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Home > Financial Fitness > Resources > Financial Articles > Retirement & Estate Planning > Make Retirement Saving a Goal This Year
Make Retirement Saving a Goal This YearMoney can’t buy happiness, but it can help fund a comfortable retirement. The beginning of the new year is an opportune time to get serious about saving for retirement. The best way to do this is by setting specific goals, reports the Virginia Society of CPAs. The first step in your planning process is to estimate how much savings you’ll need for retirement. This requires considering when you plan to retire, your income sources and how much money you will need on a monthly and annual basis to live comfortably. You should also consider these factors. Pay off debt This might seem counter-productive, but it’s difficult to save for retirement when you’re paying more in interest on credit card debt than you earn on your retirement investments. Unless you can come up with a plan that allows you to reduce your debt and save for retirement at the same time, it typically makes sense to pay off your credit card debt first. You need to be aggressive — if you only pay the minimum payment due, it could take many years before your debt is fully paid off. Spend less than you earn This is a key strategy for generating funds to put aside for retirement. Set a goal for cutting your monthly expenses by 10 or 15 percent a month and earmark that money for retirement savings. Contribute to your employer-sponsored retirement plan Pay yourself first If your company doesn’t offer a retirement plan, you should open a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or a Roth IRA. Instead of waiting until next April 15 to write a check for your IRA contribution, arrange to have a set amount of money per month deposited directly to your IRA. Automatic deductions are an easy way to make the maximum contribution because you’re less likely to miss money you don’t see. If you have self-employment income, look into a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan or a Keogh plan. These plans allow deductible contributions and your money grows tax-deferred. Put retirement savings above saving for college Saving for your child’s education is an important goal, but you shouldn’t put it ahead of your retirement saving. There are many options to help with tuition payments, such as student loans and financial aid, but there are no scholarships or loans for retirement. And because most schools do not factor in retirement assets when determining financial aid, saving for retirement can actually work in your favor. Invest wisely and monitor your retirement fund’s performance Learn all you can about investing so you can maximize the returns your retirement investments earn. Invest in a diversified portfolio and keep in mind that, over the long-term, stocks generally outperform other investments making them ideal for growth. Review your retirement portfolio regularly and make any necessary adjustments. Enlist the help of a CPA A CPA can help you devise a retirement savings plan that fits into your overall financial plan. Make an appointment today to get started on making retirement savings a goal for this year. The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) is the leading professional association dedicated to enhancing the success of CPAs. Founded in 1909, the VSCPA has 9,000 members who work in public accounting, industry, government and education. For general information, please visit the Press Room on the VSCPA website at www.vscpa.com, e-mail vscpa@vscpa.com or call (804) 612-9424. To search for a CPA in your geographic region, visit www.financialfitness.org and click on “Find a CPA.” ©American Institute of Certified Public Accountants LAST UPDATED 3/6/2010
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