Saving for retirement

How much money do you need to save for your retirement?

Step one: First, define what is a comfortable living? Then turn this comfortable living, defined by yourself, into today’s dollar amount, by a monthly living budget. (1 pt)

Step Two: Based on the film, “Retirement,” and other expert in the field, the suggested amount of savings for an average retiree before their retirement should be 10 or more times the annual income of pre-retirement.

Step Three: turn your “comfortable living” budget into an annual income x10=? (1 pt)

Step Four: Build 3% annual increase in inflation of the total amount you need to save (step 3) times the remaining number of years before you retire. This will be the amount you will need to save before you retire. (provide the software or app you used to compute this number, they can download a software easily) (1 pt)

Step Five: Now ask yourself these following questions:

(Q1-10: 10 pts) 1. How old are you? (age is related to number of years to save)

  1. Do have own a house? If so, how much equity do you have from the house?
  2. Do you have a 401k from work? If so, how much altogether?
  3. Do you have any Social Security benefit? If so, how much at the time of retirement by projection?
  4. Do you expect any inheritance? If so, how much is the likely amount?
  5. Do you have any debt?
  6. Do you have to pay for kids’ college education? If so, what is the estimated amount in total?
  7. If you were to save the amount desired for a “comfortable living” how many years do you still have to save? (use desired age for retirement minus current age)
  8. Now, add the savings together, and deduct all the debt or possible expenditures (such as kids’ education and credit card debt). Where do you stand?
  9. Use a pension calculation tool online to calculate how much money you have to save per month from now till your desired retirement age, after taking into account both your savings and debt. (include your reference or webpage) ( reference 1 pt), if no reference page, deduct a point.
  10. When can you afford to retire? How do your monthly savings differ by your retirement age at 62 & 70? (need to give two number for age 62 and 70) (5 pts)
  11. What can you do to prepare for my retirement? Make your comments.

Comments: (2 pts):

  1. How is your work history, employment pattern, retirement age, and pension plans related to population ageing, and societal changes in the U.S.?

In the year you are at age 65, what percentage of people are 65+ in the U.S.?

Comment on how your personal path toward retirement is likely related to social patterns for retirement and Social Security (5 pts)

  1. Make sure to include your reference page or reference website.