Risking your retirement
If you're retired or approaching retirement, and dreading the next piece of news that may cause your portfolio to dip, then it might be time to revisit your asset allocation.
If you're already retired or on your way to retiring, have you been obsessively checking your portfolio balance and dreading the next piece of news that might cause it to dip further? Or have you been keeping up with the news as you usually do, but confident that your portfolio will largely weather the volatility it is currently experiencing?
If you nodded at the former, it's a good indicator that you may need to revisit your asset allocation; it's likely that it is no longer aligned to your risk appetite and thus unlikely to achieve the goals you've set out in the time horizon you have.
If you said yes to the latter, good on you – you've likely set yourself up well. But whether or not you're feeling comfortable with how your portfolio is doing, it is important to regularly think about the risks that you face as a retiree (or a soon-to-be-retiree), and put in place strategies to mitigate them.
Market risk
Without a regular pay check to counterbalance capital losses, retirees inevitably feel it more when market volatility is in play. But while you cannot control the market and what it returns, you can control your discretionary spending. Temporarily reducing your spending could help alleviate financial stress through this momentary dip. And spending plans can resume once markets are back in the black.
Inflation risk
Inflation continues to be a hot topic but the risk it brings is nothing new. Planning for inflation should be part of your investment strategy. Also don't get caught out during your retirement planning process – using ‘real returns' rather than ‘nominal returns' is important when punching in the numbers.
Longevity risk
Australians are living longer than we ever have. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average person can now expect to live past 81 if you're male, or 85 if you're female. You should plan for your retirement savings to last you at least 16 years and possibly up to 30 years, assuming you retire at 67. And if you're retiring before 67, plan accordingly. Don't forget to factor in expenses to account for health issues as you age.
History has shown that investors who remain invested in the financial markets despite troubling headlines are rewarded when the market eventually picks up. As such, maintaining discipline and focusing on the long-term will help you navigate the years ahead.
Vanguard
15 Feb, 2022
vanguard.com.au
Latest Newsletters
Hot Issues
- Aged care report goes to the heart of Australia’s tax debate
- Removed super no longer protected from creditors: court
- ATO investigating 16.5k SMSFs over valuation compliance
- The 2025 Financial Year Tax & Super Changes You Need to Know!
- Investment and economic outlook, March 2024
- The compounding benefits from reinvesting dividends
- Three things to consider when switching your super
- Oldest Buildings in the World.
- Illegal access nets $637 million
- Trustee decisions are at their own discretion: expert
- Regular reviews and safekeeping of documents vital: expert
- Latest stats back up research into SMSF longevity and returns: educator
- Investment and economic outlook, February 2024
- Planning financially for a career break
- Could your SMSF do with more diversification?
- Countries producing the most solar power by gigawatt hours
- Labor tweaks stage 3 tax cuts to make room for ‘middle Australia’
- Quarterly reporting regime means communication now paramount: expert
- Plan now to take advantage of 5-year carry forward rule: expert
- Why investors are firmly focused on interest rates
- Super literacy low for cash-strapped
- Four timeless principles for investing success
- Investment and economic outlook, January 2024
- Wheat Production by Country
- Time to start planning for stage 3 tax cuts: technical manager
Article archive
- January - March 2024
- October - December 2023
- July - September 2023
- April - June 2023
- January - March 2023
- October - December 2022
- July - September 2022
- April - June 2022
- January - March 2022
- October - December 2021
- July - September 2021
- April - June 2021
- January - March 2021
- October - December 2020
- July - September 2020
- April - June 2020
- January - March 2020
- October - December 2019
- July - September 2019
- April - June 2019
- January - March 2019
- October - December 2018
- July - September 2018
- April - June 2018
- January - March 2018
- October - December 2017
- July - September 2017
- April - June 2017
- January - March 2017
- October - December 2016
- July - September 2016
- April - June 2016
- January - March 2016
- October - December 2015
- July - September 2015
- April - June 2015
January - March 2022 archive
- Mistakes to avoid when markets are turbulent
- Fresh research challenges guidance on SMSF minimum balances
- GDP by country since 1800
- Risking your retirement
- A total returns approach to rebalancing
- SMSFs still experiencing delays with SuperStream
- APRA proposes updates to super data transparency
- Why investment predications can be likened to weather forecasts
- What to expect in 2022
- Important detail highlighted in legacy pension draft regulations
- Vaccination rates (Dose)
- ‘Catastrophic consequences’: Government lobbied on NALI rules
- ATO releases new guidelines to combat identity theft
- Volatile markets underscore importance of discipline
- Financial burden of COVID sees rise in illegal loans to members
- 6-member SMSFs proving popular for older trustees
- ATO holds off on TBAR compliance
- Bull vs Bear
- One of the most read articles in 2021
- Advisers warned on joint entity hurdles for ‘sophisticated investor’ qualification
- Excuses limited for late death benefit payments