How Your Financial Advisor Can Help You Deal with Unexpected Expenses in Retirement
When you imagine your retirement, you tend to focus on the fun aspects of your freedom from working after so many years. You are most likely daydreaming about traveling to see parts of the world you were not able to experience in your youth or finding a new hobby. However, you must also plan for the financial side of retirement. Meeting with your financial advisor/retirement planner can help you create a custom retirement plan that works with your retirement agenda and how much you can afford to put aside.
Sage Investment Advisers, LCC in Poughkeepsie, NY meets with clients regularly to review their retirement expectations and current income. Your financial advisor/retirement planner will also be able to advise you on the many expenses you may already be aware of in retirement as well as those unexpected expenses you may have never thought of. Here is a list of a few unexpected expenses that may crop up in retirement.
Healthcare Expenses
Medicare doesn’t cover every healthcare expense in retirement. This is where your healthcare costs in retirement have the potential to skyrocket.
One example of a service that may not be covered under Medicare is long-term care. Many long-term care facilities and home-care services “charge co-payments or extra fees for additional services that aren't provided under the long-term plan.”1
In addition to long-term care, Medicare may also not cover expenses related to2:
Ambulance services
Transportation to/from treatment
Homecare
Prescription drugs (depending on your insurance)
Over the counter treatment and supplies
Occupational therapy outside of a hospital
As you plan for retirement, consider all of the health-related expenses that may arise.
Investment Losses
As you work with your financial advisor, you can develop a long-term investment plan that is focused on retirement planning. That being said, you can never completely predict the market so investment losses may be one of your financial considerations. To mitigate this risk, make sure that your investment portfolio aligns with the amount of risk you are willing to take, especially in retirement.
Home Maintenance
After retiring, you may find that you’re spending more time at home, and you might want to make some home upgrades. While you can plan for many of these changes, some might arise unexpectedly. If your health changes or you face a medical procedure, you may need to adapt your home to be more accessible.
Or you may find yourself in a situation where you have to care for a loved one, whether it’s an aging parent or relative, or you have to provide a place for your adult children to come if they need assistance. Even if these situations aren’t in your initial plan, they may be worth planning for as you consider your home maintenance in retirement.
Hobby Expenses
Retirement is a time to celebrate everything you accomplished in your career and take time to enjoy the small things in life. That being said, some retirees might be caught off guard by the cost of these new hobbies and activities. Because retirees are on a fixed income, it’s important to plan for these expenses in detail so they don’t crop up unexpectedly.
How to Deal With Unexpected Expenses in Retirement
Of course, this is just a shortlist of the many unexpected expenses that can arise during retirement. But luckily, you can help protect your retirement income by anticipating the unexpected. As you work with your financial advisor, consider:
Aligning your retirement plan with your goals
Setting aside an emergency fund for unexpected expenses
Maximize tax savings by maximizing your qualified retirement plan contributions during your working years
Time your withdrawals to reduce your overall tax bill
Ensure that your investments are aligned with your risk tolerance
Retirement planning is an exciting process and requires detailed planning to anticipate both the expected and unexpected expenses. Working with a qualified financial advisor can help you feel secure in your retirement planning.
Retirement planning can be an exciting process, but working with an experienced financial advisor/retirement planner will ensure you are taking both expected and unexpected expenses into account. They will also help you create a customized plan that will fit your budget as well as your retirement goals.
Published by Sage Investment Advisers, LLC in Poughkeepsie, NY
We give a financial tip each week on our social media pages! Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to keep up to date on our latest financial tips of the week. Click the link below to view the latest weekly financial tip of the week.
View the monthly investment letters we send out to our clients to keep them up to date on everything going on in the stock market and economy. Click below to view the latest monthly Sage Investment Advisers, LLC letter.
A financial advisor ca help you with investment advice, retirement planner, and a financial plan, but did you know they can also help with life insurance. Learn about the benefits of using a financial advisor for your life insurance plans and how they differ from an insurance agent.
MENU
GET IN TOUCH
Business Hours
- Mon - Fri
- -
- Sat - Sun
- Closed