Skip to main content

Tag: Social Security

Healthcare Costs in Retirement

In a 2020 survey, 36% of all workers reported they were either “not too” or “not at all” confident that they would have enough money to pay for their medical expenses in retirement. Regardless of your confidence, however, being aware of potential health care costs during retirement may allow you to understand what you can pay for and what you can’t.1

Health-Care Breakdown

Faucet

A retired household faces three types of health care expenses.

  1. The premiums for Medicare Part B (which covers physician and outpatient services) and Part D (which covers drug-related expenses). Typically, Part B and Part D are taken out of a person’s Social Security check before it is mailed, so the premium cost is often overlooked by retirement-minded individuals.
  2. Copayments related to Medicare-covered services that are not paid by Medicare Supplement Insurance plans (also known as “Medigap”) or other health insurance.
  3. Costs associated with dental care, eyeglasses, and hearing aids – which are typically not covered by Medicare or other insurance programs.

It All Adds Up

According to a HealthView Services study a 65-year-old healthy couple (male living to age 87; female, age 89), can expect their lifetime health care expenses to add up to around $606,337.2

Should you expect to pay this amount? Possibly. Seeing the results of one study may help you make some critical decisions when creating a strategy for retirement. Without a solid approach, health care expenses may add up quickly and alter your retirement spending.

Prepared for the Future?

Workers were asked how much they have saved and invested for retirement – excluding their residence and defined benefit plans.

Chart

Source Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2020

To learn more about CapSouth Wealth Management contact our office at 900.929.1001 or visit our website at www.capsouthwm.com

CapSouth Wealth Management – Dothan, AL, McDonough, Ga, Charlotte, NC

1. Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2020
2. HealthView Services, 2019

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG, LLC, is not affiliated with CapSouth Wealth Management. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright 2020 FMG Suite.

9 Facts About Retirement

9 Facts about RETIREMENT

Retirement can have many meanings. For some, it will be a time to travel and spend time with family members. For others, it will be a time to start a new business or begin a charitable endeavor. Regardless of what approach you intend to take, here are nine things about retirement that might surprise you.

  1. Many consider the standard retirement age to be 65. One of the key influencers in arriving at that age was Germany, which initially set its retirement age at 70 then lowered it to age 65.1
  2. Every day between now and the end of the next decade, another 10,000 baby boomers is expected to turn 65. That’s roughly one person every 8 seconds.2
  3. In 2018, people aged 65 and older accounted for 15% of the population in the U.S. By 2060, they are expected to represent more than one in four Americans.3
  4. Ernest Ackerman was the first person to receive a Social Security benefit. In March 1937, the Cleveland streetcar motorman received a one-time, lump-sum payment of 17¢. Ackerman worked one day under Social Security. He earned $5 for the day and paid a nickel in payroll taxes. His lump-sum payout was equal to 3.5% of his wages.1
  5. Sixty-seven percent of retirees say they are confident about having enough money to live comfortably throughout their retirement years.4
  6. People aged 65 and older account for 34% of all prescription medication use and 30% of all over-the-counter medication use. Nearly nine of 10 adults aged 65 years and older say they have taken at least one prescription drug in the last 30 days.5,6
  7. Fifty-nine percent of retirees were dependent upon on Social Security as a major source of their income. The average monthly Social Security benefit at the beginning of 2019 was $1,461.1,4
  8. Centenarians – in 1980 there were 32,000 of them. Today there are more than 86,248 And 79% of them are women.7
  9. Seniors age 65 and over spend a lot of time watching TV, on average, over 4 hours a day.8

Conclusion

These stats and trends point to one conclusion: The 65-and-older age group is expected to become larger and have more influence in the future. Have you made arrangements for health care? Are you comfortable with your investment decisions? If you are unsure about your decisions, maybe it’s time to develop a solid strategy for the future.

To learn more about CapSouth and the services we provide, contact our office at 800.929.1001 or visit our website at www.capsouthwm.com

CapSouth Wealth Management – Dothan, AL, McDonough, Ga, Charlotte, NC

1. The United States Social Security Administration, 2019
2. Forbes, 2018
3. The United States Census Bureau, 2018
4. Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2019 Retirement Confidence Survey
5. Medscape, 2019
6. UptoDate.com, 2019
7. The United States Census Bureau, 2018
8. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG, LLC, is not affiliated with CapSouth Wealth Management. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright 2019 FMG Suite.

CapSouth Partners, Inc., dba CapSouth Wealth Management, is an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm. CapSouth does not offer tax, accounting or legal advice. Consult your tax or legal advisors for all issues that may have tax or legal consequences.

How Will Working Affect Social Security Benefits

In a recent survey, 68% of current workers stated they plan to work for pay after retiring.1

And that possibility raises an interesting question: How will working affect Social Security benefits?

To answer that question requires an understanding of three key concepts: full-retirement age, the earnings test, and taxable benefits.

Full Retirement Age

Most workers don’t face an “official” retirement date, according to the Social Security Administration. The Social Security program allows workers to start receiving benefits as soon as they reach age 62—or to put off receiving benefits until age 70.

“Full retirement age” is the age at which individuals become eligible to receive 100% of their Social Security benefits. For example, individuals born in 1955 can receive 100% of their benefits at age 66 years and 2 months.2

Earnings Test

Starting Social Security benefits before reaching full retirement age brings into play the earnings test.

If a working individual starts receiving Social Security payments before full retirement age, the Social Security Administration will deduct $1 in benefits for each $2 that person earns above an annual limit. In 2019, the income limit is $17,640.3

During the year in which a worker reaches full retirement age, Social Security benefit reduction falls to $1 in benefits for every $3 in earnings. For 2019, the limit is $46,920 before the month the worker reaches full retirement age.4

For example, let’s assume a worker begins receiving Social Security benefits during the year he or she reaches full retirement age. In that year, before the month the worker reaches full retirement age, the worker earns $65,000. The Social Security benefit would be reduced as follows:

In this case, the worker’s annual Social Security benefit would have been reduced by $6,026 because he or she is continuing to work.

Taxable Benefits

Once you reach full retirement age, Social Security benefits will not be reduced no matter how much you earn. However, Social Security benefits are taxable.

For example, say you file a joint return and you and your spouse are past the full retirement age. In the joint return, you report a combined income of between $32,000 and $44,000. You may have to pay income tax on as much as 50% of your benefits. If your combined income is more than $44,000, as much as 85% of your benefits may be subject to income taxes.

There are many factors to consider when evaluating Social Security benefits. Understanding how working may affect total benefits can help you put together a program that allows you to make the most of all your retirement income sources—including Social Security.

What’s Your Full Retirement Age?

Those born in 1942 or before were already eligible for full Social Security benefits at age 65. For those born between 1943 and 1960, full retirement age increases incrementally until it reaches 67.

Retirement Age

Source: Social Security Administration, 2019

1. Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2018
2,3,4. Social Security Administration, 2019

To learn more about CapSouth and the services we provide, contact us at 800.929.1001 or visit our website at www.capsouthwm.com

CapSouth Wealth Management – Dothan, AL, McDonough, GA, Charlotte, NC

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG, LLC, is not affiliated with CapSouth Wealth Management. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright 2019 FMG Suite.

CapSouth Partners, Inc., dba CapSouth Wealth Management, is an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm. CapSouth does not offer tax, accounting or legal advice. Consult your tax or legal advisors for all issues that may have tax or legal consequences.

Help us keep you informed!

Let us do the work and keep you updated! Sign up for the CapSouth financial updates.

You have Successfully Subscribed!