Too many of us think saving for our retirement can wait until we earn much more. We may also be too caught up with other plans like buying a new home or spending on our children. There is never a perfect time to start planning for retirement. However, there are advantages of starting early. For a start, you will have a longer time horizon and that means more time to grow your savings. If you have made wise investments, a longer horizon will also help to ride out short-term price fluctuations. Starting late has the converse effect. You will have to work much harder at growing your retirement savings. A shorter time horizon would mean that you should avoid investments that come with higher risks. You may even need to think of delaying retirement if you remain employable. So why then do people put off retirement planning? Let us discuss a few myths and try to put these concerns to bed.
Retirement Myth Number 1: I am too young to think about retirement planning.
Too young to think about retirement planning? That sounds ridiculous! Young people, no matter your earning power, have a significant opportunity to become truly wealthy thanks to the power of compounding interest. Someone who invests $25,000 by age 25, with a 12% rate of return, will have more than $2 million by age 65—even if he or she doesn’t add another dollar after age 25. Conversely, if that same person waits until age 30, he or she will have to contribute more than three times as much to achieve the same outcome. The lesson? Compound interest is the best way to grow your money over the long haul—so start while you’re young.
Retirement Myth Number 2: I am too old to do anything about retirement planning.
Many people may think that they might have “missed the boat” in their earlier days. That they should have done something earlier and now it is too late to have any impact. This is absolutely untrue. While it is true that you are better off starting at age 25 than 50, it is also true you will be better off starting at age 50 than, say, 70. Then again, 70 is a better start than 90, isn’t it? The past is the past. We must stop peering at the rearview and instead look ahead toward the horizon. As long as you’re still breathing, it’s never too late to start. It’s never too early, either.
Retirement Myth Number 3: I do not make enough money to save for retirement.
Actually, there is no reason you shouldn’t retire a millionaire. The truth is that virtually everyone, even low wage earners, has the opportunity to be a millionaire when they retire. It sounds too good to be true, but the math proves otherwise: a 25-year-old who sets aside only $23 per week will retire with more than a million dollars if the money is invested properly (12% rate of return). Okay, so maybe you’re not 25 anymore but then that’s all right! Older folks simply need to adjust accordingly by increasing the money they set aside per week.
Retirement Myth 4: Inflation will outstrip all the gains I make from investing.
This is the only myth that is partially true. However, this myth is still rather irrelevant. While it is true $100 dollars ten years from now will probably possess less buying power than $100 today, the flip side of that coin is also true, and considerably more important: your $100 ten years from now will be worth infinitely more than $0 invested. In fact, sound investments are the only way to outpace inflation. It is better to invest your $100 than keep it in a bank or under your mattress. Investing in sound financial knowledge can go a long way in helping in this aspect.
Retirement Myth 5: I would rather spend my money on something else.
Well then, that shiny new Mercedes is not going to help you with your retirement. If you make such a handsome sum of money that you can afford it then by all means. However, if you are taking up money which should be squirrelled away for your retirement savings then that is not a very wise purchase.
Retirement Myth 6: The stock market and property market is not safe.
The truth is that you do not understand the stock market or the property market if you are making unwise decisions that will ultimately lose you money in these markets. Gaining financial knowledge is also akin to sound retirement planning. There are many courses that you can attend to improve your investment acumen in the equity and property market. Making money is never easy and it should never be. If not the whole world would be full of incredibly rich people! Spend time improving your financial knowledge. It will serve you well for your retirement.
Retirement Myth 7: I do not have the time to manage my retirement savings and investments.
Well everyone is busy and it is true that we are busy but then who is truly free to wholeheartedly plan their retirement? Making time to go for courses on how to invest or setting aside an afternoon every month to review your finances should be the least you can do. If you are really that busy with work and family life then please look for qualified individuals that can help you with your investments and savings.
Yours Sincerely,
Daryl Lum
p.s. at the point of writing of this article, Daryl is not a financial planner. He runs a general insurance brokerage under his private equity fund and holds a real estate salesperson license. Daryl holds a Certified Financial Planner qualification and does share free advice to anyone who would like to do so via email. If you are looking for a financial planner to purchase saving and retirement plans, you may contact the major insurance companies directly.
