Retirement is something that most of us have dreamed about since our youth. Perhaps you envision traveling the country and soaking up the best that South Africa has to offer. Maybe you want to whittle away your days at a house on the dam, fishing and enjoying nature. Regardless of what ideal retirement looks like for you, retirement is a goal we all hope to achieve.
Just wanting and dreaming to be retired isn’t enough. In order to retire and actually enjoy your time in retirement, you need the right amount of money saved, invested, or otherwise available once you stop working. The exact Rand amount you need to retire will vary greatly depending on your personal needs. It may seem incredibly daunting to be saving for an extended period in your life where you will have no steady income, but don’t worry, with a bit of sound advice and planning, the retirement of your dreams is well within your reach.
According to the national Treasury, only 6% of South Africans can afford to retire comfortably – and this figure has been the same for the past 25 years, which means that people are simply not planning for their retirement properly, leaving them and their families high and dry.
If you want to have a successful retirement, you need to figure out what that means to you. Do some life planning for retirement, set goals and create a plan that allows you to achieve your retirement goals. Here are some handy tips to remember when making your retirement plans that include financial freedom.
- Start saving at your first job – Beginning to save for retirement in your 20’s and 30’s allows you to start generating valuable compound interest that will accumulate over decades. Tucking away even a small amount will get you into the habit of saving for the future. Don’t worry if you are only starting to save later in life, starting at any time is a step in the right direction. Remember, the best time to start saving for your retirement was yesterday.
- Save with every salary cheque – Create a monthly debit order right from the start. If you make saving automatic, you won’t be tempted to spend it or forget to make a contribution.
- As you earn more, pay more – As your income grows, increase the amount you contribute to your savings. Some saving plans even offer automatic escalation, which will gradually increase your contribution amount over time.
- Avoid unnecessary fees – Some retirement and investment accounts often charge fees for breaks or early withdrawals. Get to know the rules so that you can avoid triggering fees and penalties.
- Pay off your short-term debt – Your retirement investments should not be used to pay off debts that you acquired during your journey. Short-term debt is one of the things that could derail retirement planning, so paying it off properly, and without dipping into your nest egg is important. Contact us on how best to do this.
The most important part of retirement planning is understanding that it is a life long commitment. Nurture your investments, if you luck out on a major windfall, contribute a portion of that to your savings, keep up to date on interest rates and ask for advice on potential income generating investments.
We want you to live your very best life, at every single stage. Let us assess your financial planning to ensure that even though you might be planning for the best future possible, you are still able to live your very best now. With sound financial advice it truly is possible to have the best of both worlds.
Contact us today.
? 011 839 2302