Helping your clients prepare for the financial storm to come

We tell people to prepare for winter storms. I remind my daughter to keep a flashlight and extra batteries in her apartment in case the power goes out. Whenever inclement weather is coming, I make sure she gets bottled water and charges her phone. These are simple things she can do to stay safe if something goes wrong.

We need help people prepare for retirement the same way they prepare for storms — because a financial storm is coming.

Americans are not saving enough. Even with the increase in the stock market over the last two years, the latest information shows very little improvement in retirement preparedness. The current average 401(k) balance is $63,929. But that number is deceiving because a few accounts have exceptionally large values.

In fact, 75 percent of 401(k) investors still have less than last year’s average 401(k) balance of $58,991. Nearly 40 percent of Americans begin their retirement with savings of $10,000 or less. 

Not only have people not saved enough, but they are living longer in retirement than ever before. Some retirees will require income in retirement for a longer period of time than they actually worked.

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI.org), a couple who makes it to age 65 together will have one spouse who has a 50 percent chance of living to age 90. That surviving spouse has a 25 percent chance of living to age 95. A single person at age 65 has a 50 percent chance of living to age 85.

Even if we use the best average account value of $63,000, how can someone live for 20 years in retirement on just Social Security and $63,000?

Inflation will eat away at that purchasing power. Even minor inflation can devastate people who are living on fixed incomes.