Getting Closer to Retirement

For many people, the closer they get to retirement, the more frightened they get about whether they have saved enough or not. It's understandable. With life expectancy climbing and the ability to not only live longer but to do so with a higher quality of life growing as well, it stands to reason that some people will be a little uneasy when their last paycheck gets ever closer. Are you one of those people?

Identify Needs
There are many financial needs to think about when getting close to retirement, from wondering what your Social Security benefit will look like, to understanding tax considerations. You may even think about what it will be like to live on a fixed income for the rest of your life.

But before you do anything, just relax. Don't try to think about everything at once. Just because you're close to retirement doesn't mean you stop planning. As a matter of fact, it's a great time to refine your plan, or even put one in place for your golden years.

The Big Picture
Before you think too far ahead, take a look at your budget today and get a good understanding of how much it will take for you to live exactly as you are today when you retire.

While making sure your basic needs will be covered when you retire is important, you should also be thinking about estate planning issues and insurance as well. It's also good to start understanding how your tax situation will change when you retire. That way you won't be surprised and can take any action that may be necessary to avoid any additional or unnecessary tax.

Get Started
Even as you get closer to retirement, it's important to continue to think about your short- and long-term goals. To learn more about how Edward Jones approaches your needs, click here. Then contact your local Edward Jones financial adviser, who will be happy to help you identify and prioritise your financial goals and track your progress toward achieving them.