Retirement Planning in the Age of Longevity

Retirement Planning in the Age of Longevity
Amara Rose HECM WORLD November 19,2013


"To the degree that people reach old age mentally sharp, physically fit, and financially secure, the problems of individual and societal aging fall away.”
— Laura L. Carstensen, Founding Director

Stanford Center on Longevity
According to a Stanford study on planning for retirement at a time when we’re living longer than ever before, confidence in the ability to retire comfortably — or even to retire at all — is at a new low. Pitfalls include:

• Failing to plan for retirement
• Underestimating expenses
• Underestimating the number of years they will be retired
• Retiring too early
• Failing to save

The biggest challenge is failing to plan for retirement at all, researchers say. Only a third of adults in their 50s have ever tried to devise a retirement plan…and only two-thirds of those who have tried have succeeded.

Even among those who do save, fear of limited resources tops the list of retirement concerns. According to a Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2013 Workplace Benefits Report, in a nationwide survey of more than 1000 employees from companies of all sizes:

• 80% experienced an increase in health care costs in last two years (this may change under the Affordable Care Act)
• 56% are saving less for retirement as a result
• 85% feel they’re not saving enough
• 60% believe it will be “very difficult” to ever save enough to support their standard of living once they retire
• 79% would give up 5% or more of their salary if it meant having reliable income to help them live comfortably during their later years (38% would give up 10% of their salary — or more).

Though neither research report mentions reverse mortgage as a viable option for older adults once they reach retirement age, given the monetary concerns now facing those in late middle age or nearing retirement, this group appears to be a ripe market to consider the possibility, assuming someone owns a home with sufficient equity to qualify.

Yet continuing to earn isn’t the only reason for seniors to postpone retirement, says U.S. News & World Report, which suggests there are a number of good reasons to retire the idea of retirement for a while yet, such as:

• Enjoying one’s job. While boss-bashing makes for humorous cartoons and water cooler conversation, people who love what they do need not retire just because they reach a certain age. Boomers, especially, are aging (and perceive aging) much differently than previous generations. A professional hair stylist, for example, is still booked months ahead because she takes time off to travel. At 67, she has no plans to retire anytime soon.
• Improved health. Contrary to popular belief, working longer may actually enhance later life health: one study of nearly half a million French workers found that every additional year of work before retirement lowered the risk of dementia 3.2 percent.
• Marital accord. Women have long maintained that once their husbands retire they’re underfoot all day and at loose ends, which can wreak havoc on a marriage. The longer at least one partner continues working, the better it may be for marital harmony. The extra income is a bonus.

With the necessity of planning for retirement and the the positives about continuing to work, a reverse mortgage could be something that could help to give you the best possible life and aid in securing an enjoyable future in the age of longevity.