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How Many “Retirees” Will Keep Working?: Part II

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Of Americans aged 50 and over who are still working, 31% haven’t even prepared a retirement budget. Of that same group 73% prepare to delay retirement according to a survey performed by the NHP Foundation.

Many of the people in this group, encompassing many Baby Boomers but also some older Gen-Xers, are wishful thinking. Lee Barney writes for Plan Adviser:

Thirty-one percent haven’t prepared a retirement budget. Among those that have tried to figure out a retirement budget, 62% say that Social Security will comprise half or more of their monthly income. Sixty-five percent have not budgeted for unforeseen health-related expenses. Among those who have no retirement budget and plan on Social Security to provide half or more of their retirement income, 72% said they haven’t accounted for unforeseen health-related expenses.

There is a disconnect between what kind of lifestyle Boomers expect to lead in retirement and how poorly they are preparing for retirement, NHP says. Seventy percent said they are at least confident they will experience the retirement they aspire to, and among the 73% who are planning to delay retirement, 63% are at least somewhat confident in the retirement lifestyle they will be able to enjoy.

“There is a disconnect between Baby Boomers’ current financial status and where they perceive themselves in retirement,” says Richard Burns, president and CEO of The NHP Foundation. “This wishful thinking carries potential consequences that will likely have a large impact throughout all areas of the economy.”

Yesterday I warned you to save as much as you can. Today I’m telling you to plan as much as you can. If you are approaching the age of retirement, no benefit comes from avoiding planning. If you are having trouble, seek help from a professional or someone you can trust.

As I wrote yesterday, many who think they will be able to work through their retirement years can’t actually do so. If those people are caught without a plan, and without a job, what happens then? Nothing good. Get saving, get planning. Don’t let inertia hold you back.

Originally posted on Yoursurvivalguy.com.

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E.J. Smith

Editor-in-Chief
E.J. Smith is Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zilldjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@youngresearch.com.