Retirement refers to a period in life wherein you permanently leave the workforce. People retire at different stages, and social security contributions guarantee monthly payments starting at 62, which may vary per country. However, considering inflation and possible emergencies, you may need more than the allocated monthly amount to live out the rest of retirement comfortably.
Retirement is a personal choice, and most people dream of retiring early without proper financial backing. Aside from getting your pension and other retirement benefits, it would help if you prepared your financial safety net a few years before retiring to prevent problems for you and your family.
Professionals recommend spending the final five employed years before retirement wisely, optimizing your company salary and benefits. If you play your cards right, you will live a financially-equipped, comfortable, and relaxing retirement.
These are the reasons why you should dedicate the final half-decade in the workforce to retirement planning:
Compound Interest
Financial firms like Ellinghams Tokyo Japan utilize the power of compounding interest, an accumulation of earnings on the principal. Warren Buffett used to say that his life was a product of compound interest, and this is a significant financial lesson, especially in the years leading to retirement.
To illustrate this, let’s say you have savings of $100,000 in the bank at a 5% annual interest rate, and you let it sit there without depositing or withdrawing. You’ll get the following in interest:
- $5,000 profit in the first year
- $5,250 in the second
- $5,512.50 in the third
- $5,788.13 on the fourth
- $6,077.53 on the fifth
Even with an untouched initial amount, you may have noticed that the annual interest has improved by at least $1,000 (around 1% of the principal) in the fifth year. The fund will keep growing because you are gaining interest in both the principal and the profit. Even if you only start five years before retirement, your $100,000 would have earned $27,628.16 in compounding interest, more than double that amount in the next five years. If you spend your last five years in the workforce, saving at least $6,000 a year or $500 a month, your savings will benefit from the principal and the interests accrued.
Of course, it’s just an example of a straightforward bank savings account, assuming you don’t add more money to it in the following years. A well-made and diversified portfolio could offer more compounding interests, primarily if the markets perform well. That’s why you should dedicate a portion of your budget to investments and not just rely on savings.
Retirement Costs
Retirement expenses are inevitable, even if you plan a minimal or plain lifestyle without luxuries. You must pay utilities, groceries, medicines, and other monthly bills without relying on the usual paycheck, so you can only prepare for retirement after considering the overall cost beforehand.
According to Ellingham Tokyo Japan review, the most accurate retirement cost estimates would come from the final five years before it because your lifestyle would be close enough to your retirement phase. If you ask a person in their twenties, thirties, or forties about retirement costs, you’d probably get amounts that don’t consider inflation, possible medical expenses, and other aspects.
That’s not to suggest that you cannot plan for retirement earlier than your forties; it simply implies that your subsequent costs will be more apparent in your fifties or sixties. Aside from that, you will have a better idea of what you want to do during your retirement, which would help accurately predict the needed costs.
Massive Payments Upfront
Your final five years in the workforce will give you the best income compared to the rest of your career. Therefore, you should evaluate the possible significant expenses and pay them off before retiring to prevent potential hiccups or problems. Remember that anything can happen during retirement, so consider clearing large purchases or payments beforehand.
These expenditures may include:
- Debt clearing
- House renovation or purchase
- Car replacement
- Smart device installations
- Landscape architecture
- Appliances upgrade
You won’t receive your usual paycheck, so pay these enormous sums off while still employed to reduce pressure and stress. Most prioritize clearing debt or loan clearing to ensure the finances stretch beyond retirement.
Medical Procedure Opportunity
According to Ellinghams Tokyo Japan, physical and mental health issues may arise during retirement due to natural factors. Maximize your employer-provided health insurance before leaving the workforce to optimize your retirement budget and prevent significant out-of-pocket medical spending.
Use the five years before retirement for checkups, surgeries, and other medical procedures while company health insurance coverage is still available. Circumvent severe health issues by utilizing preventive and annual health checkups while employed.
Dream Lifestyle
Retirement is the best time to pursue your hobbies and interests because you have more free time than when you were in the workforce. Imagine your retirement like a blank canvas just waiting for you to color it however you want.
These are the key questions to ask yourself when assessing your potential dream lifestyle:
- What activities will I do to pass the time?
- How will I pay for the activities?
- How will it impact my living expenses?
If you ask yourself what you plan to do during your retirement, your final five years in the workforce will give you better answers than at any other time. You will know your latest interests, hobbies, and routines at the most relevant time.
Take Retirement Planning Seriously
One of the common misconceptions about retirement is that having social security or retirement funds would be enough to sustain monthly living expenses. People also believe they should refrain from planning their retirement since it’s supposed to be a time for non-work activities.
However, the last five years in the workforce is the perfect time to start retirement planning if you haven’t already. If you already have a financial plan, you can spend those years perfecting or finalizing your retirement and family funds. Your adept preparation will ensure you and your family will be comfortable in the coming years.