It All Depends

Often when someone asks me a financial question, the answer is “it all depends.” It’s  not a cop out. The considerations frequently are more complicated than the questioner realizes and individual circumstances or unknowable future developments may determine the answer. Sometimes, the right answer is just a matter of personal preference.

Most Americans don’t save enough for retirement. But the more diligent ones read this in financial publications and overdo it. I’ve told some young people in their 20s and 30s that they’ve saved enough for retirement and need to direct their savings toward other goals such as buying a house, which involve different savings vehicles.

At the other end of the spectrum, some adults read that it’s best to defer collecting Social Security retirement benefits until age 70, when deferred credits stop (you can still improve your earnings record after that date if you keep working and have higher inflation adjusted earnings years to replace lower ones earlier in your career.). The advice to wait till age 70 is fine for many people although comparatively few follow it. However, this advice may overlook individual circumstances.

One glaring example is that many potential Social Security recipients are married or were married and this may affect retirement decisions. Married people have signed a contract that has economic implications and when it comes to Social Security, these considerations (such as spousal benefits and taxes) have to be analyzed as a unit even though this is to complicated to explain in a short magazine article. It’s easier to say, “wait till 70.”

Thinking about Social Security as an individual rather than a couple may cost people tens of thousands of dollars. That’s why this answer “depends” on individual circumstances.

Often people ask me how much money they need to retire as if there is a single magic number. Yet no one would think of asking me how much money they need to live their life before retirement. It’s a far different answer if the person is married with four children in a high cost urban area like San Francisco or New York or is single and living in rural North Dakota. Everyone’s retirement is different, too.

A final example concerns investment vehicles. People sometimes ask where are you investing now? The implication is that there is some all purpose investment vehicle that is “hot” and will work for everyone because it is going to appreciate substantially in a short time. However, there is no perfect investment.

Some investments are appropriate for certain circumstances and other investments are better suited for others. For example, a private investment vehicle might require you to lock up the investment for ten years or longer. The expectation is that this investment is risky but holds the possibility of extremely high returns if it works out well and if it doesn’t, the chance that it becomes totally worthless. This may be enticing to a well off investor as part of a diversified portfolio who can handle the risk but may not work for someone who has a small sum to invest and needs part of it for next month’s rent.

When I ask people if they are “average,” no one says, “yes, I’m average.” Everyone feels unique and wants treated that way. So why would they be satisfied with an answer that relies on a “rule of thumb” and treats them as average when each one is special and wonderful. That’s why “it all depends” is a real answer and not a cop out. You wouldn’t want it any other way, would you?

 

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Big Changes to Social Security

This fall two Social Security “aggressive claiming strategies” were eliminated. This is the biggest change in Social Security in more than a decade.

These changes will affect when many couples should claim their retirement benefits. For people who turned 62 by Dec. 31, the major strategy is still available. For those older than 66 by the end of April, another strategy remains available until April 29.

While both strategies had been on the books for at least 15 years, they have gained attention recently.

Social Security is bigger and more complicated than most people realize. The benefits amount to five percent of gross national product and are the bedrock of most people’s retirement.

Coordinating Social Security benefits with the rest of your assets and plans is an important part of preparing for a comfortable retirement. Maximizing your benefits means taking into account your work plans, your partner, your tax strategy and the deployment of your other assets.

Many people make spur of the moment decisions on Social Security and pensions and may never realize why their hopes and dreams go awry. Failure to make the correct decisions can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

We talk to people frequently about these issues and are happy to help.

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Social Security Information

Social Security Website

Social Security retirement benefits is a more complex and important subject than most people realize.

In retirement, Social Security typically accounts for one-quarter to one-half of retirement income. The size of those benefits is dependent on your 35-year work and earnings record as well as at what age you begin taking your benefit check,  whether you have a spouse (and their age and record), other dependents, your work plans, and other factors.

A good place to start looking for information is the Social Security Administration website, www.socialsecurity.gov. For those who like to get their information online, a useful page is, http://www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices/. This page tells you some of the many things you can use the Social Security website for.

The Social Security Administration also can be reached by telephone or in person at their local offices. Social Security also publishes pamphlets that give quick summaries of various features. “Update 2015” provides some of the current numbers.

Social Security serves tens of millions of people and needs many rules to get this done effectively. Learning as much as you can yourself and consulting a financial professional, accountant or lawyer if needed can help you get the best results for your individual situation.

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