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Sound Advice: April 5, 2023

The Anatomy of a Financial Plan

However essential it is to have a proper plan for one’s financial future, the truth is that most people don’t.  In many cases, they start giving serious thought to what lies ahead as they move into their 50s and 60s, yet by that time it may be too late to make needed adjustments to ensure the ability to continue in their hoped-for lifestyle.

The basic elements of planning are simple: what you own, what you owe, what you are earning, and what you are spending.  Very straightforward.  Three of the four are relatively easy to pinpoint.  The tricky part is getting a handle on expenses.  Not only is it essential to zero in on current expenses, but spending needs to be viewed in three other contexts: retirement, one survivor, and that survivor in retirement.  Viewed from these different angles, the numbers change substantially.

The current expense budget will probably include a couple of dozen categories, from essential (mortgage, utilities, etc.) to discretionary (furnishings, clothing, vacations, etc.)  It may be helpful to average monthly costs over the latest six to 12 months to help focus on each of these.

Retirement and survivorship will have a marked impact.  Many items will be lower; a few will be higher.

Then there’s the matter of Social Security benefits, which are available as early as age 62, but far better to wait at least until Full Retirement Age (FRA) (now about 67) or even better until 70, when the maximum level will be available.  Also, for folks who are considering starting before FRA, there will be tax liability if you continue to work.  After FRA, you can make as much as you want without any reduction in benefits.

In addition to what might be considered regular income and expenses, there may be nonrecurring items, such as inheritances and downsizing.  A much bigger deal will be health issues.  Two-thirds of people over 65 will be faced with the likelihood of needing some kind of long-term care.  If that includes a transfer to a good-quality assisted care facility, the annual cost could easily be in the area of $150,000 or more per year.  Recent statistics suggest that, depending on one’s status, that care will be needed for two to four years, on average.

If one’s resources are sufficient, the cost may be self-funded.  If not and a long-term care insurance policy is bought soon enough, that may be adequate preparation.  But fewer companies are writing this coverage and it has gotten more costly.

The bottom line is where things will stand as one moves along through retirement.  When the numbers fall short, the options will include working longer, spending less, saving more, and getting better returns on one’s investments.

When the process is begun early enough, there will be sufficient time to do what’s needed to keep one’s ship afloat.  Waiting too long, however, may lead to a problem that cannot be fixed.   

N. Russell Wayne, CFPÒ

Any questions?  Please contact me at nrwayne@soundasset.com

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