RETIREMENT PLANNING
Close your eyes and picture your retirement. Are you traveling? Living in your dream cottage by the lake? Enjoying hobbies with friends and family?
While it is impossible to know exactly what the future will bring, it is never too early to prepare for life after you leave your day job behind. And with average life expectancies in the U.S. (estimated at 77.5 years1 through 2022), you need a plan that will last you well into your golden years, so your money can live on as long as you.
To determine what type of retirement you want, ask yourself the following questions:
Answers to the above questions will help you determine what your income need will be in retirement. This will then help you determine how much retirement savings you’ll need before you leave that day job.
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Though certain things are out of your control—like market volatility, inflation and unexpected life events—there are investment strategies to help you weather the uncertainty and make your retirement savings last.
Income lays the foundation
Start by determining income sources that will cover your essential expenses in retirement. Many retirees use pensions, retirement accounts, Social Security and part-time employment as income sources to fund their retirement years. You can also consider other financial products that will help you establish that stable floor of income.
Asset allocation is critical
Ensuring that some of your assets are allocated in lower-risk investments like bonds and cash equivalents can help meet short-term income needs. For longer-term retirement savings and growth of principal, it’s important to consider having some portion in higher-risk investments with exposure to the stock market.
Thrivent Mutual Funds offers a range of asset allocation funds that allow you to match your risk tolerance to a grouping of well-diversified mutual fund options.
Diversify to help manage income taxes
There are several ways to structure your assets to take full advantage of tax rules, so you can reduce taxes and potentially increase your income. You probably want some of your money in immediately taxable assets, like savings and checking accounts for short-term needs. For longer goals, consider tax-deferred accounts like qualified plans and traditional IRAs. Keeping some of your assets in Roth IRAs and municipal bond mutual funds could provide you with a source of income on which you may not have to pay federal income taxes. For example, if you meet certain conditions, Roth IRA distributions of earnings may be federal and state income tax free.2 Dividends from municipal bond funds are generally federal income tax free, but not state income tax free, although a portion of municipal bond fund income may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. Please see a tax advisor for more information.
Plan for future generations
To help your legacy live on after you’re gone, it's a good practice to name beneficiaries for all your accounts. It's simple to do and can be updated at any time. See the benefits of beneficiary planning for more information.
Whether your retirement is years away or coming up soon, knowing your options and having a plan can make all the difference. Thrivent Mutual Funds offers a range of retirement accounts and mutual funds to help you craft the retirement you want.
1 “Mortality in the United States, 2022.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. March 2024.
2 Earnings may be withdrawn without taxes or penalties if your Roth IRA is at least five years old AND: you are buying or building your first home ($10,000 limit), you reach age 59½, you are disabled, or are the beneficiary of the IRA.
The information provided is not intended as a source for tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult with a legal and/or tax professional for specific information regarding your individual situation.
