanks to strong earnings and economic growth. Dovish sentiment from the Fed was short-circuited on the final trading day of the month. Despite a well-telegraphed 25 bps reduction in the target federal funds rate, the trajectory for future rate cuts remains uncertain. Large, mid and small-caps gained, with the S&P 500®, S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® all up 1%.

  • Enhanced Value was the top performing factor, and has outperformed the S&P 500 in 6 out of the past 12 months. Across sectors, Communication Services was the top performer, while Energy was the laggard.
  • International markets posted losses, with the S&P Developed Ex-U.S. and the S&P Emerging BMI both down 1%, with headwinds including U.S. dollar strength.
dashboard-us-2019-07
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Retirement Insights Tip #6 – Changes in Spending

By |2026-02-11T18:53:34+00:00July 29th, 2019|Markets, Retirement|

Spending habits change over time. Typically, spending peaks at the age of 45 and starts a slow decline. This is an important piece of the retirement planning puzzle. We often talk about distribution strategies at retirement age. A solid estimate of spending is necessary to strategize for your future.

This chart illustrates what college-educated households spend on major expenditures at specific ages. Most Americans’ peak spending years are between ages 45 and 54, and thereafter spending tends to lower at older ages. Note that the largest expenditure category at all ages is housing, while the category that older people spend significantly more on than younger people is health care.

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Video series: Why Should I Invest?

By |2019-08-13T15:22:12+00:00July 25th, 2019|Markets|

In this first short video, Nobel laureate Eugene Fama explains two key steps to investing: knowing why you want to invest and understanding your tolerance for risk. Everyone has different reasons for investing and different risk aversions. Stay tuned for  our 3 part series on risk, rewards and markets.

 

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Retirement Insights Tip #5: The Power of Tax Deferred Compounding

By |2026-02-11T18:53:35+00:00July 22nd, 2019|IRS, Retirement|

Deferring the tax on investment earnings, such as dividends, interest or capital gains, may help accumulate more after-tax wealth over time than earning the same return in a taxable account. This is known as tax-deferred compounding. This chart shows an initial $100,000 after-tax investment in either a taxable or tax-deferred account that earns a 6% return (assumed to be subject to ordinary income taxes). Assuming an income tax rate of 24%, the value of the tax-deferred account (net of taxes owed) after 30 years accumulates over $79,000 more than if the investment return had been taxed 24% each year.

Choosing to shelter investment growth in tax-deferred accounts over the long term may result in more wealth for retirement. The value of tax deferral in this example is equivalent to a .7% higher annual return over the time period. TAXES CAN WAIT!

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Retirement Insights Tip #4 – Retirement Savings Checkpoints!

By |2026-02-11T18:53:35+00:00July 15th, 2019|Markets|

2019 Guide to RetirementAchieving a financially successful retirement requires consistent savings, disciplined investing and a plan, yet too few Americans have calculated what it will take to be able to retire at their current lifestyle.  This chart from JP Morgan Asset Management ( for household incomes of $100,000 or more) helps investors to quickly gauge whether they are “on track” to afford their current lifestyle for 30 years in retirement based on their current age and annual household income.  This analysis uses an appropriate income replacement rate (detailed on slide 15), an estimate of how much Social Security is likely to cover and the rate of return and inflation rate assumptions detailed on the right to determine the amount of investable wealth needed today, assuming a 10% gross annual savings rate until retirement.  It is important to note that this analysis assumes a household with a primary earner who plans to retire at age 65 when the spouse is assumed to be 62.  If an investor’s current retirement savings falls short of the amount for their age and income, developing a written retirement plan tailored to their unique situation with the help of an experienced financial advisor is a recommended next step.

Call our office for a complimentary Retirement Savings and Distribution review.

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Retirement Insights Tip #3: Social Security Timing

By |2026-02-11T18:53:35+00:00July 9th, 2019|Retirement|

Deciding when to claim benefits will have a permanent impact on the benefit you receive. Claiming before your full retirement age can significantly reduce your benefit, while delaying increases it. In 2017, full retirement age began transitioning from 66-67 by adding 2 months each year for 6 years. This makes claiming early even more of a benefit reduction.

Surprisingly few Americans understand the benefits and trade-offs related to claiming Social Security at various ages. The top graphic illustrates these trade-offs for people who are currently 65 and older whose full retirement age (FRA) is 66. Delaying benefits results in a much higher benefit amount: Waiting to age 70 results in 32% more in a benefit check than taking benefits at FRA. Likewise, taking benefits early will lower the benefit amount. At age 62, beneficiaries would have received only 75% of what they would get if they waited until age 66. FRA for individuals turning 62 in 2019 is 66 and 6 months, and it will continue to move 2 months every year until 2023, when it will reach and remain at age 67. The Social Security Amendments Act of 1983 increased FRA from 65 to 67 over a 40-year period. The first phase of transition increased FRA from 65 to 66 for individuals turning 62 between 2000 and 2005. After an 11-year hiatus, the transition from 66 to 67 will complete the move.

The bottom graphic shows the trade-offs for younger individuals, which will penalize early claiming to a greater degree. The percentages shown are “real” amounts – cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) will be added on top, providing an even greater difference between the actual dollar benefits one would receive. The average annual COLA for the past 34 years has been 2.6%.

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Retirement Insights Tip #2: Longevity Risk – How can we Prepare?

By |2026-02-11T18:53:35+00:00June 24th, 2019|Markets|

Life expectancies in the United States continue to increase as more people are living to older ages than ever before.

Investors need to plan on the probability of living much longer – even 30+ years in retirement. It’s important to invest a portion of your portfolio for growth to maintain purchasing power over longer periods of time.

Discuss a Distribution Strategy with your financial advisor. Outliving your money is a real concern for many investors. If you are in good health, or have a family history of longevity, you much plan for living beyond average!

This chart shows the probability that 65-year-old men and women today will reach various ages. For a 65-year-old couple, there is nearly an even chance that one of them will live to age 90 or beyond.

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