Updated: March 17, 2024
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If you’re heading into retirement, the last thing you want to worry about is how you’ll continue to make money. Generating income without working can be complicated for older adults, but it’s not impossible. It’s essential to understand your options and be aware of potential scams. Unfortunately, older adults are the main target for financial scams.
Still, you can maintain smart spending in retirement and maximize your finances safely and successfully with the proper planning and strategies.
Surprising Facts About Retirement Income
People are working longer and needing more money for retirement than ever before. When considering finances in retirement, keep the following facts in mind.
The average retirement income is around $73,000, but the median retirement salary is $47,000.
Half of all Americans age 65 or older have incomes of less than $24,224 a year.
Social Security payments to retirees average only $15,619 a year, roughly two-fifths of their earnings before retirement.
Social Security, pensions, and investments are common sources of income for older adults, but many additional possible income streams exist. From annuities and bond ladders to reverse mortgages, the options below may not fit every person but are an excellent place to start exploring what may be possible.
Get an understanding of multiple strategies for receiving a steady income, along with the pros and cons and why they’re important.
An annuity is an insurance product that provides the buyer with a guaranteed income for life. When purchasing a retirement annuity, you can do so as an immediate or deferred option. For most older adults, immediate annuities are more popular because they start paying out within a month of being purchased.
To buy an immediate annuity, you pay one lump sum exchanged for a monthly cash flow. If you prefer to let your principal increase before receiving payouts, you opt for a deferred annuity.
Typically, those facing retirement will take money earned during their working years to purchase an immediate annuity. Annuities come in many shapes and sizes, so it’s best to research different annuity options before buying one.
Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
Guaranteed immediate income: Start receiving cash within a month of purchasing an annuity. | They’re permanent: Once you buy an annuity, you can’t change your mind. |
Security: Annuities are not affected by stock prices or interest rates. | Annuity value decreases over time: As a result of inflation, your purchase value will decrease over time. |
Secure income payment: Your income payment will never increase with an annuity. | You lose leftover benefits: In the event of your death, the insurance company keeps any remaining finances in your annuity. |
Flexible payout options: Receive money monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or annually. | High upfront costs: When you purchase an immediate annuity you pay a one-time lump sum upfront. |
Annuities work like Social Security and can supplement for individuals who do not receive enough benefits to cover daily bills and expenditures from other income streams. Annuities can provide a consistent payout for older adults looking for a stream of income with low risks and should be purchased if you do not need the total sum of money soon. At times, annuities can result in higher fees than other investment options. When exploring annuity options, it’s best to work with a financial advisor versus an annuity seller.
To determine the return on an immediate annuity, take the lump sum you purchased the annuity for and divide it by your life expectancy. For example, if you buy an annuity for $500,000 and your life expectancy is 20 years, you would receive $2,083 a month for the next 20 years.
Money in the bank is ideal, but without a strategic withdrawal plan you could end up running out of your savings with many years left to live. Strategic withdrawal includes a method for withdrawing your money and using it as cash flow in addition to allowing what you still have in savings to continue to work for you. Older adults need a strategic withdrawal plan for anywhere that you’re storing money, including 401k plans, IRAs, mutual funds, bonds and bank accounts.
Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
Start small | Withdraw 4-5% in your first year of retirement and increase slowly every year. |
Withdraw from one account at a time | Start with your taxable accounts, then traditional and Roth accounts last. |
Withdraw proportionally | Spread out your withdrawals across all accounts to save money to reduce the tax impact. |
Only take out what you need | Keep as much money in savings as you can so it can continue to work for you. |
Choose a timeframe | Commit to withdrawing money monthly, quarterly, or yearly versus any time. |
Without a plan in place and some general knowledge of how much money you have and how long you need it to last, it’s easy to spend quickly. Strategic withdrawals provide a steady source of income without burning through your savings. While it’s a great way to provide regular income, it doesn’t take into consideration the tax implications of withdrawing from retirement accounts as well as any fund performance you’d receive from keeping the money in high-performing mutual bonds or retirement stocks.
Traditional withdrawal strategies include withdrawing from one account at a time but can result in higher tax implications. If you do not have significant taxable capital gains, a proportional strategy in taking cash across all accounts could lower the tax impact.
Bonds are issued by companies or government entities but can be purchased as investments. Bond laddering is when you purchase a variety of bonds that all have differing mature dates. When a bond matures, it pays out an interest rate, typically twice a year. When you use a bond ladder, the maturity dates are staggered, leading to a steady stream of income. To build a bond ladder, you’d start with purchasing a bond. When the maturity date occurs, you then purchase a new bond. With each bond purchased, the maturity date is further in the future, which extends the ladder.
Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
Minimal risk: Staggering bonds allows you to avoid getting locked into one interest rate | No diversity: It is difficult to diversify your portfolio with bond laddering |
No capital losses: Holding the bond until maturity means you won’t face capital losses | Company strength: Purchasing a bond for a company that fails could result in losing money |
Predictable income: When done properly, bond laddering can result in predictable monthly, quarterly, yearly income | High trading costs: Individual investors can face high trading costs of bond purchasing |
Reinvesting earnings: You can take your bond earnings and reinvest them | No capital gains: When interest rates decline, bonds appreciate in value |
Bond laddering is a popular source of predictable income because it is low risk and allows you to avoid the impact of increased tax rates. It’s a valuable strategy to add to your portfolio because you know what you’re getting. With bond laddering, you receive cash from the interest payments until the bond matures. By understanding the maturity date, you know exactly when you’ll receive your money. It’s essential in bond laddering to ensure you’re investing in high-quality bonds. Fidelity’s bond ladder tool can help you get started building a bond ladder.
If you buy four bonds today that have staggered maturities of 1% yield, 2% yield, 2.5% yield, and 3% yield, you’d have an average yield of 2.215%. When the first bond matures in two years, you can take the proceeds and reinvest in a new bond to extend your ladder.
Pension plans are employee benefit plans that provide retirement income upon ending your career until the day you die. Typically, companies build pension plans by investing large sums of money into the stock market and bonds to ensure enough money to pay employees’ pensions once they retire. There are two types of pension plans, a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan. Both promise a specified amount of money at retirement, either in an exact dollar amount or based on a formula that includes salary and service.
Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
Guaranteed payouts: You receive a payout from the moment you retire until your death | Minimal control: The employer controls how the money is invested. |
Fixed benefits:You know the benefits you’re getting from the pension plan | Potential company failure: If the company goes bankrupt, it could result in the financial loss of the pension plans. |
You don’t have to invest: The company does the investing for you, taking on the investment risks | Not offered by all employers: Few companies provide pension plans and can be challenging to find. |
Deferred income tax: You can defer income tax on your investment returns until you withdraw the money | Not easily transferable: If you change companies, your pension plan may not be easily transferable to a new company. |
Finding a company that offers a pension plan can provide valuable comfort in retirement. Pension plans provide a steady income for the rest of your life without you having to do much. Sometimes you can even choose a pension plan that includes a beneficiary. While a pension plan is not as individually flexible as a 401k, it provides a guaranteed source of income throughout the rest of your life, as long as the company continues to see success.
Pension plans are paid out on a specific amount, such as $500 a month, or based on salary plus service. For example, an individual could receive 1% of the average salary over the last five years with the company. If you were making $100,000, you’d receive $1,000 a month for the rest of your life.
A reverse mortgage allows you to take the equity in your home and turn it into cash. For older adults who own a large portion of their home, a reverse mortgage can be used as a source of retirement income without risking the roof over your head. To access a reverse mortgage, you must be 62 years or older and have enough equity in your home to borrow against it. You can choose your payouts from a reverse mortgage loan in a monthly payment, one large sum or as a line of credit. When you purchase a reverse mortgage, you don’t make any loan payments.
Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
You can stay in your home: As long as you have enough equity in your home, you can continue to live in it while borrowing against it. | Other house expenses: You are still responsible for your property taxes, insurance, association fees and other costs to maintain your home. |
No taxes: You do not have to pay taxes on the cash you get from a reverse mortgage. | Associated fees: Since a reverse mortgage is a loan, it accumulates interest and fees. |
Pay off your existing mortgage: You can use the funds from your reverse mortgage to pay off your current mortgage. | Fewer assets for your heirs: Any heirs will be responsible for repaying the loan balance if you do not pay it before your death. |
Non-recourse loan: If the reverse mortgage exceeds the value of your home, you’re not responsible for paying the excess amount. | You can lose your home: If you don’t keep up with the monthly fees, you can foreclose on your home. |
Many individuals spend years paying off their homes and earning equity. A reverse mortgage can keep you in your home while providing monthly, quarterly, or yearly income. You can even take your loan in one lump sum. Reverse mortgages are a good option for retirement income because you can spend the money on anything you need. As long as you are committed to paying off your loan, you won’t go into more debt by pursuing a reverse mortgage. You can determine how much you may get from a reverse mortgage using a reverse mortgage calculator.
Reverse mortgage payouts are based on the value of your home and current loan rates. As of 2022, the max amount someone can get paid by a reverse mortgage is $822,375.
Every paycheck you receive has a small amount taken out that goes into Social Security for most individuals. You also earn credits for the number of years you pay into Social Security. Once you’ve reached 40 credits, you qualify for Social Security benefits which are monthly cash payouts from the government to supplement income in retirement. You must be 62 years old to claim Social Security, and the amount you receive is based on your earnings record from your working years.
Social Security is the most widespread form of income for retired adults in America. It’s important to take advantage of Social Security because it’s money you’ve already worked to earn that you can finally claim. For individuals who have other income sources, you may need to pay taxes on your Social Security. The Social Security Administration makes it easy to calculate your potential benefits, apply, and manage your Social Security account.
If your last yearly income were $80,000 a year, you would receive $1,450 in Social Security benefits from age 62 to 67. According to the Social Security benefits calculator, that amount increases several hundred dollars at age 67 and again at age 70.
When considering government assistance for those facing retirement, most people do not think beyond Social Security and Medicare, but there are a variety of additional offerings to aging adults. Income programs like the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Senior Community Service Employment (SCSE) programs can provide another income stream for individuals in retirement. There are also numerous tax assistance programs as well as resources for federal workers and retired military. Learn about different avenues of income and government and public assistance in the resources below.
While the amount of money you have coming in changes in retirement, daily bills tend to stay the same. Managing income streams wisely in retirement is crucial to making your money last long as you need it. Older adults need to consider the sources of income, how much they have, what they need to spend each month, and how long it will last you. This can be solved with a strategy for your retirement paychecks.
Several risks can impact finances throughout our lives, and that does not change in retirement. When crafting strategies to manage income streams it’s important to understand different factors that will impact how you strategize your finances. These include things like tax efficiency, income, investment strategies, and others listed below.
It’s never too soon to start implementing strategies that maximize your income. Even if retirement feels a long way away, there are things you can start doing today to improve your finances so that you’re secure down the road.
If your employer offers a 401k, you should be contributing as much as you can early on and at the very least meeting your employers’ match. The max you can contribute to a 401k is $19,500, and the earlier you can start contributing, the more you’ll gain from compounded interest over the years.
Explore the multiple streams of income that we mentioned earlier. You can start working towards many of these long before you retire, like purchasing bonds and annuities.
For individuals aged 50 that haven’t been contributing the max amount to your 401k or IRAs, you qualify for catch-up contributions that enable you to invest beyond the typical limits.
Knowing the amount of money you’re working towards saving for retirement and receiving monthly upon retirement can help you achieve success. Start with a goal and put a plan in place to reach milestones throughout your life.
Even if you’ve been managing your finances for several decades, there are a variety of hiccups and mistakes that can impede your financial success as you age. A few wrong moves could leave you without enough money in retirement, from ignoring inflation to relying on the wrong income streams. When planning and managing your retirement paycheck, avoid making these common mistakes.
Lending out money
You’ve worked hard to save up your cash, and when you retire, it’s your right to spend your hard owned money on yourself. It can be easy to feel obligated or desire to give money to loved ones who may be struggling, but it’s important not to become relied upon as a source of income for others. Set boundaries with your finances and how much you’re willing to lend out.
Not saving enough
It can be challenging to know how much to save without knowing the exact age you will retire or what inflation will look like when you do. You also need to consider how long you may live. There are numerous life expectancy calculators you can use, like the Society of Actuaries longevity illustrator. You also need to consider various types of insurance as an older adult, potential health issues and having to leave your home.
Relying on the market
Investing in the stock market can have significant gains, but it can also have big losses. Trying to beat the market or rely on outperforming the market can put your finances at risk. It’s better to work with a professional investor to ensure you’re utilizing the stock market to your benefit.
Depending on social security
We work most of our lives to collect Social Security once we retire, but the amount may not be what you’re expecting. It is also not likely enough money to pay all of your bills in retirement. In 2021, the average Social Security amount was $1,543 a month. You can use this Social Security calculator to determine the monthly amount you’ll receive.
Keeping all money in cash
Keeping all of your money in cash means that you aren’t benefiting from making money on your cash, and you don’t stay up-to-date with inflation. Things like health care are rising more rapidly than the cost of living, so it’s crucial to have your money diversified in ways that are easily accessible in cash and through other investments, like real estate, retirement funds and similar outlets.
Ignoring inflation
The cost of living is continuously increasing. That means the amount of money you have now will not be worth the same amount in five, 10, or 15 years. A big mistake in money management is not factoring inflation into your planning. An inflation calculator can help predict inflation on consumer goods and services.
Creating a written plan
Aging adults can work with a financial advisor or wealth manager to create a written plan for managing and spending income in retirement. The best-laid plans can go astray if not written down. Having your retirement plan in writing makes it easier to navigate the minute details of finances at different stages in life.
Aging adults are the center of money scams because they’re often polite, trusting, and believed to have a lot of money. Lottery, tech support, government impersonation and several other scams target older adults every year. Scammers will build relationships with their targets via email or telephone, and over 90% of the time, the scammer is a family member. Use the following steps to avoid the most common types of scams to protect yourself and your finances.
It can be challenging to identify scams if you don’t know what to watch for. The most common scams that target aging adults include romance, tech support, grandparent, government impersonation, sweepstakes/charity, home repair, TV/radio, family/caregiver scams. You can learn more about each of these through the FBI's scam and safety breakdown for older adults.
Unless you’re certain of who is asking for it, never disclose identifiable information like your Social Security number, credit card numbers, driver’s license or similar.
Many scams will come through a computer, informing you that your hard drive needs to be reset or that it has a virus. Most of the time, these are scams looking for your credit card. Never download unsolicited information from a pop-up on your computer.
Before you provide any personal information or money to someone over the phone, email, or online, search for their contact information to identify that they are who they say they are.
Most scammers will pressure you to act quickly. Do not give in to the sense of urgency and take the time to assure that the person asking for your information or assets is not a scammer.
Should someone gain access to your personal information via your computer or mobile device, immediately call your financial institutions and credit card companies to notify them of the infiltration.
There are a variety of experts and professionals that can help you prepare for retirement and understand potential income streams. MoneyGeek spoke with industry leaders and academics to provide expert insight on predicting life expectancy and properly saving for retirement.
There are a variety of resources available for aging adults to begin preparing for retirement as early as possible. No matter what stage of life you’re in, the following resources are a good place to further your knowledge on potential income streams and how to get started today.
About Sara East
Sara East is a contributing finance writer at MoneyGeek, with over 15 years of experience in public relations, content and digital marketing. She has published articles in national news sites including Mashable, The Muse and The Next Web, covering finance, business, entrepreneurship, education, travel, real estate and insurance for the past decade.
East completed her journalism degree from the University of Nevada, Reno.
