Retirement Statistics That You Need to Know, Part 2

Be sure to keep your health in mind.
One of the scariest retirement topics is healthcare. Many younger people assume that Medicare will cover all of their post-retirement healthcare costs, but this simply is not the case.

• The average out of pocket medical costs for a 65 year old couple will be $218,000 over the next 20 years.
• Only one in six employers offers healthcare coverage to retirees.
• Healthcare expenses are expected to rise by 5.8% per year through 2022.
• Medicare only covers 62% of the average American’s medical expenses.
• Just one year in a skilled nursing facility can cost more than $200,000 if you don’t have long-term care insurance.

You’ve seen the scary statistics, now do something about it.
The good news is that there is still time to do something about your retirement savings situation, even if you think you’re too old to have a meaningful impact.

If you have a 401(k) or similar retirement plan at work, you can contribute over and beyond the amount your employer is willing to match – up to $18,000 for 2016. If you are 50 or older, you can stretch that by an additional $6,000. And, remember that increasing your 401(k) contributions will lower your taxable income for this year – an added bonus.

If you don’t have a plan at work, or simply want more control over how your retirement funds are invested, a Traditional or Roth IRA is a great way to save up to $5,500 per year ($6,500 if over 50).

Since we’ve spent so much time discussing scary retirement statistics, let’s finish with three good ones.

• If you save $5,500 in an IRA for 30 years, you could build up a retirement nest egg of more than $900,000, based on the stock market’s historical performance. This translates to $458 per month to completely transform your retirement.
• You can potentially save $1,375 on your taxes this year with the maximum allowed traditional IRA contribution.
• If you are a low- to moderate-income taxpayer, you could qualify for a tax credit of up to $1,000 just for saving for retirement in addition to the other tax deduction I just mentioned. This is known as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit, or simply the “saver’s credit.”

Contact our team at Ambassador Advisors to discuss planning for these common retirement costs. Let our professionals help you avoid becoming one of these statistics, and instead, build a lasting legacy for you and your family.

Original article by Matthew Frankel via The Motley Fool January 26th, 2016

Ambassador Advisors is a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. of Holbrook, NY, 631-439-4600 (APFS), member FINRA, SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Ambassador Advisors, LLC. Ambassador Advisors is not owned or operated by APFS.

Any opinions expressed in this forum are not the opinion or view of Ambassador Advisors or American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS). They have not been reviewed by either firm for completeness or accuracy. These opinions are subject to change at any time without notice. Any comments or postings are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an offer or a recommendation to buy or sell securities or other financial instruments. Readers should conduct their own review and exercise judgment prior to investing. Investments are not guaranteed, involve risk and may result in a loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investments are not suitable for all types of investors.