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How to Plan for Retirement

When it comes to retirement, most people find themselves either sitting in the regret of past money mistakes or winning big-time with money and on track to enjoy a retirement they’ve always dreamt about.

Here’s the difference: Those who are on track to reach their retirement goals have a plan. They’re intentional, focused, and they took the time to really think about what kind of future they wanted. And then they started working their plan with “full-speed ahead” intensity—they didn’t let anything get in their way!

Do you have a retirement plan in place? Listen: Retirement planning isn’t an “old people” thing. It’s a smart people thing. And it’s never too early to start planning for your retirement future.

What Is Retirement Planning?

Retirement planning is the process of figuring out how much money you’ll need to save for retirement and then putting a plan in place to get there.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you start planning for your retirement:

  • What do I want to do in retirement?
  • When do I want to retire?
  • How much money will I need to save by the time I retire?
  • How much will I need to invest every month to hit my retirement goals?
  • Which retirement accounts should I use?
  • What should I be investing in within my retirement accounts?
  • What about medical expenses and long-term care in retirement?

Why is a retirement plan so important? Because it gives you a clear path to success. It inspires you to take action. So take some time to sit down with your spouse, maybe meet with a qualified investment professional, and start answering these questions. Remember: The sooner you start planning for retirement, the faster you’ll be able to make progress.

How to Plan for Retirement in 4 Steps

Are you out of debt and have a fully funded emergency fund in place? If that’s you—that’s great! That means you’re ready to start investing and saving for retirement. But even if you’re currently working your way out of debt or piling up cash, we still want you thinking about retirement—this is what you’re working toward, after all.

If you’re intimidated by just the thought of planning for retirement, that’s okay. Take a deep breath and check out these four simple steps you can take to help you start planning:

Step 1: Set Your Retirement Goals

What is your retirement dream? Do you want to ride around the country in an RV? Buy a house on a lake and go fishing every day? Spend a bunch of time with your grandkids? 

Whatever your dreams and goals are, having a high-definition picture in your head of what you want your retirement to look like will keep you motivated when you might feel like taking your foot off the gas.

It’ll also give you a starting point for retirement planning and help you answer some important questions, like how much money you’ll need by the time you retire and how close you are to making your dream retirement a reality.

About half (48%) of workers have actually tried to figure out how much money they’ll need to save by the time they retire.1 That’s not good enough! Our free retirement calculator can help you figure out how much you need to save for your dream retirement.

Step 2: Save 15% of Your Income

Invest 15% of your gross income in good growth stock mutual funds through tax-advantaged retirement savings plans like your employer’s 401(k) and a Roth IRA. At Ramsey, we love Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s because the money you invest in them grows tax-free and you won’t be taxed when you take out money in retirement.      

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How much will you need for retirement? Find out with this free tool!

Your goal is to consistently invest for retirement as you focus on other financial obligations, such as funding college for your kids  or paying off your home early. With an empty nest and a paid-for home, you can plan to ramp up your retirement savings later if you need to.

A couple with a household income of $56,000 could have around $1.1 million for retirement if they invest 15% of their income for 25 years. In 30 years, they could have $1.9 million—and that’s assuming they never got another raise during their working lifetimes.

Ideally, you should be able to live off the growth of your retirement savings rather than dipping into your nest egg. A financial advisor can run projections based on your monthly contributions and expected retirement age, making sure to account for inflation and any taxes or fees that may apply down the road.

Step 3: Invest for the Long Term

Fear, anxiety and impulsiveness—those are the three biggest enemies you’ll face while trying to invest and plan for retirement. Not only will they cause you to panic and make dumb decisions—like pulling all your money out of your 401(k) when the stock market has a bad day—but they’ll also keep you from investing all together.

To build wealth and invest with success, you need patience—lots and lots of patience. Slow and steady wins the race every time. There are no shortcuts.

Remember, investing is a marathon, not a sprint. And it’s not for the faint of heart. The stock market is a roller coaster that’s going to go up and down, but you’ve got to be strong enough to stay on the ride through all the twists and turns that pop up.

Keep in mind that as you approach age 60, you’ll want to purchase long-term care (LTC) insurance. LTC insurance will protect the money you’ve saved for retirement by helping to pay for a nursing home or in-home care if you need it. So, make sure to factor in LTC insurance as you estimate your retirement budget. It’s a necessity!

Also, until you’re self-insured, term life insurance needs to be part of your plan to cover those who depend on you.

Step 4: Work With a Financial Advisor or Investment Professional

Investing isn’t a solo activity. You need someone who can help you create a retirement investing plan that fits with your life and your goals—and that means working with a financial advisor or investment professional that you can actually trust.

Retirement planning is too important to figure out on your own! According to the National Study of Millionaires, 68% of millionaires said they worked with a financial advisor to achieve their net worth! They know the value of having someone there to guide them throughout their financial journey.

Your dreams and goals are too important to chase on your own. That’s why it’s so important to get an investment professional on your team to help you along the way. A SmartVestor Pro can work with you to create a retirement plan for your specific situation and help you understand all your investment options. Find a SmartVestor Pro today!

Make an Investment Plan With a Pro

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Find Your Pros

This article provides general guidelines about investing topics. Your situation may be unique. If you have questions, connect with a SmartVestor Pro. Ramsey Solutions is a paid, non-client promoter of participating Pros. 

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About the author

Ramsey

Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books (including 12 national bestsellers) published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners. Learn More.

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