New York Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog
Just like you would not attempt a do-it-yourself project around the house without the proper hardware tools, you should not go into retirement without the proper estate planning tools. This means that you need to have the right planning vehicles and strategies in place that will ensure that you are receiving a paycheck or funds for decades into retirement. Thankfully, there is a basic estate planning toolkit that can help you get started on your retirement planning.
Realistic Budget
The foundation of every retirement plan is a realistic budget that plans for all incoming money from things like Social Security, pensions, and savings as well as plans for all outgoing expenses like basic necessities, medical care, and miscellaneous costs. This is not a tool that is created and forgotten; you should revisit your budget frequently to make sure that your finances are still on track.
If possible, try to think of all expenses to add to your retirement budget like annual insurance premiums and other infrequent costs. You should also have a slush fund to account for any expenses that may occur without warning, such as a medical emergency, housing repairs, or a new car in addition to any money that you plan on using to help family members.
Asset Allocation
Even before reaching retirement, you should start to reallocate assets within your portfolio to match your lifestyle. This typically means taking more assets out of risky ventures and investing them in assets that can give you sustained, long-term growth. This helps prevent against inevitable market declines, especially when you do not have an employer’s paycheck to rely upon.
An Experienced Attorney
While many people are uncomfortable discussing their personal lives with a lawyer, retirement age is not the time to shy away from asking for help from an experienced attorney. An estate planning attorney can go over what you have already done to prepare for retirement as well as draft the necessary documents that ensure that all of your affairs are in place. An attorney can also give you advice about the proper time to take care of things like Social Security withdrawals and structure your estate in a way that minimizes taxes.
Up to Date Documents
Updating all estate planning documents is also a must. Like the budget, your estate plans should not be something that is created and then ignored. As life events occur, you should be reviewing and updating your estate plans accordingly. This includes all actual documents regarding your estate that could pass through probate in addition to any and all accounts that include a beneficiary designation.
A Non-Financial Plan
Finally, you should also draft a non-financial plan to keep you and your loved ones physically and mentally engaged in retirement. Many retirees do not contemplate how such a drastic shift in living can affect them, body and mind. A lot of people who reach retirement find themselves depressed or becoming coach potatoes when they do not have a non-financial plan in place for their retirement years.