Garland Law Offices, P.A.

Market Plunge Presents Opportunities for Wealthy

“The worldwide worry over coronavirus creates a glimmer of good news for at least one segment of the U.S. population: the top 0.1 percent.”

A down market gives super-wealthy people the ability to use sophisticated strategies to help pass along billions of dollars to heirs, tax free, reports Accounting Today in the article “Heirs of ultra-wealthy can profit even when markets plunge.” Plunging interest rates and lower stock prices make it even easier to protect those mega-fortunes from the IRS. This also presents an opportunity to take a longer-term view of market volatility, because their beneficiaries are future generations, including family members who haven’t even been born yet.

Smart individuals, the ultra-wealthy or regular people, understand that this volatility could go on for several months. However, they are invested for a long-term market. However, the richer you are, the more you can insulate yourself from both the corona virus and its effects on the economy. The wealthy investor can use this opportunity to buy stocks at a low point, for instance, buying up stock from companies in travel-related industries.

The IRS levies a 40% estate and gift tax on the biggest fortunes, exempting transfers of $11.58 million for individuals and more than $23.16 million for married couples. Families with more wealth than that often use a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust, or GRAT, to pass money to their children and grandchildren.

Here’s how it works. Stock or other assets are placed in a GRAT, a transaction that is a loan. If the stock rises in value, the proceeds go to the beneficiaries, tax-free. If the stock drops, no harm—the shares go back to the donor. It’s a win-win for those who can use this tool, regardless of their amount of wealth.

One reason for the popularity of the GRAT is that when markets decline, there are more upsides to the assets in a GRAT. This is also the time when people who have old GRATs with losses, may want to give up on them. GRATs with even small initial losses are now unlikely to succeed. It’s better to start over with new GRATs.

Plunging interest rates are another reason for the new attention on GRATs. When taxpayers loan money to set up GRATs or other trusts, the IRS requires that the trusts pay interest back to the lender. The rates, which are set by a formula and published each month, are a hurdle that GRAT investments must clear for returns to flow to the beneficiary. The hurdle rate for a typical GRAT has fallen by half since the end of 2018 and to 1.8% this month. That’s not counting the impact of the Fed’s surprise rate cut. With Treasury yields hitting record lows, the April rate could drop to 1.2 percent, or even lower.

Similar IRS rules apply to loans within families, another popular strategy used to pass wealth while avoiding the estate tax. As the IRS-required rates drop, advisors say they are helping wealthy families refinance loans, so heirs and trusts are paying less back to their benefactors, usually parents or grandparents.

Reference: Accounting Today (March 6, 2020) “Heirs of ultra-wealthy can profit even when markets plunge”

Should You Move Your 401(k) to A Roth?

“Research shows that moving 401(k)s to after-tax contributions would boost tax returns in the short term, but leave retirees worse off.”

Overhauling the retirement savings system is the subject of considerable talk in Washington these days, with the focus on how to give an immediate boost to government tax revenues. With retirement fund accounts being measured in the trillions, it’s no surprise that they are being eyed.

One of the ideas being discussed, according to the article “What ‘Rothifying’ 401(k)s Would Mean for Retirees” from The Wall Street Journal, is to repeal the current structure of pretax contributions to retirement accounts and adopt a system where contributions would come only from after-tax contributions, just as Roth IRAs do now. It also has a name, “Rothification.” It could become very popular in the not too distant future.

However, behind this need to plug the gaps in the national budget could be a dismal scenario for workers saving for retirement.

Those U.S. savers who do save money for retirement now contribute to their IRA, SEP, and other tax-deferred accounts with money that is deducted from their taxable income. They only pay taxes on this money when they take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) during retirement, or after age 72. The tax deferral provides a powerful incentive to save. The Investment Company Institute reports that defined contribution plans and IRAs were valued at $18.3 trillion as of the third quarter of 2019.

With a federal deficit now at more than $1 trillion and the federal debt at $23 trillion (according to the U.S. Treasury), the money has to come from somewhere. The Treasury also estimates that it will forgo $2.4 trillion in tax revenue from the nation’s tax-deferred retirement savings over the next ten years.

With Social Security having an additional $43 trillion in underfunding, according to the 2019 report of the Social Security and Medicare trustees, government funds are going to have to come from somewhere.

Under “Rothification,” savers would make their retirement fund contributions with after-tax income, and the Treasury would get its money now, rather than waiting for current workers to retire or die.

The challenge is that people don’t save as much as they need to for retirement. Many of them are depending upon Social Security to cover the lion’s share of their retirement income. Removing the tax incentive for retirement saving will discourage retirement saving.

What will that mean for estate planning? Adjusting to the changes from the SECURE Act already has estate planning lawyers reviewing estate plans for the new ten-year withdrawal requirements for IRA beneficiaries. Once the “Rothification” discussions move from talk to legislation, expect large push-back from the financial services industry, which runs these accounts, now worth $18.3 trillion.

Reference: The Wall Street Journal (February 17, 2020) “What ‘Rothifying’ 401(k)s Would Mean for Retirees”

Should You Name a Trust as an IRA Beneficiary?

“For obvious reasons, including control, privacy, asset protection, etc., many clients are interested in putting assets into a trust. For many retirees, their IRA is among their biggest assets. It’s only natural to want to put the IRA into a trust.”

An IRA may not be placed into a trust while the account owner is alive. An IRA also may not be owned by more than one person. The IRA owner can name a trust as a beneficiary of an IRA. Just because you can do this, does not mean it is a good idea, says the article “Naming Your Trust as an IRA Beneficiary” from The Press of Atlantic City. The IRA owner could also take all of the funds and deposit them into a trust, but that would be another bad idea. Why? It is because all of the funds withdrawn would be subject to income tax.

Therefore, why would anyone want to name a trust as the beneficiary for an IRA?

• If you want an heir, like a second spouse, to inherit the income but not the balance of the principal after you have died. This is done so the second spouse cannot name their children as the beneficiary, instead of the original account owner’s children.
• If you are concerned with the ability of heirs to manage your IRA funds wisely, a trust can be the beneficiary and you can set the terms with which the heirs can have access to the funds.
• Minor children cannot be direct beneficiaries of an IRA, and a disabled child may become ineligible for government benefits, if he or she receives an inheritance directly.
• If you want your IRA funds to be inherited by grandchildren instead of children, a trust is the way to go.
• If creditor protection is a concern under the laws of your state, a trust would keep the IRA funds from being tapped by claims of creditors.

Here is why you would NOT want to name a trust as the beneficiary of your IRA:

• There are no tax benefits to having the trust inherit your IRA.
• Trusts have expenses. Trustee fees and tax rates on funds left inside the trust, but not in the IRA, may be substantially higher than personal income tax rates, depending on the beneficiary.
• The trust will have to keep going long after your own death. That means tax returns must be filed, fees paid, and the trustee must maintain the trust.
• Some companies that hold IRAs do not allow trusts to be beneficiaries of IRAs. Before you get into figuring out if this is the right route for you, find out first if your custodian will permit it.

There are many other facts to consider before deciding to name a trust as the beneficiary of an IRA. Speak with your estate planning attorney to see if it is a suitable solution for you and your family.

Reference: The Press of Atlantic City (February 13, 2020) “Naming Your Trust as an IRA Beneficiary”

Gray Divorces Changing the Future for Many Senior Americans

“Rising divorce rates among Americans over the age of 50 are causing more conflict in estate planning, new data shows.”

Add “gray divorce” to the factors leading to strife in estate planning. Minimizing discord among beneficiaries is one of the top three reasons people decide to have estate plans created, but with more gray divorces, things become complicated.

A survey at the 54^th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning conducted by TD Bank asked elder law attorneys, insurance advisors, wealth managers and other professionals on the biggest challenge to estate planning. An article in the Clare County Review titled “Rising Gray Divorce Rates Are Making Estate Planning Problems More Complicated” explains the problem, and presents some solutions.

Gray divorce, blended families, naming heirs and changing family structures are making it more complicated—and more necessary—to create an estate plan and review it with an estate planning attorney on a regular basis.

More than a third of the 112 professionals participating in the survey said that gray divorce has the biggest impact on retirement planning and funding. It also impacts naming who becomes a person’s power of attorney and how Social Security benefits are determined.

The biggest way to help avoid family conflict in a gray divorce is the same as in any other divorce: regular communication. The family members need to know what is being planned, including who will be the designated beneficiaries and who will be named as executor.

The divorce process is complicated at any age, but after 50, there are usually more assets involved. The spouse is usually listed as the beneficiary on most, if not all, assets. Each asset document must be changed to reflect the new beneficiaries. Dividing pension plans, IRAs, and other retirement funds entails more work than simply changing names on bank accounts (although that also has to happen).

Wills, trusts, life insurance, and titles on real estate must also be changed. Institutions and companies that have accounts must be contacted, with information updated and verified.

Trusts are growing in popularity as a means of leaving assets to heirs, since they can minimize costs and delays when property is transferred. Trusts make it easier to pass assets, if family conflict is expected.

Even when beneficiaries aren’t expecting any cash assets to be left to them, controversies can still erupt over other assets. Adult children may not care about IRAs or trusts, but often the family home has great sentimental value. Deciding what to do with it can lead to fighting among siblings.

For those considering a gray divorce, talking with an estate planning attorney, in addition to a matrimonial attorney, could make this large life change less stressful. The estate planning attorney will be able to work with the matrimonial attorney, to ensure that estate issues are handled properly.

Reference: Clare County Review (February 10, 2020) “Rising Gray Divorce Rates Are Making Estate Planning Problems More Complicated”

Can You Apply for a Mortgage at an Advanced Age?

“Federal law, under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, forbids discrimination in the mortgage market on the basis of age. Nonetheless, loan officers say older borrowers often don’t realize they can get loans with terms that will expire on their 110th, 120th or nearly 130th birthdays.”

A senior loan officer with a mortgage company in Florida recently wrote a 30-year loan for a retiree who was purchasing a home in New Port Rickey. He didn’t expect to have trouble qualifying for the loan, but he was surprised that he did.

That’s because he was 97 years old.

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, federal law forbids discrimination in the mortgage market on the basis of age, reports The Wall Street Journal in a recent article “You’re Never Too Old to Apply for a Mortgage.” However, most seniors don’t know that they can get loans that will expire on their 110^th, 120^th and even later birthdays. In fact, the Federal Housing Finance Agency says that borrowers over age 65 make up ten percent of all mortgages originated annually.

Some lenders are working harder to find ways to qualify retirees, including rolling out lending programs that allow borrowers to use their investment portfolios to qualify without taking monthly distributions. Loan officers, especially in areas with large numbers of retirees, have become skilled at adding up income streams, helping borrowers establish new ones and willingly guiding them through the process.

The simplest way is for a retiree to add up their monthly fixed income from all sources, which are then treated like a salary by the lenders. If those numbers are not high enough, the next step is to create an ongoing distribution from a retirement account, like an IRA or 401(k). For one mortgage lender, a retired borrower needs to show $8,000 of monthly income for a 30-year home purchase loan. The borrower set up a distribution for that amount from an IRA worth $500,000, and had her financial advisor draft a letter to the lending company about the new income stream. This made her qualified for the loan, even though at that rate, her entire IRA would be drained in five or six years. Fannie Mae rules only require that distributions are guaranteed to continue for three years.

If the property produces income, those funds can be counted towards the qualifying amount. However, the underlying value of the property, even if it is owned outright or if there is a lot of equity in the home, is not considered by the lender. Property tax and homeowner’s insurance are measured as debt in the debt-to-income equation.

If qualifying is still a problem, lenders are increasingly willing to include stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. This is very different than creating a distribution steam that counts as income. The borrower is not required to take a monthly amount from their portfolio. The lender uses a formula called “asset depreciation” or “asset annuitization or depletion” to impute a monthly distribution from the investment portfolio.

Some jumbo lenders who cater to high net worth individuals have more liberal asset depreciation programs. In New York, an 83-year-old retired co-op owner received a $1 million, 10-year, interest only adjustable rate mortgage for a re-finance at a highly competitive rate through a bank’s program similar to an asset depreciation plan. With the deposit of a few hundred thousand dollars into the bank, the owner qualified based on a portfolio of stocks and bonds valued at $1.6 million.

Speak with your estate planning lawyer before making this kind of large financial decision, since it may have a significant impact on your overall estate plan.

Reference: Barron’s (Jan. 16, 2020) “You’re Never Too Old to Apply for a Mortgage”

The SECURE Act and Your Retirement

“While most of us had stockings and menorahs on our minds, President Trump on Dec. 20 signed the Secure Act that makes the most significant changes in retirement accounts we’ve seen in years.”

For anyone who has saved a high six- or seven-figure balance in their retirement accounts, the SECURE Act will definitely affect their retirement plans. That includes 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and other workplace plans, as well as traditional IRAs and Roth IRA accounts. The article “How the new Secure Act affects your retirement” from the Daily Camera provides a clear picture of the changes.

Stretch IRAs are Curtailed. Anyone who inherited an IRA (traditional or Roth) from a parent before 2020, may take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from those accounts over their own life expectancy. Let’s say a parent died when you were 48—you could stretch those distributions out over the course of 36 years. This option gave heirs the ability to spread income and the taxes that come with the income out over decades—with little distributions having little impact on taxes. If you inherited a Roth IRA, you could benefit from its tax-free growth over your entire lifetime.

All that’s changed now. A non-spousal heir (or one who is disabled, chronically ill or a minor child) now has ten years in which to take their distributions. They have to pay ordinary income taxes on the amount they take out, over a far shorter period of time. Newly inherited Roth IRAs have the same rules, but usually there are no taxes due. If a minor inherits an IRA, once they reach the age of majority, they have ten years in which to take their distributions.

A Small Break for Required IRA Distributions. Until the SECURE Act, retirees had to start taking their RMDs out of IRAs soon after turning 70½. The new age for taking RMDs is now 72 for those who are younger than age 70½ at the end of 2019. This won’t alter the plans of most retirees, since they usually start taking those distributions well before age 72 to cover expenses. Roth IRAs have another benefit: they continue to escape distribution requirements, unless they are inherited.

No Age Cap for Traditional IRA Contributions. Workers may now continue to contribute funds into a traditional IRA at any age. Before the SECURE Act, workers had to stop contributing funds once they turned 70½. Note that you or your spouse are still required to have earned income to put funds in a traditional or Roth IRA.

Other Changes. There are many more changes from the SECURE Act and thought leaders in the estate planning community will be reviewing and analyzing the law for months, or perhaps years, to come. Some of the changes that are widely recognized already include the ability to withdraw $5,000 penalty-free from retirement plan accounts per newly born or adopted child, although in most cases, income tax will need to be paid on the withdrawal.

Section 529 educational savings accounts can be used, up to a lifetime limit of $10,000 per student, to pay off student loans. In most states, this will be considered a non-qualified withdrawal and state income taxes will be due, but at least the money can be used for this purpose.

Lastly, there are new tax credits available to smaller companies that set up new retirement plans, and there are new rules regarding including part-time employees in company sponsored 401(k) plans.

The changes from the SECURE Act, particularly regarding the loss of the IRA Stretch, have created a need for people to review their estate plans, if they included leaving large retirement accounts to their children. Speak with your estate planning attorney to ensure that your plan still works.

Reference: Daily Camera (Jan. 11, 2020) “How the new Secure Act affects your retirement”

What’s Your Retirement Distribution Plan?

“Failing to withdraw a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your own or an inherited IRA by the deadline results in a big tax code penalty: 50%. That's right.”

If you were supposed to take out an RMD of $4,000 from your retirement accounts and somehow forgot to do this, you’ll be writing the IRS a check for $2,000. Ouch! This is something you can easily avoid, says Yahoo Finance’s article “Know These 3 Facts to Avoid Paying Half Your Retirement Income to the IRS.”

Most investors spend a lot of time building their retirement income accounts—their entire working life. However, there’s a second phase of retirement finances that doesn’t get quite as much attention. That’s the “distribution” phase, when the money that you put into accounts for decades needs to be taken out and used for what is ideally an enjoyable retirement.

Preparations for this phase are usually focused on where to live, how much travel you can afford, what interests you may pursue and the choices that are made regarding retirement spending.

With those choices come some fixed payments that you need to keep in mind as you budget. The IRS has rules about Required Minimum Distributions, or RMDs, that are strict. While some of the rules changed as of January 1, 2020, the penalties have not. Starting at age 72, you have to take your RMDs, or pay a steep price.

Here are the main types of accounts that have RMDs: IRAs, 401(k)s, 457 plans, SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs, TSP, 403(b)s, and TSAs. They all require RMDs in retirement.

The first distribution must be taken by April 1 of the year following the calendar year that you turn 72. If you retire after age 72, you have to take your first RMD from your 401(k), profit-sharing 403(b) or other defined contribution plan by April 1 of the year after the calendar year in which you retire.

For subsequent years after your required beginning date, you have to take your RMD by December 31.

You don’t have to take any RMDs for Roth IRA accounts, since those accounts are funded by post-tax dollars. There are Roth retirement accounts that do have RMDs, like a Roth 401(k). Some people roll their Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA and pay the taxes at the time of the rollover, anticipating high taxes in the near future.

If you don’t take your RMD, or don’t take a large enough distribution, the IRS penalty is 50% of the amount that was not withdrawn.

To calculate your RMD for 2020, divide your retirement account balance on December 31, 2019, by a “distribution period” factor based on your age. For example, Lisa Sue is 71 and must take her first distribution at age 72. Her year-end IRA balance for the prior year was $100,000. Her distribution factor is 27.4. Divide $100,000 by 27.4 and the amount of the RMD is $3,649.63. That’s her RMD.

Understanding the distribution phase of your retirement is as important as the savings phase. While you’re planning, don’t neglect the estate plan that needs to be updated or prepared. That includes a will, power of attorney, medical power of attorney and other documents. Talk with an experienced estate planning attorney to create a plan to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Reference: Yahoo Finance (Jan. 9, 2020) “Know These 3 Facts to Avoid Paying Half Your Retirement Income to the IRS”

How Does the SECURE Act Change Your Estate Plan?

“These changes are so significant that every such plan holders should review their wishes and how their estate plans may be affected.”

The SECURE Act has made big changes to how IRA distributions occur after death. Anyone who owns an IRA, regardless of its size, needs to examine their retirement savings plan and their estate plan to see how these changes will have an impact. The article “SECURE Act New IRA Rules: Change Your Estate Plan” from Forbes explains what the changes are and the steps that need be taken.

Some of the changes include revising wills and trusts which include provisions creating conduit trusts that had been created to hold IRAs and preserve the stretch IRA benefit, while the IRA plan owner was still alive.

Existing conduit trusts may need to be modified before the owner’s death to address how the SECURE Act might undermine the intent of the trust.

Rethinking and possibly completely restructuring the planning for the IRA account may need to occur. This may mean making a charity the beneficiary of the account, and possibly using life insurance or other planning strategies to create a replacement for the value of the charitable donation.

Another alternative may be to pay the IRA balance to a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) on death that will stretch out the distributions to the beneficiary of the CRT over that beneficiary’s lifetime under the CRT rules. Paired with a life insurance trust, this might replace the assets that will ultimately pass to the charity under the CRT rules.

The biggest change in the SECURE Act being examined by estate planning and tax planning attorneys is the loss of the “stretch” IRA for beneficiaries inheriting IRAs after 2019. Most beneficiaries who inherit an IRA after 2019 will be required to completely withdraw all plan assets within ten years of the date of death.

One result of the change of this law will be to generate tax revenues. In the past, the ability to stretch an IRA out over many years, even decades, allowed families to pass wealth across generations with minimal taxes, while the IRAs continued to grow tax tree.

Another interesting change: No withdrawals need be made during that ten-year period, if that is the beneficiary’s wish. However, at the ten-year mark, ALL assets must be withdrawn, and taxes paid.

Under the prior law, the period in which the IRA assets needed to be distributed was based on whether the plan owner died before or after the RMD and the age of the beneficiary.

The deferral of withdrawals and income tax benefits encouraged many IRA owners to bequeath a large IRA balance completely to their heirs. Others, with larger IRAs, used a conduit trust to flow the RMDs to the beneficiary and protect the balance of the plan.

There are exceptions to the 10-year SECURE Act payout rule. Certain “eligible designated beneficiaries” are not required to follow the ten-year rule. They include the surviving spouse, chronically ill heirs and disabled heirs. Minor children are also considered eligible beneficiaries, but when they become legal adults, the ten year distribution rule applies to them. Therefore, by age 28 (ten years after attaining legal majority), they must take all assets from the IRA and pay the taxes as applicable.

The new law and its ramifications are under intense scrutiny by members of the estate planning and elder law bar because of these and other changes. Speak with your estate planning attorney to review your estate plan to ensure that your goals will be achieved in light of these changes.

Reference: Forbes (Dec. 25, 2019) “SECURE Act New IRA Rules: Change Your Estate Plan”

If I Roll All My IRA Money to a Roth, Will I Forfeit Some Tax Benefits?

“Anyone planning to roll over all their assets from a traditional individual retirement account to a Roth version, might want to pause before making the move.”

Rolling over all of your assets from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA can mean tax-free income down the road. However, remember that you’ll also pay taxes on the amount moved. That means there will be no future opportunity to reduce your tax rate further.

CNBC’s recent article, “Moving all your IRA money to a Roth means losing some tax benefits,” says that those lost tax benefits generally relate to medical expenses, charitable contributions and business losses. In contrast, if you leave too much in the IRA, the result may not be good. You may have higher required minimum distributions and taxes.

Roth IRAs grow tax-free and withdrawals generally are also untaxed. They also have no lifetime required minimum distributions, or RMDs. However, traditional IRAs have some potential tax benefits that are gone for good, once the money is moved.

The primary concept in managing taxes in retirement is that you want to get as much money out of your accounts at the lowest possible cost. When you roll over money from a traditional IRA to a Roth, the amount moved is taxed as ordinary income. As a result, you should complete the rollover when you’re in as low a tax bracket as possible. This means tax-free income available down the road, but it also means you’ll have already paid taxes on the rollover. Thus, there’s no opportunity to reduce your rate further. However, if you leave too much in the IRA, the result may not be good. If you think that you might have these future expenses, then it might make sense to keep money in the traditional IRA.

Medical expenses. These are usually a major expense for older Americans and that’s not including the cost of long-term care. However, a tax break for medical expenses is one of the few remaining deductions available to individuals, since the new tax law in 2018. It’s limited to the amount that exceeds 10% of your adjusted gross income and you must itemize your deductions to take advantage of it. However, those with high medical bills can potentially reduce their taxes by applying it. To take the deduction, you must have taxable income to weigh it against. So, if much of your income is coming from a Roth IRA tax-free, you could be restricted in whether you can take advantage of the break. If you took money from an IRA (whose withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income) to cover those health costs, you could use the medical deduction against that withdrawal. This could result in paying less in taxes than what you had paid by rolling that money to a Roth.

Qualified charitable distributions. If you give money to charity each year, keeping money in your traditional IRA to make those donations could be wise, because contributions made through qualified charitable distributions—funds sent directly to the charity from a traditional IRA—are excluded from your taxable income. However, the tax break for charitable contributions can only be used if you itemize your deductions, and generally, a deduction isn’t as valuable as an income exclusion.

Note that this strategy is only available to IRA owners and beneficiaries who are age 70½ or older. Since that is the age when RMDs kick in, the move could reduce your tax liability on the RMD to zero. If your RMD is $5,000, but you give $5,000 to charity anyway, do the qualified charitable distribution, and you don’t have to pick up any of the income.

Business losses. These can only be claimed on your tax return, if you have income to claim them against.

General tax considerations. No matter your overall income, any amount that falls into each of seven defined brackets is taxed at a specific rate. Therefore, the more income you can get taxed at those lower rates, the better. If you could leave some money in the IRA to soak up some of those lower tax rates in the future, you may pay less in taxes on the money than if you converted it.

The current tax brackets and rates will go back to pre-2018 levels at the end of 2025, unless Congress takes action before that time. Therefore, while tax rates are low now, odds are good that they’ll be higher after 2025.

Reference: CNBC (November 27, 2019) “Moving all your IRA money to a Roth means losing some tax benefits”

What Don’t I Know About Retirement?

“Retirement is a topic that regularly makes headlines, and not all of them are encouraging. Americans are living longer than ever before, resulting in lengthy periods of post-career life.”

Investopedia’s recent article, “6 Surprising Facts About Retirement,” writes that if you think most people are saving more in order to prepare for their long-term needs, you’d be incorrect. The article provides us with some of the more startling truths about retirement in the U.S.

1. Retirement May Be Longer Than You Think. The average American will retire at age 66 and live until about 79. However, many will see their retirement last much longer than 13 years. A 65-year-old woman has a 50% chance of making it to age 85, and a 65-year-old man has a 50% chance of reaching age 82. This is why younger people need to plan for 20 years or more of income in retirement. For current retirees, an ultra-conservative portfolio composed solely of bonds may not give them sufficient growth, especially with interest rates so low.
2. Social Security Doesn’t Do It By Itself. Many experts suggest replacing 80% of your usual income once you hit retirement. However, for many, Social Security payments alone won’t be nearly enough to hit that target. In 2019, the average monthly Social Security benefit is just $1,461. That’s just $17,532 per year.
3. We’re Waaaay Behind on Savings. Americans are quite far behind on saving for retirement. When the American workplace turned away from pension plans, workers needed to be responsible for securing their retirement funds. We’re not doing it: according to thestreet.com, in 2019 a typical couple in the 56-to-61 age bracket without any retirement accounts had just $17,000 in savings. For many, that’s not enough to live off for a year, let alone a whole retirement. However, the mean retirement savings of working households age 32 to 61 is $95,776, according to the Economic Policy Institute. 35% of workers have $100,000 or more saved for retirement.
4. Just Half of Americans Have a Retirement Plan. Today, the median annual pension amount for the fast dwindling number of Americans who have the old-fashioned defined-benefit plan is less than $10,000, according to CNBC.com. However, many of us aren’t replacing those pensions with a contribution plan, like a 401(k). Almost half of the population (43%) has no workplace savings vehicle of any kind in 2019, according to Bloomberg.
5. Many People are Staying in the Workforce. Because so many Americans are behind in their savings, it may not be surprising that many remain in the workforce well after reaching Social Security eligibility. Almost 19% of people 65 or older were working either full- or part-time, as of 2017. Consider this: about 20% of workers overall say they’ll never be able to retire!
6. Medicare Doesn’t pay for Assisted Living. Nearly 70% of individuals who reach age 65 will require long-term care at some point. What many seniors don’t know, is that Medicare doesn’t pay for most long-term care costs. It only covers 100 days of care at a skilled nursing facility, and only if it was preceded by a hospital stay of three days or more.

Begin your analysis, by looking at the amount of money you’ll need for retirement, based on your current spending and the standard of living you want. Then look at your savings balances and how much you’re saving regularly.

Roughly 55% of Americans build their nest eggs with a regular savings account. However, that might not be good enough, because of the low interest rates. Savers should consider other investment vehicles.

Be sure that you’re maxing out contributions to your 401(k) or 403(b) if you have one, or at least, saving enough to get the company match. If you don’t have a plan through your work, or you’re lucky enough to max out your plan each year, you can supplement your savings with an IRA. For 2019, you can contribute up to $6,000 a year to an IRA, or $7,000 if you’re age 50 or older.

Reference: Investopedia (September 27, 2019) “6 Surprising Facts About Retirement”