In nearly every way you could make a mistake -- for example, saving too late -- you can also make up ground by availing yourself of all resources at your disposal (say, your employer's 401(k) matching program). With that in mind, here’s a list of 28 major retirement pitfalls to avoid -- and what to do if you end up taking some missteps.
Retirement planning is tricky, no? When and where and how much … there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to retirement.
Experts say that the right retirement plan involves timing and opportunity. But nobody’s perfect. We all are apt to make a mistake, but we can usually make things right. With that in mind, The Motley Fool compiled a list of 28 major retirement pitfalls, how to avoid them—and how to correct them if you take a detour in an article titled “28 Retirement Mistakes People Make.”
Here are a few:
No Retirement Plan. Major disaster in the making! Neglecting your retirement planning is one of the first and biggest mistakes you can make. Consider what you want your future to look like and how much money you can reliably set aside, then find a deposit product that will get you there. Employers often offer 401(k) plans, and you can also open an IRA without an employer sponsoring the account. These are a great way to kick off your retirement savings.
Thinking You’ll Want to Keep on Working. Oh sure. You love your career and can’t dream of life without it. However, things change, like your health, and you might be ready to take it easy and retire. You shouldn’t skimp on your saving because you think you can work until you're 90 and earn more than you do today. There will always be a youth movement in the offing—those folks will be willing and eager to work for less. Think about buying that fishing boat or taking your spouse on a nice cruise. That’s why you worked so hard all those years!
Transfer on Death and Payable on Death Designation Issues. If you have a trust or estate plan, the original article says experts recommend you check your "transfer on death" and "payable on death" designations to make certain they match your will. These designations will impact who gets your retirement account assets when you die. "Transfer on death" registrations trump your will’s directions.
Faulty Trusts. If you have some money for your children or beneficiaries to inherit, then you should analyze your trusts. Every situation varies, but designating a trust as the beneficiary of a retirement account could be a problem if it’s not drafted correctly.
Talk to Robert A. Gordon of Redkey Gordon Law Corp, a qualified estate planning attorney and take a gander at the other 25 mistakes discussed in the article.
Reference: Motley Fool (March 11, 2015) “28 Retirement Mistakes People Make”
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