Written by: Financial Freedom Studio | Jackson
Some investment rules have stood the test of time:
- Buy low, sell high!
- Diversify! Diversify! Diversify!
- Abide by the 60-40 rule: 60% stocks, 40% bonds.
While there can be value in the test of time, the retirement realities faced by Americans have changed. Lifespans are longer, a 30-year retirement isn’t unusual, and traditional sources of retirement income—mainly Social Security and pensions—don’t provide the same sense of security they may have in the past.
Longevity = Complexity
Increased longevity brings a new set of complications to retirement planning. Longer lifespans mean investors may need to challenge conventional investment rules in the face of more nuanced considerations:
Social Security—Timing Matters.
To receive your full retirement benefits, you need to wait until your full retirement age (FRA). Your year of birth determines your FRA. Those who turned 62 in 2017 or beyond will have an FRA that ranges from age 66 to age 67. If you claim benefits before your FRA, you will receive a reduced benefit, and if you claim benefits after reaching your FRA, you will receive an increased benefit.
Healthcare.
Not only does increased longevity mean more years of healthcare to afford, but many Americans are starting their retirement before they’re eligible for Medicare, and healthcare inflation continues to outpace the rate of general inflation.1 The average couple is expected to need $285,000 in today’s dollars for medical expenses in retirement, excluding long-term care.2
Supporting Others.
The newest generation of retirees are still finding themselves needing to care for others in their lives, including parents and children. Longer lifespans can mean those who are just starting retirement may be caretakers for their retired parents who need assistance. In addition, a recent study found that 79% of parents continue to serve as the “family bank” for their adult children, paying not only for big-ticket items such as college and weddings, but also for smaller expenses such as phone bills, groceries, and rent.3 Parents of adult children contribute $500 billion annually—twice the amount they invest in their own retirement accounts.4 Sixty-three percent of parents in the study said they have sacrificed their financial security for the sake of their children.5
"With such diversified needs, Americans could use this simple rule: One investment does not fit all."
One Product Does Not Fit All
With such diversified needs, Americans could use this simple rule: One investment does not fit all.
Investors who have been steered only toward stocks may be taking a risk by limiting themselves to options that are market-dependent. A portfolio entirely invested in the stocks that comprise the S&P 500 locks wealth into investments that are highly correlated—meaning that when the market dips, it's likely they will all dip.
This can put investors in a risky place in a down market—if they hit a rough patch, there’s nowhere to hide. Those already retired and making withdrawals may be forced to sell stocks in a down market. These losses can be harder to recover from in retirement without employment income to reinvest or another cushion to lean on to wait for a stock market recovery.
What Does Diversification Look Like?
To help offset these dips, you may want to consider having non-correlated assets.
If your portfolio currently comprises only large-cap stocks, adding small-cap stocks won’t do much to diversify it, as both are still correlated. Generally, when people think of diversifying their portfolio, they think of adding international stocks, and they overlook fixed-income investments.
Annuities,* for example, can diversify your portfolio and add stability by providing steady, reliable income for retirement that doesn’t depend on the markets.† In addition, annuites can provide income for the rest of your life.‡
To learn more about how diversification can help you enjoy retirement on your terms, subscribe to the Financial Freedom Studio.
1 “Healthcare Price Growth Significantly Outpaces Inflation,” Modern Healthcare, October, 2018.
2 “How Much Healthcare Will Cost You in Retirement,” Barron’s, April, 2019.
3 “The Financial Journey of Modern Parenting: Joy, Complexity and Sacrifice,” Merrill Lynch, October, 2018.
4 “The Financial Journey of Modern Parenting: Joy, Complexity and Sacrifice,” Merrill Lynch, October, 2018.
5 “The Financial Journey of Modern Parenting: Joy, Complexity and Sacrifice,” Merrill Lynch, October, 2018.
Related: The Pros and Cons of Annuities