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Back in January, I dove into Jonathan Clements’s fantastic book How to Think About Money . My blog Money really can buy happiness introduced the first step in this great guide: Buy more happiness. The second step may be even more important, in part because it’s something almost everyone I know seems to be in denial about. What is step two? Bet on a long life!
It’s quite an anomaly. Humans embrace anti- aging remedies and strive for immortality, but when planning for our financial life, we frequently place our bets on living fewer years than is reasonable to expect. The data is out there. We are living longer. In 1900, the average life expectancy was just 52 for men, and 58 for women. What a difference a century makes! Men and women who are in their mid-60s today can now anticipate living to age 90, and 10% can plan to celebrate their 95 th birthdays! Knowing that, why do so many people plan their finances as if they were still living in the olden days? If our golden years are likely to last two to three decades, it’s time to start getting serious about planning to sustain a long, happy, healthy life. And while there are lots of pieces to the planning puzzle, here are five ways to help propel you on the right path forward:
1. Reset your expiration date. For years, we’ve been conditioned to see our 60s as the final stage—the denouement—of our lives. Get over it! The fact is, if you only live to your 60s, you’ll be among the unfortunate few. The good news is that once you change your mindset and reset your target date, almost every decision you make about the future will change. Your approach to investing will shift (see #2). You’ll suddenly have permission to make a mid-life career change and finally explore a passion that brings even greater joy in the decades ahead. Instead of seeing the years ahead as a slow, inevitable decline, you’ll start to look at—and hopefully realize!—all of the breathtaking opportunities ahead.
2. Invest (and keep investing!) in stocks. When it comes to investing, the golden rule is to “invest early and often.” Thanks to the magic of compounding, the longer your dollars stay invested, the greater the compound (i.e. exponential) growth. My client Polly is my favorite example of this in action. She and her husband bought shares of great companies in the 1950s, reinvested dividends, held the splits and spinoffs, and didn’t react the to “the market.” When her husband died a few years ago, she was assured a secure widowhood and is planning her charitable legacy. Intuitively Polly and her husband know that capitalism works. Markets work. Downturns happen, but over the long term, the market continues to climb skyward. Invest as early as possible, and you can sit back for the ride.
Twenty years ago, there was a rule of thumb to “hold your age in bonds” to protect your savings from any untimely downturns in the market. Why doesn’t that rule apply today? It assumed that retirement would last only a decade or so. Imagine a 30-year-old pulling out of the market to “protect her assets” at age 50. It’s unthinkable! In the same way, while you may choose to get slightly more conservative in your later years, staying in the market continues to provide the greatest potential for continued returns. Invest—and keep investing—and you’re much more likely to enjoy a lifetime of financial freedom.
3. Delay claiming Social Security . The Social Security claiming decision is one of the most critical retirement decisions most American will make. For most of us, it should be a no-brainer. Claiming benefits before Full Retirement Age (FRA) costs you a bundle. In fact, between age 62 (when most people become eligible for Social Security benefits) and FRA at age 66 or 67 depending on your birth year, your monthly check increases by 5% a year. Waiting until age 70 increases your benefits even more, by a whopping 8% for each year you delay, up until age 70. Knowing that the chances are good that you’ll live another 15-20 years (especially if you’re a woman), why would you not take advantage of this guaranteed, inflation-adjusted longevity insurance? You can’t get much better! (For more details, see my blog Social Security & Women: Tackling the Challenges .)
4. Consider other income streams. While traditional pensions are largely a thing of the past (consider yourself lucky if you do have one!), guaranteed lifetime income is something for which we all strive. Consider options such as income annuities (an entirely different product than deferred annuities, which I hate, and so should you!), fixed income strategies, and longevity insurance (a less expensive option that starts paying a guaranteed income when you reach a certain age, say 80 or 85). Everyone’s situation is different, so be sure to work with your advisor to do a detailed analysis and identify the options that are best for you. The most important thing: don’t delay. The earlier you put your plan in place, the more optimal your outcome.
5. Stop worrying about dying young. One of the biggest arguments I hear from clients when it comes to longevity planning is, “What if I die earlier? Won’t I be leaving money on the table?” It is true that most analyses will provide a “break even point” for Social Security and certain insurance benefits, and if you do die earlier than hoped, you may have given up a small percentage of potential earnings. But just look at the alternative: by making your decisions based on a long life—not a short one—you can create more income, which gives you more choices and more freedom, no matter how long you are lucky enough to live. Focus on the amazing possibilities a longer life has to offer and bet on living it to the fullest!
If you groan, roll your eyes, and say “God forbid” when someone mentions the possibility of living beyond 100, give me a call to discuss how to make your money last. The sooner we start planning, the more prepared you’ll be if (when?!) you reach that triple digit!