Avoid These Common Pre-Retirement Blunders

Posted: August 28, 2012 at 6:14 am


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A single financial misstep right before retirement can mean the difference between peace of mind and constant money worries in later years.

Misinterpreting a spouse's retirement dreams, failing to plan for emergencies and spending too much are just a few of the mistakes folks approaching retirement may make.

Below, financial advisers weigh in on how to avoid these and other mistakes before you turn in your office I.D.

1. Failing to coordinate

Certified financial planner Christine Fahlund recalls one couple she worked with: The husband thought he had diligently prepared for retirement, including regularly crunching numbers on an online retirement-planning calculator. In his calculations, the husband assumed his wife would retire in six years while he would retire right away.

[More from WSJ.com: How to Avoid Medicare Land Mines]

But once he retired and reminded his wife of their "plan," she was livid. Turns out she had told him several years earlier that she "might" be willing to work six years longer, but had since decided she was no longer willing to do so. The husband ended up going back to work.

To avoid such confusion, as early as five years before retirement, couples should write down their plans and answer questions such as when they'd each like to retire, where each would like to live, what each wants to continue doing in retirement and what new activities each wishes to pursue.

They'll want to revisit these plans annuallyespecially during the six months prior to either spouse's retirement dateshe says.

2. Not expecting the unexpected

See the article here:
Avoid These Common Pre-Retirement Blunders

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August 28th, 2012 at 6:14 am

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