Essential Retirement Planning Guide: Prepare Now for the Future

CHAPTER14 Retirement and Estate Planning By 2030, 76 million Baby Boomers will have retired. Only 46 million Gen X’ers will have come up to replace them. “If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have done things a whole lot differently!” – Oft-heard lament of senior citizens

Why Think AboutRetirement Planning Now? • People are spending more years (16-20) in retirement • A private pension and Social Security are most often insufficient to cover the cost of living • “What private pension plan?!” • Inflation may(not “may” – “will”)diminish the purchasing power of your retirement savings

Estimating Retirement Living Expenses • Spending patterns will change • Some expenses may go down or stop… • Work, clothing, housing, income taxes • But other expenses will probably go up… • Medical, leisure, gifts and contributions • Inflation will raise the amount you need to cover your expenses over your probable 16 to 20 or more years in retirement The tricky wild card is health care. It is the only thing that truly scares Yours Truly with respect to my wife’s and my retirement.

Medical 11.3% Housing Food 15.4% 32.5% Entertainment 4.9% 7.7% Insurance and other 16.3% 5.7% 6.2% Contributions Transportation Clothing How an “Average” Older (65+) Household Spends its Money U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Planning Your Retirement Housing • Consider the cost of living and taxes • Most people prefer to stay in their homes • 6 out of 7 people will remain in their homes • “Reverse mortgage” can help supplement income • Continuing care retirement communities provide increasing levels of care • Some decide to relocate – Careful! • Research carefully! Rent for a year or two • More and more Americans are retiring abroad • “Costa Rica, anyone?” • Must still pay Federal income taxes but not state • Health care is an issue • If you cancel Medicare, it will be expensive to rejoin

Planning Your Retirement Income Social Security • Most widely used source of retirement income, covering 97% of U.S. workers • Meant to be part of your retirement income, but not the sole source • Check the Earnings & Benefits statement you receive each year • Full retirement benefits at age 65 to age 67, depending on the year you were born • Confidence in Social Security is low

Planning Your Retirement Income (continued) Social Security (continued)

Planning Your Retirement Income (continued) Employer Pension Plans - Defined Benefit • Employer will pay you a certain amount per month when you retire based on your pre-retirement salary, number of years of service and your age at retirement • Thank you Southwestern College & CalSTRS • Employer makes the investment decisions for your and their contributions, but your benefit amount stays the same regardless of how the investments perform • Unless the fund goes belly up, of course… Social Security is an example of a defined benefit plan.

Planning Your Retirement Income (continued) Employer Pension Plans - Defined Contribution • Money-purchase pension plans • Percent of your earnings are set aside • Stock bonus plans • Employer’s contribution is used to buy stock in your company for you • Profit-sharing plans • Employer’s contribution depends on the company’s profits • Salary reduction plans(a.k.a. 401(k), 403(b), etc.) • Employer makes non-taxable contributions – the “match” • Employee contributions are tax-deferred • Unless your company offers the “Roth 401(k), Roth 403(b)” option

Estimating Retirement Living Income • Retirement Calculators • Available on many, many financial websites • https://www.americanfunds.com/individual/planning/tools/retirement-planning-calculator.htm • https://www3.troweprice.com/ric/ricweb/public/ric.do • Longevity Calculator • http://media.nmfn.com/flash/longevity-game/game.html • Social Security will send you an Estimated Benefits statement upon request • www.ssa.gov/estimator • They send one to you every year once you reach age 60 • Three months before your birthday

Types of Retirement Accounts • Pre-tax Contributions • 401(k), 403(b), 457 for private & public employees • TSP for Federal employees • Traditional IRA for everyone • SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Keogh for self-employed • Tax Break Now • Deduct contributions from income tax • Pay Taxes in Retirement • Post-tax Contributions • Roth IRA for (almost) everyone • “Roth 401(k), Roth 403(b)” if company offers it • Tax Break Later • Tax-Free in Retirement!

Taxable Accounts versus Retirement Accounts “Cash” Bonds Bonds Stocks Hard Assets Options “Cash” Stocks Futures Margining Real Estate Mutual Funds Shorting Mutual Funds Taxable Account Retirement Account a.k.a. Regular account IRA, 401(k), 403(b), Roth IRA, etc. All contributions are post-tax dollars Strict limits on contributions Strict limits on investment types No limit on contributions No limits on investment types Tax-deferred (Roth IRA – tax-free) Pay taxes every year on gains Although there are many subtle and not-so-subtle differences, the major differences are how they are taxed by the IRS, how much money you can contribute, and what you can have in the account.

Individual Retirement Arrangement “What? I thought it stood for Individual Retirement Account!?” • The most popular personal retirement plan • Traditional IRA • Anyone with earned income can contribute to a Traditional IRA • Contributions are normally tax-deductible • Unless you have a retirement plan at your employment and make over a certain amount • Contribution limits are increasing • $5,500 in 2018 (Same for Roth IRA – extra $1,000 if 50 or over) • Investment grows tax-deferred • You pay taxes on the money as you withdraw it once you are retired. This is normally at age 59½ • Mandatory withdrawals begin at age 70½

And the IRA’s Many Cousins… • 401(k), 403(b), 457, TSP ($18,500 limit, extra $6,000 if 50+) • SEP IRA – self-employed, small business • (25% of your earnings) • Simple IRA – self-employed, small business • ($12,500 annual limit, $3,000 if 50 or over) • Simple 401(k) – self-employed, small business • Keogh – self-employed, small business • Roth IRA – anyone with earned income • Unless you earn too much – limits same as Traditional IRA • Roth 401(k), Roth 403(b) – limits same as 401(k), 403(b) They all work very much like the Traditional IRA [pre-tax contributions, tax-deferred] except for the Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), and Roth 403(b) [post-tax contributions, tax-free].

A Pre-tax Contribution Lowers Your Taxes Now Example: 401(k) / 403(b) But the whole $100 still goes into your account!

“So What’s the Catch?” • You pay income tax on any amounts withdrawn in retirement • But people in retirement are usually in a lower tax bracket • If not, Congratulations! • If you withdraw the funds before retirement… • You pay the income tax, and • You pay a 10% penalty • Exceptions for first home purchase ($10,000), higher education, medical disability and financial hardship (hard to get accepted by IRS)

A Post-tax Contribution Gives No Tax Break Now Example: Roth IRA So Why Contribute to a Roth IRA?

“Because a Roth IRA is So Cool!” • Tax-Free in Retirement is a Golden Opportunity • No other investment choice comes close • Eventually, they will probably be gotten rid of • Plus, you can withdraw the contributions at any time with no penalty • You have already paid tax on the contributions • This makes the Roth IRA also an excellent intermediate-term investment account • Purchase of a house or other high-ticket item • Great for college expenses • Currently not used in Financial Aid calculations

But a Roth IRA is not for everyone (Yes, it is. You just have to learn how to navigate the paperwork.) • Limitations on Roth IRAs Contributions • Only single taxpayers with an AGI of $120,000 or less in 2018 and married couples with an AGI of $189,000 or less in 2018 can fully contribute to a Roth IRA • If you don’t qualify, Congratulations! • But you can contribute to a Roth IRA anyway • If you find that you have made over the limit, you can “recharacterize” the contributions into a Traditional IRA (which does not have the same limitations) before you file your taxes • And then you convert the Traditional IRA to a Roth • I know. I know. Who voted for these bozos? • Oh, yeah. We did…

Tax Credit for Low Income Earners • Up to 50% of contributions • Maximum of $2,000 • Based on Adjusted Gross Income • $31,500 or less – single filers • $63,000 or less – married filing jointly • $47,250 or less – head of household • Reminder: A tax credit is a dollar for dollar reduction of income taxes If you do your own taxes, don’t forget this. If you have someone do them, make sure to remind them you made contributions to a retirement account.

“Roth 401(k)” / “Roth 403(b)” • If your employer offers the option, you are able to place after-tax dollars into your 401(k) or 403(b) accounts • Post-tax contributions like a Roth IRA • Although contributions can not be taken out without penalty or taxes (as can be done with a Roth IRA) This option is popular with workers in lower tax brackets. They don’t need the tax break now. They are not quite as good as the Roth IRA unless your company matches your contributions. If your company matches your contributions, the Roth 401(k) is the winner.

27% Other Savings 9% 12% 401(k) 7% 7% 7% 5% Home equity 8% 18% Spouse’s pension IRA Anticipated Sources ofRetirement Income Social Security Part-time work Pension Social Security Administration

The “Baby Boomer” Generation Retirement Time Bomb We Have a Serious Problem • Between 1940 and 2010, the average lifespan increased by 15 years, while • The retirement age for Social Security increased only two years • In 1940, there were very few retirees per worker • Most workers, particularly men, simply did not live to 65 • Now, not only do most workers reach retirement, their retirement lasts an average of 16-20 years • Every day for the next 15+ years, 10,000 people will have their 65th birthday

The “Baby Boomer” Generation Retirement Time Bomb (continued) Ratio of Workers to Retirees • 1940 • 30 workers for every 1 retiree • 30 to 1 • 2010 • 3 workers for every 1 retiree • 3 to 1 • 2050 • 1.5 workers for every 1 retiree • 1.5 to 1

The “Baby Boomer” Generation Retirement Time Bomb (continued) But how did we manage to go from 30 workers per retiree down to 3 workers per retiree without significant economic upheaval? • Two-worker families became the norm (30:1  15:1) • Plus productivity gains have been substantial, and • Quite simply, as the number of retirees grew, • The number of children per worker diminished • Therefore, the ratio of workers to dependents has stayed roughly the same • The only difference is that the dependents have shifted from children to the elderly

The “Baby Boomer” Generation Retirement Time Bomb (continued) The Problem is Two-fold • Baby Boomers are not saving enough for their retirement • “Unless a big bucket of cash falls out of the sky, I’m going to be working until I die.” • There will not be enough workers to service the economy • Let alone provide the health care and other services that the retirees will demand • Recall: The average person between ages 60 and 70 uses more medical resources than they did between ages 0 and 59 • 1/3 of all Medicare dollars are spent in the last year of life

Possible Solutions – Financial • Aggressive saving by Boomers • Yeah, Right… • Everyone over 50 should be socking away the new maximum limits into their 401(k)’s, IRA’s, etc. • But unfortunately, it jest ain’t happenin’ • Raising Social Security taxes • Removing the $128,700 (2018) limit on Social Security taxes for the wealthy • Older people have traditionally more sway with politicians • Recipe for intergenerational warfare • Taxes would essentially have to double • From 8% up to 16% • 3 workers down to 1.5 workers

Possible Solutions – Financial • Lowering Social Security benefits • Again, seniors have traditionally more sway with politicians • Yet another recipe for intergenerational warfare • The Bush administration’s 2005 proposal would have reduced benefits by up to 49% for many workers over the next several decades • Would have hit the middle class the hardest • Surprise!

Possible Solutions – Financial (continued) • Investing Social Security in the stock market • Ya’ don’t hear too much about this one anymore after the Great Recession and the stock market Crash of 2008 • Will be very, very costly • Estimates range from between $2½ to $4½ trillion dollars • Since the pensions of current beneficiaries will still need to be funded However, …

Possible Solutions – Financial (continued) Financial solutions alone will not work • An economy consists of both supply and demand • Let’s assume Boomers saved enough for their retirement • (In other words, there is enough demand) • If there are not enough goods and services to service the demand, • (In other words, there is insufficient supply) • The result will be large-scale inflation of goods and services or large-scale deflation of financial assets, or both “Huh? What?”

Possible Solutions – Financial (continued) • If I save more than everyone else, then I can retire without a problem • There will be enough goods and services to supply my needs • If everyone saves more, then everyone will want the same goods and services • Everyone will all be bidding up the prices of health care, leisure, retirement housing, etc. • Or everyone will have to accept lower prices for our saved financial assets since everyone would be trying to sell them at the same time to pay for the same goods and services • Most likely, both actions will occur somewhat

Possible Solutions – Economic • Increased productivity • Same problem as increasing Social Security taxes • Must be shared with post-Boomers • Will help economy substantially, but not necessarily the goods and services that retirees need • Increased Developing World trade • The next engine of world economic growth? • But retirement goods and services are not easily traded across the globe • Health care, golf memberships, assisted-care housing, etc. • Remember the “Surgery Vacations”? • Reallocation of the work force • Health care, Health care, Health care

Possible Solutions – Demographic • Increased immigration • Ever visited a nursing home or assisted-living facility? • But to maintain the same ratio of workers to retirees, we would need approximately 85 million immigrants • Increased retiree emigration • “Costa Rica, anyone?” • But again, the numbers are mind-numbing • 120,000 retirees leaving each month for the next 30 years would keep the above ratio intact • The above two scenarios will help somewhat • But not significantly So how we gonna’ do it?

Possible Solutions – Demographic (continued) • Raising the retirement age! • To maintain the current ratio of workers to retirees, we would need to raise the accepted retirement age to 72 or 73 by the year 2030 • This will happen • If not mandated, retirement will simply become unaffordable or unavailable to more and more workers • It is already happening! • Retirees are returning to the work force • Their health is good; they want to be productive • Businesses are accommodating older workers • Fewer hours, more flexible work schedules You are now hearing politicians saying that we need to raise the retirement age. Just a few years ago, no politician would have dared say anything like this for fear of being lynched!

The “Baby Boomer” Generation Retirement Time Bomb We Will Solve This Problem • We have faced serious problems before • The American economy is extremely resilient • The American people are extremely resourceful • A combination of some or all the previous possible solutions will be implemented, with or without formal planning and consensus • Although we Americans are very resilient and resourceful, we tend to be horrible at planning • We will indeed be living in “interesting times” • Are you familiar with the (alleged) ancient Chinese curse? • “May you live in interesting times”

Retirement – The Bottom Line The Nature of Retirement will Change • Expect on living much longer than you ever thought you would • “Yippee! Hurray!” • Expect on working much longer than you ever thought you would • “Boo! Hiss!” • Start saving now! • “Grumble. Bitch. Gripe.”

What is Estate Planning? • Your estate consists of everything you own • An estate plan is how you set up to administer and distribute your property during your life (gifts) or after your death (inheritance) • Estate planning is not just for the wealthy • If you own a home or have children, you need estate planning • Not to be construed as legal advice… • Estate planning includes both building your estate, and also transferring your estate upon your death “Death and Taxes” We’ve already done taxes. Now’s the time for to do da’ death thing.

What is Estate Planning? (continued) • Most people give little or no thought to putting their personal and financial affairs in order for their families that survive them • Naming a guardian • Distribution of personal belongings • Demands of daily living can keep people from thinking about death • Plus it just ain’t fun to think about your own mortality!

What is Estate Planning? (continued) • Plan while you are in good health • Many people procrastinate • Until some life-threatening illness or near-death accident scares them into acting • Estate planning is especially important for non-traditional households and businesses • Unmarried partners • “Happy” relationships • Business partnership relationships

Estate Planning: Should You? • Hire a lawyer? • Expect to pay between $200 to over $1,500 • $200 for a will, $500 to $1,500 for a trust • Go it alone? • Books, software, pre-printed forms • Many, many Internet sites designed to help you • nolo.com • doyourownwill.com • hrblock.com • legalzoom.com What did we say about taking out your own appendix? Get a good referral!

What Estate Planning Involves • Create, review, and update your will/trust/etc. on a regular basis, especially if you get married, divorced, or move to another state • A codicil is a document used to amend an existing estate document • Name an executor for your estate • Consider creating and managing a trust or trusts • Most all Californians would benefit from a trust • Not to be construed as legal advice… • Prepare a letter of last instructions • No legal standing but can be very helpful • Organize current financial records and documents, and let family members know where they are!

Make an Inventory of Your Estate • Financial investments, retirement accounts • Your home and any other real estate • Business interests • Insurance policies • Antiques, art, collections, cars • Titles to the vehicles • Important documents • Social Security • Veteran documents Remember your net worth statement?

Wills • A will is the legal declaration of a person’s mind as to the disposition of his or her property after death • Marriage and divorce affect your will • Marriage may revoke your will depending on the state you live in • Review your will with an attorney if you marry or divorce. You will probably want a new one anyway • Legal costs to prepare a will vary with how complex it is • A standard will costs between $200-$500 dollars Although I don’t personally recommend it, you could probably do your own will without creating a legal nightmare for your heirs.

Intestate and Probate • Intestate • Means you die without a will • The state distributes your assets • The state will decide on a guardian for your children • Very complicated if you also have a “blended” family • Probate • Probate court validates wills and makes sure your debts are paid • Often, people try to avoid the probate process by using a living trust (more later)

Choosing an Executor • Find out if the executor is willing to accept this major responsibility • Find out if he or she is capable and trustworthy • If you don’t name one, the court will name one for you – not the best alternative! Being an executor is a serious responsibility. Choosing an executor is an even more serious task. Consider choosing co-executors, your attorney or a trust company and a friend or family member. Make provisions to pay the friend for their time. Your friend can do the leg work for $50 to $75 per hour. The attorney will make sure the important tasks are done correctly (at $175 to $250 per hour).

Responsibilities of an Executor • Takes control of assets of the estate • Files an inventory of assets and liabilitieswith the court • Sells assets if necessary to pay liabilities • Distributes assets, based on the instructions in the will • Makes a final accounting to the court The executor or co-executors have enormous power. There are countless stories of abuses of that power. Choose carefully.

Selecting a Guardian • Even if you don’t have much assets, if you have a child or children, you still need a will to at least name a guardian1 • The guardian assumes the responsibility for providing the child or children with personal care and managing the estate for them • Be sure the person is willing and able to raise them • See if their values and child rearing practices match yours 1Not to be construed as legal advice…

Prenuptial Agreement • Waives rights to each other’s property that was acquired before the marriage • Agree on a settlement if you should divorce • Very important for couples who already have children or assets or both • At least talk to a lawyer about the advantages and disadvantages of a prenuptial agreement before getting married • And if your would-be spouse refuses to even discuss a prenuptial agreement, that should serve as a disturbing omen… • Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

A Living Will • Provides for your wishes to be followed if you become so physically or mentally disabled that you are unable to act on your own behalf • Discuss your living will with those close to you • Sign and date it before two witnesses • Give copies to those close to you • Requires careful thought • Actually, it’s a no-brainer! (Sorry, could not help myself…)

Power of Attorney • Power of attorney • Legal document authorizing someone to act on your behalf • Can be limited or gives a great deal of power • Durable power of attorney for health care • If you are unable to make decisions regarding your health care this authorizes someone to do it for you Again, as with the executor of your estate, choose carefully who you give power of attorney to. They will be in control of your assets.

Essential Retirement Planning Guide: Prepare Now for the Future