When a Changing Economy Forces Early Retirement

When times get tough, it’s not unusual for many of us to start thinking about how to cope with changes in our employment status. Especially these days, with the coronavirus pandemic still forcing sweeping changes across the economic landscape, many individuals are carefully watching their investment balances and poring over memos from their employers’ HR offices, looking for any hint that they might be looking at some kind of severance or early retirement offer as the company trims costs. What if your company announces a voluntary or involuntary early retirement or severance program? What would you do? 

By the way, this isn’t a new question. Even in the pre-COVID-19 days, more than half of retired persons said they left the workforce earlier than planned, due either to unanticipated job loss or medical reasons. Despite that fact, however, more than 80% of American workers surveyed in an April 2020 study by Allianz Life believed they would be able to retire “on their own terms.” Everyone who is still working hopes they’ll be able to do that, but what if the economy or declining health make that impossible? Here are some steps you can take to be ready if you have to retire earlier than you planned.

Unload your debt. The number-one enemy of a stable and low-stress retirement is too much debt. Whether you are still paying a mortgage or you have too many credit card balances, creating a strategy for knocking out your debt before you retire is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Get serious about your budget. This is strongly connected with jettisoning your debt. Figure out what your no-frills monthly budget is, and stick to it as much as you can. Apply any income above that amount to debt reduction, and you’ll soon start to see those debt balances fall—along with the amount of your income you have to dedicate to interest payments.

Look ahead. Especially if you’re still working and in your prime earning years—typical of many people on the “glide path” toward retirement—make sure you have an accurate forecast of what your income and expenses will be after you’re retired. Don’t forget to include the costs of Medicare and necessary supplemental coverage and possible long-term care insurance.

Make a plan. After you’ve got a good picture of your post-retirement needs, establish a strategy with your savings and investments to ensure that you’ll have enough stashed away to meet your anticipated needs. One of the best ways to do this is by working with a certified, professional financial planner who can help you figure out the best way to get from where you are now to where you need to be.

Following these four steps is the best way to prepare for the possibility of an earlier-than-anticipated retirement. Even if your career is forced to an early ending, shedding debt, budgeting, and advance planning will give you the tools you need to re-set and refocus.

We specialize in helping individuals thrive during retirement. If you’d like to know more about putting our professional resources to work for you, please contact us. To read an informational article about five more solid retirement savings habits, click here.

Buen Camino!