Nate Weeber | Financial Advisor

No matter where you are in your life, saving for retirement is likely one of your most important financial goals. But, even if you have professional guidance and a clear strategy for your desired future, you could still be missing some straightforward ways to maximize your savings. The reality is: Most people do not save enough money for retirement. In fact, the National Institute on Retirement Security estimates that Americans have at least a $6.8 trillion gap between the amount they have saved and the amount they need (1). Alarmingly, they found the gap could be as high as $14 trillion(2). I am always here to help you address major life events and financial changes, but I also want to share some simple ways to increase your savings now.

Reevaluate Small Budget Items

Changing major aspects of your budget — such as your housing or healthcare costs — can significantly impact your savings potential, but may also take time to implement. To start saving more today, look at the little places where you spend money and see where you can trim your expenses. For example, do you eat lunch out every day or buy a specialty coffee most mornings? Do you have entertainment packages you aren’t really using, such as cable TV or online memberships? Saving a few dollars each day can add up to thousands of dollars over a
year, which is money you can put toward your retirement.

Remember to Imagine the Retirement You Desire

Effective retirement strategies often focus on building a clear vision of how you would like to spend life after your career. As you go about your daily life and make financial decisions, how often do you reflect on this vision? Rather than only thinking about your retirement goals during financial reviews or major choices, start incorporating this picture into your regular decision-making process. For example, each time you make a purchase, ask yourself if you’d rather have this item or put the money toward the retirement you desire. You may discover that by grounding each purchase in this way, you spend less on items you don’t really care about — and have more money to put toward the retirement you’ve dreamed about.

Capture Your Employer’s Full 401(k) Match

U.S. employees lose $24 billion a year by not saving enough in their 401(k) to claim their company’s full matching (3).  If your employer matches your retirement contributions, make sure you contribute at least enough to claim what is essentially free money. And if you are age 50 or older, remember that you can contribute an extra $6000 each year to your 401(k) on top of the $18,000 annual limit (4).

Invest Additional Funds

When you receive a raise, bonus, tax refund, inheritance, or other financial windfall, spending the funds can be very tempting. Instead, if you choose to invest this money into your retirement, you can boost your savings without affecting your current bottom line. In addition, if you put a bonus into a 401(k) or IRA, you may also enjoy tax benefits and not owe anything until you withdraw the funds (5).

Saving for retirement is a big responsibility, but it does not have to be a burden. With these simple changes — and support from professionals who care about your future — you can focus on creating a lifestyle that matches your dreams. I am here to help you at each step, so please let me know if you have any questions about these tips or the bigger strategies guiding your retirement.

Kind Regards,

Nathan Weeber

Footnotes, disclosures, and sources:

* Registered Representatives of and securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representatives, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Vision Financial Group are separate companies and not affiliated.

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative, Broker dealer or Investment Advisor, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker Dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.

We have not independently verified the information available through the following links. The links are provided to you as a matter of interest. We make no claim as to their accuracy or reliability.

Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.

1 https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/01/01/12-jaw- dropping-stats- about-retirement.aspx
2 https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/01/01/12-jaw- dropping-stats- about-retirement.aspx
3 https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/01/01/12-jaw- dropping-stats- about-retirement.aspx
4 https://www.irs.gov/uac/newsroom/irs-announces- 2017-pension- plan-limitations- 401k-contribution- limit-
remains-unchanged- at-18000- for-2017
5 http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/slideshows/10-painless- ways-to- save-more- for-retirement?slide=5

Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook on Google+